Why did iTunes 11.1 (126) delete all (SEVERAL HUNDRED) Podcasts?

Just as an FYI. I listened to Patrick Norton the other day as a guest on Tom Merritt's DTNS speculating about why Apple paid so much for Beats recently. His opinion is that the headphones are (expletive) and that what Apple wants is the talent who can use the cloud functions properly (without deleting mass data, for example). PN says that everything Apple has done in the last couple of years on the cloud has been a disaster for users... and we certainly can agree with that. So if PN is correct, and he often is, then maybe there is hope in the future that Apple will get its cloud functionality right and be able to build the trust relationships between devices properly so that loss of data does not occur via syncing.

Right now one has to have an iCloud account to be able to delete podcasts and other such nonsense. <Roll eyes> as well as the mass deletion problem with itunes.

It is also of interest that PN's commentary about Apple's problems with the cloud is the only time I've heard a commentator mention that in such a way. Except for this forum the problems have been ignored by most commentators.

What do you think -- is that why Apple paid so much for Beats?

To Judy and others,

with regards to your complaints about the cloud not fuctioning correctly, I understand and its frustratining. However, I and many others are not complaining about the cloud functions. We are complaining about the reckless deletion of files from our itunes library, contained on our hard drives, and the blasé attitude by Apple about this problem.

There is something kind of shocking about hundreds of files on my hard drive, nay my external hard drive, being not just moved to the trash but permanently deleted.

My needs are simple, I would like a program that

1. I can download my podcasts on my computer

2. I can sync these podcasts with my iPhone

3. listen to said podcasts on my iPhone and wind recent with my computer and update on it's played status.

4. I would like this program to keep my old podcast episodes, just maked them as played

5. it would be nice if this program updated and automatically downloaded podcast episodes for me

iTunes used to be that program and since it's cloud overhaul it is not.

I am not interested in the cloud. I like to listen to my podcast on the road and not be dependent on a good reception, or using up my data plan on my phone.

And quite frankly I find the answers by people saying "will you should've backed up".

I did back up, and even with the backup that solution is a pain in the butt. If backing up was a requirement of the program functioning correctly it should be included with in the program.

I had this happen today. I launched iTunes 12.3.1.23 and found that it had unsubscribed me from nearly all of my podcasts and removed them from the list. Only podcasts that had episodes downloaded and saved remained.

The fix was as easy as quitting iTunes, and restoring from Time Machine these four files in my iTunes Library folder:

iTunes Library

iTunes Library Extras.itdb

iTunes Library Genius.itdb

iTunes Library.xml

After then launching iTunes, all of my podcast subscriptions were back. I still would like to know what happened, though.

I suspect you may also need to restore downloaded episodes that have been removed. Do you have any iOS devices? My suspicion, voiced elsewhere in this thread, is that iTunes is importing the subscription and retention settings from your device and applying them to your main library. This is the default option any there is no warning about the possible negative impact.

tt2

Follow these instructions and you'll get your podcasts back:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2562

You haven't lost the podcasts--they're still on your computer.

Follow these instructions (I did) and you'll get them all back:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2562

See tools listed in Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.

tt2

See Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash. It's written from a Windows perspective, but the general principles are same.

tt2

Try this link https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5324634?answerId=23168763022#23168763022 these guys seem to have the same problem and managed to sort it.

Good Luck!

Yup, I had 150GB of podcasts vanish, too. I have the Time Machine backup, but it's not really clear how I get my saved episodes back into iTunes...

Restore the files, then drag and drop them into iTunes. This will copy them into the library. I would keep the files separate, though, until the fix comes out

I did this and itunes deleted them AGAIN

Same here. iTunes 11.1 is unusable.