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How to reset iTunes Match

Hi everyone,


Just a new thread to share with you how I did reset iTunes Match, this can be useful in some cases, like mine was.


This allow you to sync again your entire iTunes library with iTunes Match like if it was the very first time you activate iTunes Match.


So, here it is :



1. Close iTunes

2. Rename your iTunes folder into "iTunes2" instead of "iTunes"

3. Open iTunes, it will create a brand new "iTunes" folder with a brand new iTunes library (.itl file). Your localiTunes library should be empty.

4. Activate iTunes Match, let sync. It will show you all your previously synced tracks available to download.

5. Delete all these tracks from iCloud (select all > delete > yes when asked)

6. Wait a few minutes to half an hour

7. Update / Sync iTunes Match again, it should finally show you that 0 music is synced with iTunes Match,which is what we wanted ! If still not "0 music", wait more and update iTunes Match again.

8. Close iTunes

9. Delete the new "iTunes" folder

10. Rename your old "iTunes2" folder into "iTunes"

11. Open iTunes, you should see your iTunes library intact.

12. Activate iTunes Match, let sync as long as needed (in my case I let sync all night long, it was all done the next morning. I have 8400 tracks).

13. All done !!!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 16, 2013 10:22 AM

Reply
22 replies

Dec 24, 2014 1:33 AM in response to Kiwi34

I initially got an error after following the description. iTunes was giving me an error 1040 constantly.

When I decided to repeat the proces as described and left my itunes for ~4 hours sitting in in the new library with the songs deleted and than moved forward completing the proces it worked like a charm!


Thanks!!!! Great work around!

Jan 29, 2015 1:23 AM in response to Kiwi34

My issues with iTunes match... I allowed for my subscription to expire so it would reset. I assumed everything would (as notified) disappear after 30 days. When I resubscribed... all the bad stuff came back and rearranged by iTunes library after I had already corrected the mistakes. I contact apple support which would only give me support based on my new iPhone purchase, not my purchase on match. I switch the conversation to iTunes match on all my devices. I have been in conversation within the last two weeks with a tech support. There was an attempt by an engineer to reset my iTunes match as new. Everything seem to have worked but then it did not. I made several attempts to contact apple again before they gave me a refund. This service is broken. Ask for your money back if you need to. Apple should give better support for services they sell. The support pages only cover the obvious.

Aug 12, 2016 9:45 AM in response to xser

I've run into problems with this today. Everything works up to the cloud refresh, but all songs now get a 'removed' tag instead of updating the match library. So for now anyway, the empty match library doesn't want to be refilled! Match is turned off on all other devices. Not using Apple music. Have also removed cloud devices attached to account other than laptop. Very grateful for any suggestions, tks.

How to reset iTunes Match

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