I changed computers, but all of my uploaded music from my CDs are gone.

I know this isn't going to probably help, but I had a similar issue about a year ago.

I transferred all my mp3s from my computer to an iPod thinking that they'd be safe there.

However, the iPod malfunctioned (under warranty still thank goodness) and I didn't know to backup the stuff to iTunes.

I was ticked to find out that all my music was gone (but thankfully still on the computer), however I would have had to upload all my music back into iTunes.

So it took awhile, however one thing I did notice:

If you try to play a music file directly from iTunes, it has to be able to find the music file in the location where it was first placed. For example: I transferred Lady Gaga into iTunes from my Music folder. If I move that Lady Gaga file to another location (ex. Documents), and I try to play the song on iTunes, it will give me an error stating that the file cannot be found and it will give me the option to kinda "relink" it from its new location.

That's what made me aware that my iTunes library is not secure in iTunes unless I purchased the mp3s directly from iTunes.

MJ,

did you ever get a response? I just realized the same issue after buying a new PC and my old computer crashed on me. I always thought as long as I had uploaded content and it was in the itunes catalogue I could access it on my new device....now I'm finding that only the music I purchased is safe.

I am absolutely certain that Aplle could access any music I added to my library, purchased or not, and instead they play this game with all of us. Now I'm stuck with re-uploading all of my music again.

Any music file data that is associated with my account should be accessible and stored correctly so I can access it. Computers crash...what I want to know is why Apple does not offer this kind of support to its loyal customers. They only provide dependable storage for what I bought through them...funny how this little scam works.

Software crashes. You can normally restart the software, or the computer. Occasionally a software crash can also damage your data. Hard drives fail. When they do they take your data with them unless you've backed it up. Why do you think iTunes should be any different from other software? If you don't back up your data and the drive dies you loose anything that isn't cloud based. Your pictures, documents, contacts, mail history, downloaded software etc. You can backup yourself, or purchase Apple iTunes Match service. Making your own backups will let you backup iTunes content that iTunes Match doesn't cover, e.g. audiobooks, and your other personal data.

Kbluth wrote:

I am absolutely certain that Aplle could access any music I added to my library, purchased or not

Certain you may be, but you are also wrong. Your iTunes library database is only held on your computer. A subscription to iTunes Match can catalogue part of the library and make it available in the same way as past purchases. Not so long ago Apple sold all media on a one download only basis. They have renegotiated their contracts with the rights holders so that you can redownload your past purchases on demand provided the content has not been withdrawn from the iTunes store.

Should you have any of the media on a device see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.

tt2

mjknowles1969 wrote:

I have since spoken to another iTunes rep, who had no answer or explanation - he told me that both purchased and uploaded music automatically uploads to the Cloud,

That is the case if you pay for and enable the iTunes Match service. A regular iTunes account has no facillity to "upload music to the Cloud". Your CD rips, or downloads from other sources like Amazon (who like Apple allow redownload of most digital purchases) will go onto your computer. From there they can be copied to your devices. If you sign into iTunes on a new computer (without having set up iTunes Match) you will have access to your qualifying past purchases from the iTunes Store, no more, no less.

Music does not transfer from an iTunes library to an iOS device without some kind of sync operation (wired or wireless) or the use of iTunes Match, however since the default options with a new device are to sync all media automatically on connection it is feasible that the media was added from your library, even if you don't recall intentionally doing so.

Perhaps the two reps you have spoken to didn't understand the question properly, or you've heard what you wanted to hear. It doesn't really matter. I could bang on about the experience both Niel and I have answering questions of this type, but you have real-world evidence to work from. You signed into iTunes on a new computer and only your qualifying iTunes purchases were available to you. Proof by example were it needed.

If you have media on your device that is not in your library then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device. There are tools to recover it. The last three entries in the table at the bottom should even let you get all of it copied off, complete with stats and playlists, for nothing more than the investment of a little time.

tt2

mjknowles1969 wrote:

Thank you for your response, tt2, but it still doesn't jive with either my current experiences, or with what the various Apple reps are telling me. For instance:

1. I just got off the phone with a rep from Apple support. I specifically asked him the question, "When I rip songs off of my own CDs into my iTunes library, do they automatically upload to the Cloud, so that I can access them from any Apple-supported device if I log-in to my iTunes account on that device?" (I even wrote it down just like that, word-for-word, so I could make sure that I was asking him the correct and clearest question.) He said (roughly -- I wrote down his response after I got off the phone), "Yes. Any song that you add to your iTunes library, whether they are purchased through iTunes or ripped off your own CDs, are automatically uploaded to the Cloud. That way you can listen to them on any device, as long as you can log-in to iTunes." (As a reminder, this is now the 3rd Apple rep who has told me this.)

If, and only if, you have an active subscription to iTunes Match. This is a chargeable service. Who would sign up for it if everyone had automatically had access to their ripped content in the way that you suggest?

2. As I mentioned before, my ripped songs appeared in my iTunes library on my iPhone every time I logged in to my iTunes account, but did not likewise appear on my new computer. You said that I likely synced my iPhone to the old computer before it crashed, to which I disagreed, because not only did I not consciously do it, but nothing on my phone indicated that it was happening automatically. So I decided to do a test. I went to the public library, and logged in to my iTunes account on one of their computers, and lo and behold, my ripped songs showed up in my iTunes library!

The songs on your phone, are on your phone. They exist there whether you are signed into the iTunes Store or not. If you have access to additional cloud content over and above your iTunes Store purchases when you are signed into the iTunes Store on the device and have Settings > Music > Show All Music > On then I can only conclude that you have a subscription to iTunes Match.

In the public library were you looking at the content of your device? Why would any view of your account be different there than from your computer at home? Why would you authorise a public computer not under your control to your iTunes account?

Finally, I decided to try using the steps listed in the link you provided for recovering your iTunes library, but a couple of the prompts required did not appear on my iPhone when I attempted it, so that process apparently doesn't work with an iPhone 4.

The precise nature of prompts issued by iTunes may vary over time, but the overall process of extracting non-purchased media from an Apple device remains the same. You need a third party tool or access to the file system (which for iOS devices also means a third party tool) and copy off all of the content of interest. Depending on the tool you use the media is either copied into the iTunes library directly or, having extracted it, you then import it into your library and let iTunes organize it according to the tag information.

tt2

If you have access to additional cloud content over and above your iTunes Store purchases when you are signed into the iTunes Store on the device and have Settings > Music > Show All Music > On then I can only conclude that you have a subscription to iTunes Match.

The problem with that conclusion is that you should then have access to that same collection of content when signed into your own computer. 😕

tt2

all of my iTunes music from my old computer that has crashed from my 1st iphone to date and I now have a iphone 6. all of those I paid for though I tunes are gone

See the following as appropriate:

• Download your past purchases - Apple Support
• Hide and unhide iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store purchases - Apple Support.
• Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device

tt2