All the content from my iTunes library has disappeared

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 and 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

Thanks for this advice. It worked perfectly for me. Ever since I updated iTunes to version 11.0.2.26, my library has disappeared a few times a week. I've been using AVG for at least 7 years and this is the first time this has happened.

You're welcome. AVG issued a patch yesterday which should stop it happening again.

tt2

Thank you Sarah-1997 for posting this question and turingtest2 for answering this question. I was about to use the previous backup .itl file when I decided to look for the .tmp file. I found the most recent .tmp file (iT 3.tmp) and change that to iTunes Library.itl and it worked like a charm. Don't know why it was doing this and I'm glad I found this thread because it gave me a solution to my problem and a reason why (AVG). Thank you guys again! 🙂

🙂

tt2

Hi tt2, I now have a new problem that has been popping up since switching to the tmp file and the error message says "The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. You do not have enough access privileges for this operation." But I am the admin so I don't know why this is popping up. Any suggestions?

Thanks, TT2! This worked for me. My AVG is updated, so hopefully this should not be a problem. I don't even know if I ran AVG recently (it's not my real-time AV package, I use MS Security Essentials for that role). Still, I restored this after making a mistake in the file I chose. I renamed the iTunes Music library.xml file by mistake, but even after that mistake the solution above seems to have fixed everything. iTunes is incredibly unfriendly. So many sync options are NOT intuitive, counter to the Fan Boy propaganda.

I updated AVG last night and the problem seems to be gone. Still I will make backups of the library file from now on.

Carol Liu wrote:

Hi tt2, I now have a new problem that has been popping up since switching to the tmp file and the error message says "The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. You do not have enough access privileges for this operation." But I am the admin so I don't know why this is popping up. Any suggestions?

Right-click on your main iTunes folder and click Properties, then go to the Security tab and click Advanced. If necessary grant your account and SYSTEM full control of this folder, subfolders and files, then tick the option to replace permissions on child objects which will repair permissions throughout the library. This is the XP dialog but Windows 7 shouldn't be too different.

If it won't let you change the permissions use the Owner tab to take ownership from an account with administrator privileges.

tt2

Thank you tt2. It stopped giving me that error message, but I went ahead with your detailed instructions above and we shall see if the error message pops up any more. 😉

Thanks mate. Spent an hour on the phone to the iTunes helpline yesterday and got absolutely nowhere. Read your post, problem solved in about 3 minutes. Cheers

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

Thanks, that helped me too! Third time it's happened in a week or so...it's getting reeeeally old. The .tmp file saved me though; otherwise I was going to use one of the previous itunes libraries, and the most recent one (apparently they don't update regularly...) was from September. Which would have sucked. Luckily, I had a .tmp file from this morning (when everything was fine). Thanks!

Make a backup copy of the working library file now, and assuming you're using AVG too I suggest you consider switching AV packages. Personally I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free and unobtrusive.

tt2

I've been using the free AVG since 2005 and I've never had a virus, trojan or malware incident that got past it. I would highly recommend it.I use it on 5 different computers and only one of them had this issue with iTunes.

Thanks again though for the advice on restoring the librar. It worked like a charm.