Q: The file "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created with a newer version of iTunes

See Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash.

Deleting the iTunes Library.itl file alone will not make your library magically reappear.

tt2

I tried this fix to the problem "The file iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes" but it didn't fix the problem and I still get the same message.  Any other suggestions?  Thanks.

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.

This is slighly updated advice from that in the post linked above. Perhaps you need to copy an older .itl file, or you're not working with the active library.

tt2

Re The file iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a new version of iTunes;  I was gone and unable to respond to suggestions to fix this problem.  When I returned, there was an update available from Apple lthat fixed the problem and iTunes opened up.  However, it had an older playlist that did not contain recently purchased songs or the latest playlist.  The previous iTunes Library when opened also do not contain these recently purchased songs or playlists.  How do I get back to the latest playlist?

Can I check the you used the copy and rename method (or shift-start-iTunes) to access the older library files? Double-clicking .itl files opens iTunes, but not necessarily the file clicked on.

Did you check for .tmp files in the iTunes folder? One of those may have been your most recent complete library. Otherwise without a proper backup the best you can do is use your most recent file from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder and use the suggestions in the tip to bring it up to date with the contents of the media folder.

tt2

THANK YOU! You have saved me from iTunes 11

I tried this. Itunes now opens but i still had no music. I managed to get it back on, but I have lost my playlists which had some fond memories of particular playlists i made for particular events like my wifes 40th party etc. How do I get my playlists back please? Including "my top rated" and "most played"

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.

tt2

I cannot thank you enough!!

Several obsessive hours later & I have more music back.

I had this problem with iTunes not running when going back to 11.0,, all I did was just remove the file from Music/iTunes folder an double-clicked iTunes icon again an the program loaded an created a new file in the folder

As a follow up here - Apple is getting even worse in iTunes 12 over 11 - now there's absolutely no way to bring back the navigation column on the left hand side anymore.  Rather than trying to completely re-learn their interface all over again, I took your option of reverting my software back to the one I liked the best anyway - 10.7! 

If Apple wants to deprecate navigation and functionality because they think in their infinite wisdom they know the best UI for all users fine, but if you're reading this Apple, read carefully:

Let us change the default interface - because let's face it - you don't know what my preferences are, and how dare you dictate to me or anyone else how I should or should not manage MY CONTENT on MY DEVICES.

I paid you licensing for the songs...

I paid you for the device...

But I also have my own content that I want to manage myself - not through you, so stop forcing me to alter my workflow every time your "geniuses" get a bug up their craw...

Ok, after an hour on the phone with a nice Apple guy wh told me there is no way possible to go back if you have a library.itl error I decided to just hack the program.

Here was my issue:

i have a 3TB iTunes library which is comprised of my own Cd collection (about 4000 discs) and HD downloads. The total library is about 4400 albums.

I use a core 2 duo Mac Mini as a home server, as it is powerful enough to serve the house with my entire media content (music from iTunes and movies populated on external discs connected to my Mac Mini).

A friend gifted me a new Mac Pro (black garbage can style) which is running Yosemite and the latest (red) iTunes. When I opened my iTunes library with the newest version of iTunes, it would no longer open on my Mac Mini which can only run Lion and iTunes 10.7. I got the dreaded library.itl error and a rediculious insult from Apple suggesting I search for a newer version of iTunes, fully aware that mine is the latest and I am FUBARed relative to using my library again on my Mac mini.

Thanks Apple...... (I miss Scott Forsill and his software ideology BTW)

The Solution:

1. With the external 3TB drive connected to my Mini, I opend the ITunes library and dragged the library.itl out of the folder. (Thus preserving it for future use on the Mac Pro).

2. Option-clicking the ITunes app I launched it and made a NEW iTunes library on my desktop (thus the internal drive).

3. I dragged an album onto the iTunes icon to import it and thus make a library.

4. Closed the app and then copied the library.itl file into the iTunes folder on the 3TB drive.

5. Option-click again and select the iTunes folder on the external drive

6. Take a deep breath as it will launch and show only one album (which ironically is not actually there)...... but relax.

7. From the file menu I chose Add to Library and navigate to your media folder where all my music is and went to bed.

The Result?

I ended up with a 94% fix. Almost all of the albums are there, with proper meta data, covers and order of release (dates and such are fine).

However, I have about 300 discs which need covers (which the iTunes Store cannot find for some reason - probably HD tracks albums which I have labelled with the sample rate ie: Dark Side Of The Moon 24/192.

I also have an issue with some albums which ripped as a single file, because of issues with the original disc..... and I need to fix those.

so there you go.

A Solution, ....... and I remain open to any suggestions as to how to repair my database without having to manually access each file.

NOW,... Have any of you code-heads ever looked at the library.itl file to see if it can just be modified????

The steps in Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash usually work and the process preserves ratings, play counts, playlists, date added, and some other data that isn't stored in tags. You can't dive in and tweak a damaged .itl file back to life by flipping bits at random.

I couldn't quite work out where you'd placed your library and media files in the end, but you might find my tip Make a split library portable has some useful pointers. As long as the library is a portable layout you can connect iTunes to a clone of the folder on any other drive and it will work, making cloning (and selectively updating the clone after changes) a viable backup strategy.

tt2

This doesn't do crap for me

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash. Perhaps you need to shift-start-iTunes to make sure it is trying to open the correct .itl file in the first place.

tt2