iTunes 11 deleted all my music and playlists.

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

I'm having a similar problem - all my music is present and accounted for, but the playlists are gone. Restoring the library is no help - just get the default playlists like "recently added". Will exclude AVG from scanning my music but would appreciate any other help. 😟

It would seem the latest patch to AVG and folder exclusions still isn't helping for some. I recommend you switch to Microsoft Security Essentials, then try restoring library again.

tt2

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

I had the same problem. I've had similar before and I've done what MisguidedX.. above had to do and it's so frustrating. Luckily, I googled this problem before launching into hours of reloading music, etc. and found this thread. It worked, luckily, but not before iTunes wiped my iPod! I hope syncing it will restore all the play lists...I really, really hope!! Thanks for this solution.

As long as your iPod was synced with selected playlists it should be really easy to set it up again.

tt2

This is the same for me, however I don't use AVG, and all of my music files themselves have been deleted. Is there anyway of restoring?

Have you searched your computer exhastively? Entire folders rarely disappear unless the user requests it. Check the drive for errors and if needs be see this selection of free undelete tools.

tt2

The folders are still there, but they are empty of all audio files. The entire 20+ gb library is gone. It's really strange, and it happened when I updated my itunes.

What happens if you search the entire computer for files of the form *.mp3;*.m4a ?

tt2

Wow thanks! that worked great. I didn't expect it, but the files all got copied over to a another folder in my documents somehow while leaving the old folders where they were. Thanks a bunch!

🙂 Did you just move them back?

Depending on what moved them & why, the file names might not match iTunes defaults for every filename. If you have any problems with broken links I have a script called FindTracks that can often repair them. I can explain more if needed...

tt2

I am having this same problem - all music disappeared. I have found in Music\iTunesMusic 13.9GB - which must be all my recorded music. As a non Apple person I can't work out from these posts what I must to to this file to restore all the playlists etc within iTunes. Can anyone find effortless patience and tell me, in simple steps? Thanks. Hugh, London

Hi Hugh.

The basic recovery steps (assuming we're addressing the right problem) are given in the diagram earlier in the thread. Click on it to enlarge. If that's not enough please describe what you see in your iTunes library now, e.g. no content, only purchases, all tracks but with broken links etc. and let me know the paths to the library files and the media folder.

tt2