HT201812: Find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library

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bonnied412
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How do I get iTunes to stop duplicating songs?

I have used a Windows computer with iTunes for years with no issues. I switched to a Mac in January and now my library keeps on duplicating songs. I tried removing all of my music and fixing it in an external hard drive, manually deleted all of the duplicates, etc. I have unchecked the "copy to iTunes folder" box in iTunes and moved my library from a separate music folder into the iTunes folder.

 

I am unsure of what else to do. I have done many searches but am not seeing any advice beyond what I have tried to correct this problem. I can't stand the idea of once again having to manually delete all the duplicates.

 

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014), Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Apr 3, 2015 2:57 PM

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bonnied412

Q: How do I get iTunes to stop duplicating songs?

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Apr 3, 2015 3:11 PM in response to bonnied412
    Level 9 (53,685 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 3, 2015 3:11 PM in response to bonnied412

    Have you done a detailed analysis? Is it only iTunes Store purchase which duplicate?  Other things too?  Do you have iTunes Match?  Has it only started doing this when you started using an external drive?  Are the duplicates being made onto the drive or your internal?

  • by bonnied412,

    bonnied412 bonnied412 Apr 3, 2015 4:20 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 3, 2015 4:20 PM in response to Limnos

    Thanks for the response!

     

    I do not have iTunes Match.

     

    I used the external hard drive just to clean things up. Transferred all my songs there, cleaned them up, emptied iTunes, and moved my songs back in. It was fine, until I added new songs to my library. It seems like somewhere in the process of adding files, some of the files in my iTunes are being duplicated.

     

    They are duplicated both in iTunes, and in the folder (there are additional copies with a 1, 2, etc. tacked on to the end).

     

    Also, it's happening to a mix of songs purchased through iTunes, and songs that are added directly to my library from other sources.