Many Purchased Movies Missing from Library

I've had the same issue happening on two separate 4th gen Apple TVs. No clue what happens but have 500+ titles in our library and for some reason, sometimes it only shows a portion of them (387 if memory serves). Once I restart the Apple TV they all re-appear but no clue why they just randomly disappear sometimes. I've tried signing out and signing back in to my account but this keeps happening. Feels like a software issue to me but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I neither have a device capable of playing a 4K movie, nor have I purchased one for download (since there would be no reason for me to do so). As I indicated in my post "according to the snippet...."

I would suggest that you contact iTunes Support to see if they can explain the best way to be able to download your 4K films to your iTunes Library so that you will have ongoing access to them going forward: iTunes Support WorldWide

Best of luck,

GB

Thanks for the link Gail, I did that. You cannot download 4k movies to back them up.

Translation: 'buying' 4k movies on iTunes is a bait and switch scam. At best it's a long term rental. The Apple terms have not changed a bit, content can still be removed without notice, and you are still encouraged to back up your content...which you cannot do. Furthermore, at no time does the iTunes store state that you can only download the 1080p version while taking your money for a supposed 4K movie purchase.

I have to say this is a common problem.

My understanding is that when you purchase the movie, it is your responsibility to then go out but an Apple Mac for £1500 in order to download it locally. In one response I got, they suggested I downloaded it onto my iPhone in case they stopped it from being available on the iTunes store – which is utter nonsense!

When you buy a DVD/Blu-ray, the shop doesn’t come to your house a few weeks later and say “I’m afraid that version isn’t available anymore, you need to buy another one!” - I am sorry Apple, if you are going to insist that we have to download from your store, and pay 3 times more than it costs to buy a DVD (sometimes 10 x more if you are willing to purchase second hand) you need to be able provide some kind of stability for our purchases.

The problem is, once you have put everything into Apple, it becomes costly to then get out and move to Google (for example). I agree though with what others are saying – if they are advertising a streaming device to purchase all your films and view them, I think they need to be able to back this up with hard evidence.

The problem I have since had, is that I can no longer stream from my phone to Apple TV – I am guessing a recent update has now stopped another feature.

Not everyone has an apple laptop (expensive) I buy my movies on my IPad and watch them on there. I only downloaded movies if I wanted to watch them on the go.

I guess my question is where would you suggest backing up 1TB of movies? Which is currently what I own, now. This will become more of a problem the more movies people start to 'own'. While I understand it's in the T&Cs, from a customer service point of view it is poor and defeats the object surely.

The point is that you bought it and you should be able to access it anytime via streaming or download. What ever the reason the supplier removed it from sale shouldn't affect your ability to watch what you paid for. Removing content for sale is different to removing previously purchased content, it would be good if that could be separated - it's not really fair on the consumer.

Well, I'm still not convinced that you were able to speak to someone who actually knows what can or cannot be done. Not even sure there is any such person at this point since it is relatively new technology.

Doesn't seem to me to be relevant whether you can actually play the item on anything but your Apple TV, since the point here was to have a permanent copy safe somewhere for future use.

I can purchase a 3d version of a movie that I cannot play on my 3d TV, but if I ever get one, I would be able to play it.

If I were trying to find out a definitive answer that I felt that I could absolutely rely on, I would escalate my question until I got to someone beyond the entry-level person, if you know what I mean 🙂

Best of luck,

GB

You don't need an Apple laptop. You need a computer that is running the most current version of iTunes, which is where your iTunes Media Library should be stored.

GB

Yeah, great boilerplate there. Except you can't download anything to an Apple TV. Even the ver. 4 ones with sufficient on-board memory to actually do it, Apple simply doesn't let you. So there seems to be a disconnect somewhere between what Apple says you should do and what they're actually willing to help/let you do.

It's a sketchy practice at best, and -- as someone else so aptly suggested -- is pretty close to outright fraud. It's not defensible from a customer service standpoint, regardless of what chunk of the TOS you care to glibly throw at it. Even the staunchest Apple defender would probably admit that -- at the very least -- it's not a good look for Apple to allow their customers to have content purchased in good faith to be purloined back from them, right out from under their noses -- certainly not if it's a business model Apple would expect customers to trust and continue to spend their money on.

Precisely this. It's quite strange Apple doesn't let you backup movies to iCloud. I suppose I could just download them, convert them, and re-upload them, but the iCloud costs would be ludicrous for me (~4TB). I've opted to simply setup a Plex server and plug in some redundant 8TB HDs. Now I find out I can't backup my 4K HDR movies? What's the point of "ownership"? I thought Apple wanted to kill off the physical media market but short-sighted policies like this are just breathing life into it.

Not sure what part wouldn't work for a 4K movie. According to this snippet, (full link posted below), they also go to your Library like any other purchase:

Movies.

