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Why do my play counts reset to zero randomly?

For some reason groups of songs suddenly lose their play counts when I shut down and re-open iTunes. There doesn't seem to be any pattern as to why they reset; some are low count, some are high count. Sometimes it's a whole album, other times it's just bits and pieces of one. Since I keep a playlist of zero play songs for when I feel like listening to something new, it's disrupting to get to things I've already heard.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Dec 4, 2012 5:00 PM

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134 replies

Dec 6, 2012 1:48 PM in response to Don Eccles

This is happening to me too. I recently had some help in correcting my most-played song (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4558612) but I was fortunate to know what the true count should be because it was my most-played. It's gone and reset to zero again! I've now discovered around 10 songs in my "Not Played" playlist (when I know I didn't have any zero played songs before). Why is this happening?


I'm so disappointed. I know I can adjust the play counts using the script but I don't know what the true counts should be for those ten soungs. I've tried looking up old iTunes Music Library.XML files in Time Machine only to discover Time Machine deliberately excludes that file from back up.


I've only noticed this happen since I upgraded to iTunes 11.

Dec 6, 2012 2:16 PM in response to Don Eccles

I'm experiencing the same thing. Random songs will have their play count reset to zero periodically. I'm trying to identify what series of events leads to this but haven't found it yet. It seems to affect random songs although one in particular is always one of the affected—The End by Kings of Leon.


My playlists are all based on play count so this is kind of a big deal for me. I don't use iTunes Match.

Dec 6, 2012 3:45 PM in response to mluton

I'm going to export the library before closing iTunes each time so that I have a file that Time Machine will back-up. I've now increased the play count on all those zero songs so my "not played" playlist is empty. I'll keep my eye on that playlist and when it happens again I should be able to compare two library files to see if it inspires a theory for how/why it's happening.


One thing I noticed the last time it happened is that in the library file there was no row for the play count in the affected song. I was expecting a playcount=0 or unplayed=true but there was no row for those items at all. So if the library is getting corrupted, it's not changing the n to 0, it might be losing that row completely.

Dec 7, 2012 1:29 PM in response to Don Eccles

I'm having this same problem, and I am very annoyed by it. I've noticed that it only happens to songs that I downloaded from the iTunes store (as opposed to imported from a CD or bought digitally elsewhere). Most of the songs have been singles (e.g. an old free download of the week), but recently, I had an entire elbum get recent that I'd played about 100 times...

Dec 7, 2012 8:37 PM in response to Don Eccles

I have observed the same behaviour at least twice after upgrading to iTunes 11, never before. Just now I happened to have my low count playlist displayed when I opened the lid of my Mac and plugged in the iPhone. And out of the blue some old tracks were added to this playlist with their count reset to 0.


So in my case it wasn't shutting down and reopening iTunes, but maybe triggered by coming back from sleep or synchronising an iDevice (or a combination of both).


Interestingly the "last played" attribute doesn't get reset, so I now have tracks that are at the same time "never played" and "played at some time in the past" ;-)

Dec 9, 2012 8:47 AM in response to Don Eccles

I have this same exact issue. I think with the further integration with iCloud in iTunes 11 the iTunes Match bug that was doing this has expanded to those of us not using Match as well. extremely annoying because play count is a huge part of all my smart playlists. For now I will export export the library everday and keep re-enetering the plays that get set to blank.

Dec 9, 2012 9:39 AM in response to Don Eccles

Yes, it is happening to me and several of my friends. So far here is what we have determined:


Affects iTunes 11 only

Affects items purchased from iTunes store only - No MP3s or MP4s, no ripped CDs or DVDs regards of format, no purchases from other outlets

Affects songs, movies and TV shows - although movies and TV shows are marked with that half moon like someone started watching but did not finish


*Affects Mac OS X only - haven't heard of any Windows machines having the problem although I don't know a lot of people with Windows computers. (Can someone confirm if Windows is affected?)

Dec 9, 2012 9:50 AM in response to RabbM

Just a thought


Does anyone that has this issue subscribe to iTunes Match (seen a couple that say they don't)


If you don't have Match, have you tried turning off the option for show itunes purchases in the cloud, when I had this option on I had duplicates, and the duplicate songs had no playcounts, where the local version did


wondering if it is replacing your songs with the cloud version which removes playcount data at the same time

Dec 9, 2012 10:25 AM in response to paulsalter

I don't use Match or Cloud! Never have. I also have no iOS devices (No iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc). I have a Mac server whose job, amongst others, is to push media to several Apple TVs. It runs almost 24/7 with iTunes always open. My library includes audio and video from iTunes, Amazon, Napster (etc.), home movies and ripped media. iTunes items only account for about 30% of my total library. It sets play count to zero (or partial in the case of movies and TV shows) for iTunes purchased items only. Seems to be completely random - items used frequently, infrequently or only once before; items purchased years ago to days ago, etc.

Dec 9, 2012 10:31 AM in response to RabbM

Do you have the option turned on for this feature?


Under Preferences, Store


I don't use Match/Cloud but with this option on I get duplicates and some have zero playcounts, turn it off and it reverts back to normal


No idea if this will fix your issue (even if just temporarily), but a big change in itunes 11 is more intergration with the cloud (songs bought from itunes only if not a match subscriber)

Dec 9, 2012 11:27 AM in response to paulsalter

Number 1: If an item is downloaded from the store again and you have not removed the orginal item (as in when customer service initiates the download to replace one you reported an issue on) the old item is automatically placed in the trash and the new item shows the old play count. Although I have never done this with a song, only movies and TV shows.


Number 2: You are seeing two versions because there are two versions one in the cloud with 0 plays because you didn't play it and one on your device with X number of plays. (Bet you money you are seeing this on your iOS device)


Number 3: The option you are talking about just turns off the ability to see the cloud version. It doesn't delete it.


Number 4: As stated earlier, even if your hypothesis were correct: the play count would be zero (0) and not partial for movies and TV shows. Remember there is no partial play for songs.


Number 5: I don't have an iOS device! (I stated this very clearly) That is where you normally purchase items in the cloud. I am using a computer and downloading my purchase.

Why do my play counts reset to zero randomly?

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