HT1473: Adding music and other content to iTunes

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mightybond

Q: How can I add a whole music folder to my iTunes v11

Hi,

 

I just reformat my laptop (OS: Windows 7 pro) and I lost all the songs, albums, and playlist listed on iTunes. I do have all the songs backed up in my external hard drive, now my problem is how can I add songs back to the iTunes by folder? Before in the previous versions of iTunes, it used to have a option to "add folder to library" or something like that. Now there is no option like that, and all I can see now is "add file to library". If I use this method, it will take up so much time to do it.

 

help please

 

thank you!

iTunes (latest version), Windows 7

Posted on Aug 21, 2013 3:31 AM

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Q: How can I add a whole music folder to my iTunes v11

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  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 20, 2014 6:46 PM in response to foxiscool
    Level 10 (85,813 points)
    iPod
    Dec 20, 2014 6:46 PM in response to foxiscool

    You're welcome.

     

    tt2

  • by fantasydragon,

    fantasydragon fantasydragon Jan 26, 2015 6:57 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 6:57 PM in response to turingtest2

    Just signed in and made my first post to thank you!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jan 26, 2015 10:45 PM in response to fantasydragon
    Level 10 (85,813 points)
    iPod
    Jan 26, 2015 10:45 PM in response to fantasydragon

     

     

    tt2

  • by StlDave,

    StlDave StlDave Feb 21, 2015 8:02 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2015 8:02 PM in response to turingtest2

    Add me to your thanks as well.

     

    Similar to OP, I was re-adding iTunes as final step after new hard drive, updates, real software, etc.  (Saved till last because it makes me feel a little dirty, like I'm purposely installing a virus.)

     

    Since iTunes has been so bad, slow, clunky <insert other adjectives here>  I figured why not just start a new database?  I dug through every menu looking for this option to add a folder, swearing it was there before.  Thank you for your guidance, tt2.  Leave it to Apple to find a way to make this software WORSE.  I didn't think it could be done, but their engineers and designers are really awe-inspiring.

     

    I mean, I've told people for years iTunes v10 was the worst software I've ever installed.  Obviously the team saw that as a challenge, and did not want to be outdone - somehow finding new and innovative ways to aggravate their users.

     

    To you Apple, I say: "Well done, well done. Nicely played.  You've taught me to never doubt you, and I walk away from this experience humbled."

  • by mroblesmx,

    mroblesmx mroblesmx Mar 7, 2015 2:25 PM in response to mightybond
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 7, 2015 2:25 PM in response to mightybond

    Thanks for the tip, I've found the Add Folder option right there. And for the Apple guys: Why you keep doing the user interface more and more obscure, unfriendly, secretive and hard? Same on you!

  • by Anakrid1,

    Anakrid1 Anakrid1 Mar 22, 2015 7:32 PM in response to mightybond
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2015 7:32 PM in response to mightybond

    Hit CTRL B and select folder. Apple made the simple things more difficult for the Win users.

  • by appleisacrockof@@@@@,

    appleisacrockof@@@@@ appleisacrockof@@@@@ Dec 8, 2015 3:35 PM in response to mightybond
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 8, 2015 3:35 PM in response to mightybond

    I have been struggling with this all evening.  First try iTunes allows me to drag and drop.  When I come to do it again to update, no go.  Deleted the folders and tried again, no go.

     

    Have resorted to restoring ipod again, deleting all the tunes in iTunes and loading them all again.

     

    what a crock of *****

  • by hhgttg27,

    hhgttg27 hhgttg27 Dec 8, 2015 5:30 PM in response to appleisacrockof@@@@@
    Level 5 (5,407 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 8, 2015 5:30 PM in response to appleisacrockof@@@@@

    iTunes allows you to add media from existing files/folders on your computer in three different ways:

     

    • drag and drop from Windows Explorer (File Explorer in Win10) to iTunes
    • select File > Add File to Library... or File > Add Folder to Library ... in iTunes (press Ctrl-B to enable the menu bar if necessary), then navigate to and select the files or folders you want to add
    • copy the files/folders to iTunes' Automatically Add to iTunes

     

    There are a couple of scenarios in which this may not work correctly:

     

    • The files may not be in a format that iTunes handles - though its support is pretty comprehensive - AAC/ALAC/AIFF obviously, MP3, WAV, WMA (which will be converted based on iTunes' import settings).  Main exceptions are other lossless encoded formats - FLAC, SHN, APE, etc. - which are not / probably never will be supported: these have to be converted to a compatible format before importing  If you use the 3rd method above, any incompatible files will be placed in a Not Added folder so that you can diagnose the problem
    • iTunes' library folders may have been set to read only or Windows permissions is not allowing them to be updated - see turingtest2's user tip on Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows for more info

     

    I'm not sure what you mean by "When I come to do it again to update" ... once you've added media to iTunes, you should make any changes to it within iTunes - importing the same media files again is a certain way to generate duplicates within your iTunes library.

     

    Not "a crock of *****" - iTunes is no different from any other piece of software in that it pays to take a little time to understand how it works.  Once you're familiar with its operation iTunes is actually a highly functional, stable media management system ... though not without some flaws

  • by appleisacrockof@@@@@,

    appleisacrockof@@@@@ appleisacrockof@@@@@ Dec 9, 2015 1:01 AM in response to hhgttg27
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2015 1:01 AM in response to hhgttg27

    Thanks for your reply.  I am a very competent PC user.  I really cannot be bothered to try to work out how the oh so 'intuitive' iTunes works.  I am told over and over that apple stuff 'just works' and is so easy to use. The fact is, it is no different to any other platform and possibly just a bit more obscure possibly because it is trying to be so 'transparent' to the end user. I'm afraid I have finally given up on it.  It has been uninstalled from my machine for the very last time.

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