Q: Suddenly all my playlists are missing - itunes 12

I agree. Years of playlist creation have just gone. Al;l I can see is what I have purchased from Itunes.

Years of work have just disappeared.

How can we get our playlists back?????

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.

tt2

I have files I created nearly 30 years ago. How? I back up everything I consider important. My "years of work" never disappear.

ASC user turingtest2 help document: Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6561

Here are the two main methods. Method 1 does revert your library list (but not media files) to the state it was at the time of the last iTunes update but is probably better if you just updated the iTunes application and are having problems.  Method 2 is best if you have not recently updated iTunes but are willing to accept loss of some metadata.

1) iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201561 - These instructions have you open iTunes with an old iTunes library file archived at the time you last updated iTunes.  This will revert your library content list and appearance to what it was at the date of the last iTunes update. Newer media not in this list will still be in your media folder and you can re-add these as new items by dragging your media folders to the Automatically Add To iTunes folder.

A method 1 shortcut that seems to work with more recent iTunes versions - https://discussions.apple.com/message/28484935#28484935 - However, I have not tried this and would want to make sure it didn't start creating additional files and folders inside the "previous libraries" folder that doing things the official way would avoid.

2) If you don't see your content after updating iTunes - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203225 - These instructions use a trimmed-down version of your library file to rebuild your primary library file. You lose some metadata (ratings, play count, date added) but the listing should be fairly up to date.

Thanks I will have a go.

I am an apple fan and have been with them since the 1980's However, this is outrageous. Surely when testing was done this was noticed. All that this version shows is what I have purchased. If I cannot restore this I have to completly rebuild my library.

I have no objection to Apple devising a new version for its users but there should have been a means to show the classic mode. It appears there is no such possibility - or if there is it is extremely difficult.

As I say this is outrageous and it is the first time - in my opinion - Apple has seriously let down its users. If I cannot easily restore my playlists then I am in for hours and hours recreating the files.

Pay heed to Murphy's law and back up. Ideally backup the backups. I have three clones of my iTunes Library. One at home, one at work, and one on a portable drive I shuttle between them to keep it all in sync.

tt2

first Apple lost my documents... Then my photos earlier this year... Now my Music....

jeez, time to head off into the sunset..

im not impressed with the interface either........

I concur with Mac-Clashy. Last year it was iOS updates that bricked the phone function on new iPhone 6's.. thanks for that one Apple.

This year, Apple Music will nuke your playlists and your album art - mucking up your entire music library.

The ability to trust Apple with their upgrades is seriously compromised when major releases are so problematic for a large number of users. Both the iOS iPhone fiasco and this botched Apple Music rollout are serious signs that quality assurance and testing is clearly not done prior to releasing these products. .

A properly quality-checked iTunes upgrade should not destroy the playlist structure and album art collections for Mac users with large music libraries, yet that is what many users are reporting after Apple unleashed this bad upgrade to the public. I no longer have confidence in Apple software upgrades when they cause so many undesired issues.