Now showing on all your screens.

Browse more than 112,000 comedies, romances, classics, indies, and thrillers. iTunes has movies from every major Hollywood studio and independents around the world. And you can buy or rent them in 1080p HD. Select titles are even available in 4K. Purchase on your iOS device, and your movie will be instantly accessible in your iTunes library on your Mac or PC. And vice versa. Tap to play, or download to keep a copy with you when you won’t have Wi-Fi. You can also watch on your 4K HDR TV with Apple TV 4K.

iTunes - Video - Apple

Am I misunderstanding something?

Cheers,

GB

It's obvious you have never tried it! You cannot download 4K movies in 4K. Here is an example:

This is my copy of Blade Runner 2049. As you can see, I bought the 4K version. Now, let's download it so I can watch it on my 4K monitor:

Uh oh. It's not showing the 4K or Dolby Vision logo. Let's try downloading it and see what happens:

😟 😕😠 6GB? That's definitely not a 4K movie, in fact, it's the 1080p version.

Apple doesn't even show the computer as being a compatible HDR device, let alone 4K:

Gail, it would be great if you could post screenshots of your successful 4K download. You're obviously able to do something that I cannot!

Here's my problem... Not only do I have missing movies, but when I go to check my purchase history to get the purchase numbers iTunes asks me to re sign into my account every 8 seconds. As soon as I want to look at my history farther back than 90 days it starts "glitching." When I look at anything else within my account no problem - I am not asked to resign in. Want to search my history? Suddenly, there is this "glitch."

Over the last 8+ years I have purchased for our family:

SIX MacBooks, (4 Pros, 2 Airs,)

ONE Mac mini,

SIX Apple Watches

SIX iPhones

FIVE Apples TVs (2 are 4's,)

TWO 3TB Time Capsules (one useless except as an external hard drive)

I have also bought 340+ movies and just show 310.

If they can't value and protect the over the top apple consumer like me, they certainly won't protect the one Apple product owner and their purchases. I am about ready to launch a serious social media campaign on this and change how I get our movies.

I am sick of feeling like I should be grateful for Apple allowing me to purchase their stuff. I want them to act GRATEFUL that I BUY IT!!!

Where did you find your Movies? Do you see a little cloud next to them? If so, then next time you do have Wifi, download whichever ones you want on your iPad locally. It make take a bit of time to download. Also, make sure you have enough room on the iPad to house them.

If those Movies are stored in your iTunes Library on your computer, then you can simply hook the iPad up to the computer and sync the movies. If you want to sync them but they are not in your computer's iTunes Library, then you can download them to that library by going to:

iTunes Movies Store

Click on Purchased under the Quick Links section

Click on Not In My Library

In Bottom right-hand corner, click on "Download All" if you want all of your movies to be locally stored on your laptop

If you can't find the movies you are looking for, make sure they are not hidden: Hide and unhide iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store purchases - Apple Support

If you keep a local copy of all of your iTunes purchases in your local computer's iTunes Library, then you won't have to worry about losing media when it is changed in the iTunes Store. The copies that you own will remain in your library until you delete them.

Cheers,

GB

Apple Support is not here - this is a user to user technical support forum, and no one is trying to gloss over anything. In Apple's Legal Media Services Terms and Conditions, there are two bullets that clearly state your level of responsibility regarding your purchased media:

It is your responsibility not to lose, destroy, or damage Content once downloaded. We encourage you to back up your Content regularly.

REDOWNLOADS

You may be able to redownload previously acquired Content (“Redownload”) to your devices that are signed in with the same Apple ID (“Associated Devices”). You can see Content types available for Redownload in your Home Country at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204632. Content may not be available for Redownload if that Content is no longer offered on our Services.

As has been stated already. When you purchase your media, it is your responsibility to download it and keep it in a safe place. There is no guarantee that the item you have purchased today will still be available tomorrow, and if it isn't, there is no way to get it, and no way to avoid a new purchase if you must have the media.

All of your purchased media should be stored in your iTunes Library and backed up to an external source like Time Machine, if possible.

BTW - there is no "dishonesty" going on here. Apple has no control over what versions, releases, or other changes that go on in the media. If a media company decides to change something and call it a new version that you have to purchase separately, then that the distribution company. Apple does not make these changes.

It's your media, you are responsible for it. Put it somewhere safe, and you won't run into this issue.

GB

There is no "notification". It is simply the legal document regarding Media Services - all media services, whether they are used for an iOS device, a Mac, or via an Apple TV device. iTunes on your computer is your Library - your "hard copy" library, if you will.

If you feel things are not working the way they should, then I would recommend you talk to Apple Support about it. You see the clear evidence that you and you alone are responsible for the content of your media. I don't know anything about product number changes or how they work, so maybe someone at Apple can explain why that happens: iTunes Support WorldWide

Best of luck,

GB