Playlists disappeared from iTunes after update. Can I get them back?

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Playlists disappeared from iTunes after update. Can I get them back?

All my playlists disappered from iTunes. I'm running Windows7 Pro. I must have lost the playlists after an update. I haven't listen to iTunes for a couple months, mostly Pandora, but yesterday I went back and all my playlists were missing. --- I do remember an update some time back.

I tried to find an answer by Googleing my problem but nothing worked or was applicable. I found solutions that were older and that had tips like "Go under File in the menu bar and import...".

For some reason I neither have File nor a menu bar , nor an import option. I can't even find out what version I have - but you can assume it is the latest because I always click OK when Apple throws an update at me.

Do I have to start over or can I get my playlists back? ---- I have used an assortment of media players in the past. Mostly some smaller but brilliant ones and something like this never happened. I'm not sure how I feel about this happing with Apple's iTunes. Usually I would have thrown it out but I need iTunes for my iPod and iPad and I'm about to purchase an iPhone. So I can't let this one go.

If I can restore it - or even if not - , I will make sure I do a back-up for my playlists. I have never done a back-up for PLAYLISTs in the last 15 years (!?). But from what I read some people recommended it for iTunes. I would like to add this question to my original problem: how do I make a backup of my playlists? Do you do it too? Is it REALLY necessary - or can I plow on more or less safely for the next 15 years?

Thank you in advance for your help.

iPad 2

Posted on Apr 1, 2013 7:22 PM

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Answer 1

Mietz Author

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Apr 3, 2013 12:59 PM in response to Mietz

Never mind - I figured it out and got my playlists back.

Thanks

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Answer 2

turingtest2

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Apr 3, 2013 1:39 PM in response to Mietz

Mietz wrote:

Never mind - I figured it out and got my playlists back.

Good news, but for anyone else with the same issues this may help.

Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash

Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. Note that in iTunes 11 an "empty" library may show your past purchases with links to stream or download them.

In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.

Alternatively, depending on exactly when and why the library went missing, there may be a more recent .tmp file in the main iTunes folder that can be copied & renamed as iTunes Library.itl to restore the library to an earlier state. Look for a recent .tmp file that is similar in size to the .itl files in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder. If it has happened repeatedly you may want the earliest such file generated since the last iTunes upgrade.

If applicable, see iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.

When you get it all working make a backup!

Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.

I've noticed more of these missing library posts of late and a common factor to most since I started asking is AVG Anti-Virus. It seems in some cases it might be at least part of the reason why the library file disappears. Try excluding the iTunes folder from any AV scanning process.

tt2

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Answer 3

Mietz Author

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Apr 3, 2013 3:14 PM in response to turingtest2

tt2 - thank you for your reply - that is most helpful.

You are right about AVG. To quote from your reply:

"I've noticed more of these missing library posts of late and a common factor to most since I started asking is AVG Anti-Virus. It seems in some cases it might be at least part of the reason why the library file disappears. Try excluding the iTunes folder from any AV scanning process."

To alert others: I just had to update AVG to the 2013 edition (or at least AVG said so) and some time after that I noticed the playlists went missing. I had done many iTunes updates in the past and my playlists never went missing.

AVG created the problem with iTunes playlists.

I haven't figured out how to exclude iTunes folder from being scanned with AVG. But I'm also thinking of throwing AVG out and switch to Microsoft Security Essential.

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Answer 4

turingtest2

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Apr 3, 2013 3:17 PM in response to Mietz

Some of the other feedback suggests AVG isn't obeying its own exceptions at the moment, so I suspect an alternative scanner is a good move for now.

tt2

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Answer 5

Dec 4, 2013 8:44 AM in response to Mietz

I have a very similar problem and was just about to apply the suggested fix when I realised my files don't have the .itl affix. They are just called 'i-tunes library'. Will it still work? I'm a dummy when it comes to this I'm afraid!

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Answer 6

turingtest2

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Dec 4, 2013 8:55 AM in response to AntoniaRB

Yes it still works, but when renaming don't add the suffix that you don't see.

I.e.

iTunes Library 2013-09-19.itl becomes iTunes Library.itl

iTunes Library 2013-09-19 becomes iTunes Library

In the second case the suffixes are there, but hidden from your view. They are what lets Windows know which icon to show for each type of file and what application to open it with.

tt2

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Answer 7

Dec 4, 2013 1:16 PM in response to turingtest2

Thank you very much

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Answer 8

turingtest2

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Dec 4, 2013 1:20 PM in response to AntoniaRB

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

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Answer 9

anag42

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Dec 5, 2013 5:48 PM in response to turingtest2

I tried this to restore my prior playlists and lost over 1000 songs. Not sure what I did wrong. After trying to place file in itunes folder anothe itunesLibrary.itl would appear and I may have replaced one? Tred the different dayes in previous iTune libraries with no luck. Any Ideas. Spotify has my old playlists still.

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Answer 10

anag42

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Dec 8, 2013 5:35 PM in response to turingtest2

Any ideas of what I did wrong. See above. Tried to renaming and now only 300 songs appear and no playlists.

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Answer 11

turingtest2

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Dec 8, 2013 5:49 PM in response to anag42

anag42 wrote:

Any ideas of what I did wrong?

Not really. 😕

It works for most people I suggest it to...

tt2.

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Answer 12

anag42

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Dec 8, 2013 6:53 PM in response to turingtest2

I assume they are somewhere since I can still play them through spotify but I am not really computer savvy and really have no idea where to look. Thanks I'll try it again later and see if anything changes. One question if it has the itl when I copy do I write in the itl or (corrupt) itl?

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