iTunes update 11.1 deleted all 5GB of my podcasts

Screw Apple. I updated iTunes to 11.1 and it deleted all 5GB of my podcasts. They are literally no where to be found on my computer. Now I have to re-download all of them. Thanks a lot Apple.

iPhone 5, iOS 6.0.2

Posted on Sep 18, 2013 2:10 PM

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28 replies

Sep 19, 2013 12:08 AM in response to joeymp123

I'm having the same problem. iTunes unrecoverably deleted some 2,500 episodes of podcasts, about 40 GB, though I do have a backup. Also in my case, re-downloading or reimporting results in all podcasts being deleted again on the next podcast update.


I'll also add that such deletion happens even if iTunes is set never to auto-delete anything, i.e. with "keep all episodes" and "do not auto-delete" both set for all podcasts. That is a game-breaking bug. No software should ever delete anything of potential value when set not to. This version of iTunes does so, and does so in a completely non-interactive and non-recoverable fashion!


ElisaSD's proffered directions don't work in my case - they are for a different problem than mine. The directions effect a re-import of your Media folder and solve the issue that arises if your podcast files remain in your Media folder, but are erased from your library. In my case, the podcast files themselves are gone from the disk and therefore won't be recovered to the library by a re-import of the Media folder - a re-import will add any files not in the library, but the files I want just aren't there. Long story short: by all means try the recovery directions, but don't be surprised if they don't work. Frankly, even if they did work, all podcasts would be re-deleted on the next update of podcasts anyway (iTunes 11.1 Sisyphus?)


I've decided to reinstall iTunes 11.0.5, which didn't have this issue. I'll reimport my podcasts from backup and find out if 11.0.5 can talk to iOS 7 well enough to function as a temporary workaround. If it can't, I'll probably find some way to downgrade my phone until this issue is switched - or until I can get a different device if it isn't fixed in fairly short order!

Sep 19, 2013 12:20 AM in response to Mr. Mouth

Perhaps unsurprisingly, downgrading iTunes without downgrading iOS doesn't work. Trying to use 11.0.5 with 7 results in the error: 'The iPhone “[NAME]” cannot be used because it requires iTunes version 11.1 or later. Go to www.itunes.com to download the latest version of iTunes.'


So, I'll find some way to get iOS 6 back on my phone until this is fixed. I'd advise you to do the same if you can.


Message was edited by: Mr. Mouth (Fixed typo: "11.1" for "7".)

Sep 19, 2013 1:01 AM in response to ElisaSD

Elisa, Yes they reappear, but they won't play. They show the unplayed blue dot, but when you go to play it, it tells you that the original file is not found. When you go in to the folder where it should be, it is gone.


Have you tried playing any of them? Much of what I have is no longer available to be downloaded. Trying to download the 185GB I had that are no longer able to be played is an epic nightmare. Seriously, who has that kind of time?!?!?!


Who designed 11.1? The Marquis de Sade?

Sep 19, 2013 4:36 AM in response to terrie22737

This is ridiculous, it's just arbitrarily deleted GBs of Podcast episodes.


One in particular is Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast. In my backup I have 265 episodes, iTunes decided it would reduce that to 147.


Another is the 'Breaking Bad Insider Podcast', I was completely up to date but iTunes only kept the latest ones - 509-514, all the others indicate they need to be downloaded again.


Also, what's with the 'old episodes' toggle, why the **** would I not want to see what's available and what I've already listened to?

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iTunes update 11.1 deleted all 5GB of my podcasts

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