How do I redownload itunes music files deleted from my harddrive?

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How do I redownload itunes music files deleted from my harddrive?

My hard drive was damaged and now I've lost at least half of my purchased music. DO NOT LINK ME TO THE SUPPORT PAGE HERE ON APPLE!!!!! That method does not work for songs that are pre-iCloud and don't try to tell me otherwise! these songs are not on any of my devices, I have a new iphone and that it is (my old one was damaged beyond repair, lost a lot of files on that too). I have records of purchasing all of these items on the itunes store yet I cannot find the option to re-download them. When I look them up in purchased, it gives me the option to play them then just asks me to locate the file, which I cannot as it is not on my new hard drive. I am very, very angry with apple for not giving me this option as I've given them hundreds of dollars, those songs belong to me now and I have every intention of getting them back. I would appreciate some help doing so if you would be so kind. Thank you.

iPhone 6, Windows 7, iTunes

Posted on Oct 13, 2014 11:40 PM

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Answer 1

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,330 points

Oct 14, 2014 12:43 AM in response to flipturn5779

When iCloud came in has no impact on whether you can redownload it, the method for redownloading still applies.

What you can redownload will show under the Purchased link under Quick Links on the right-hand side of the iTunes store homepage on your computer's iTunes, and the Purchased tab in the iTunes store app on your phone - music can't be redownloaded in all countries, and you also won't be able to redownload music if you've changed countries since buying it or if the rights-holder has removed it from the store.

You say that you are are given the option to locate the files ? If you are then that implies that you still have the tracks listed in the Music part of your library. If you do then iTunes will assume that you still have that music and that there is no need to be able to redownload it - if you delete those 'tracks' from Music it should then get the cloud icon against it in Purchased.

Or you can copy it back from your backup of your downloads/library that you've been keeping and maintaining.

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Answer 2

flipturn5779 Author

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Oct 14, 2014 12:55 AM in response to King_Penguin

I tried deleating a "!" marked song from my library, and when I then searched for it in the iTunes store the play button and 'locate file' option still came up. How do I find the backup? I'm assuming I must have done one at some point besides on my current device.

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Answer 3

flipturn5779 Author

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Oct 14, 2014 12:57 AM in response to flipturn5779

also, everything with the cloud symbol has already been downloadde - on my device and computer.

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Answer 4

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,330 points

Oct 14, 2014 1:04 AM in response to flipturn5779

Does it show in the Purchased link under Quick Links on the right-hand side of the iTunes store homepage ? If the track is no longer in the Music part of your library then it should show there with a cloud icon against it for redownloading. Or you can go into Edit > Preferences in iTunes, and on the Store tab there should be a 'shows iTunes in the cloud purchases' tick box, ticking that should get music to show in the Music part of your library with a cloud icon against it which you can click on to redownload it (again the 'locate file' entries will need to be deleted for them to show).

Store preferences tab (there is a bug on this forum affecting images so it might not show) :

If the tracks still don't show with the cloud icon then try closing/re-opening iTunes.

If you've taken a backup of your iTunes library then only you will need know what you did with it. Do you have any external drives that you might have copied your library onto ? A backup of an iOS device does not include the contents of its Music app.

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