Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
I updated (stupidly) to Apple iTunes 12.2.0.145 and now all my music files are gone and all my playlists are gone too. What do I do? I have an enormous music library on a separate hard drive, so this is important to me.
MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)
I had that exact same problem! I have a massive library as well. Everything was gone! Granted the physical files were still in my iTunes folder it's just iTunes was empty! Music, playlists, apps, audiobook, play counts, iTunes settings, etc all gone! I have multiple iTunes backups that I make once a week or so. I tried using a fresh backup & I still had the same problem. I tried using the directions found in this Apple Support Document, and that didn't work for me. But I've heard it works for some people. I'd say try that. If you don't see your content after updating iTunes - Apple Support
If that doesn't work (it didn't for me), I found an old version of iTunes on the net (12.1.2) and, using terminal commands, was able to remove 12.2 & was able to downgrade. That worked for me. However, I had to use a backup of my iTunes library folder because 12.2 corrupted my primary iTunes folder. Fortunately my backup is only 5 days old and I'm only missing 1 app & 16 songs, which is no big deal because they're still in the currupted iTunes folder so I just drag & drop them into the new iTunes and that's it.
Hopefully one of these methods works for you. Good luck!
unfortunately iTunes, whatever version is, probably, the worst software - ever. I have used for years and have NEVER been able to get it to remember an external HD library - needs resetting every time it's started. Tried many things - none work. Simply - it is rubbish.
If you put the entire library on the external drive it works fine. If you put the media folder only on the external and fire up iTunes when the drive isn't onlline then iTunes resets the media folder to an internal path. Reversing those changes can be a drag. See Make a split library portable to get the library in the correct shape.
tt2
Tried everything you have mentioned - never works, unfortunately - a constant problem. Disgraceful that Apple keep piling new features on, but ignore fundamental issues that should just work.
Hi. I downloaded this latest iTunes version 12.2.0.145 onto my Windows 7 PC and I'd thought I lost all my music library. After many options and links in this discussion I copied over my most previous iTunes library file 'iTunes Library.itl' from my 'Previous iTunes Libraries' folder after quitting iTunes. Every time I restarted iTunes it had the same problems, and this file got modified to only the music I purchased from the online store.
After copying over this iTunes library file yet again I then tried an old Windows trick to start iTunes as an Administrator. Amazingly it worked! I can see my 70Gb of music files!
I did all the instructions that I found in this link: http://www.copytrans.net/blog/itunes-12-2-update-may-ruin-your-existing-library- what-we-know-so-far-and-how-to-fix/
It works perfectly for me. Now I can see all my Playlists
After the 12.2 update my music video playlists disappeared. It took me a long time to get them created. I am mad! I read someone's suggestion to go to the itunes folder and find the "previous itunes library" folder, rename it and open itunes using that. I did that and itunes opened and now none of my playlists appear! Not even my music playlists.
I deleted itunes all together and same thing.
Disappointed Apple tries so hard to push new products to us (and of course sell us those new features) that they mess up what we already use and work hard to customize.
😟
iTunes 12.2 appears to have killed my precious 160GB Classic iPod. I have had no problems with my iPod up until the second I let it become acquainted with this new iTunes. Yesterday I wanted to add new music and expected the iPod needed a software update. I stupidly followed Apple's advice that I update iTunes first. When I then connected the iPod to my Win8 PC iTunes could not see the device, although Win8 did -- since I could not eject using iTunes, I ejected via Win8 and tried to reset the iPod. It kept hanging on the black apple logo screen. I let it sit for a few minutes, then plugged the iPod into a charger and it opened on the select language screen. When I plugged it back into the PC, iTunes now did see it after a 3-4 minute delay -- and said the iPod was corrupted and needed to be restored (i.e., wiped) although I could try ejecting and reattaching first. I tried this first, and now iTunes again couldn't see the iPod.
OK, spent several hours going through Apple's "troubleshooting" and ultimately found a corrupted driver in the Apple Mobile Device service. Fixed the service, and iTunes (again after a 3-4 minute lag) now appeared ready to restore the iPod. Appeared to download the restore software, put the iPod back to original settings, and gave notice that iTunes would restart the iPod and show it as a device. But it never did -- instead iTunes froze, "not responding" while the iPod sat warning "do not disconnect." I gave up after giving iTunes 15 minutes to find its way. Shut down and rebooted PC, tried to reset iPod, stuck on Apple logo, iTunes does not see it.
Many wasted hours -- any help on how I can salvage my 160GB Classic will be greatly appreciated.
A bit more -- when plugged into a charger the iPod says "restore iPod using iTunes." When I attach the iPod to my PC iTunes crashes. Win8 sees the "removable disc" but now is no longer able to eject it. What happens if I use Win8 to reformat the iPod?
Hi Laura. I to have an iPod Classic in mint condition. I was listening to it the other night when I downloaded this disastrous iTunes version 12.2.0.145 and it's done exactly the same damage to my iPod Classic. I've been trying all weekend with many solutions I've found on the web and in discussion groups but all to no avail. Apple have really done a good job this time with breaking my iPod Classic and iTunes. Surely Apple would have to be aware of the damage they've done, but I haven't seen any sign of a fix. My iTunes on my Windows 7 PC cannot recognise or fix my iPod. I'm lost to what to do now.
Thank you, tt2. It took maybe 10 tries to get into Diagnostics Mode. Here's what I've got:
Retracts: 11
Reallocs: 256
Pending Sectors: 104
PowerOn Hours: 75
Start/Stops: 6894
Temp: Current 32C
Temp: Min 25C
Temp: Max 55C
My realloc and pending #s are high compared to your 2013 post but ... do they clearly indicate drive failure?
I'm going to go ahead and try the other steps in your link, but want to get this reply posted now (anticipating that my computer will lock up again when I attach the iPod.
L
I have my system set so it cannot upgrade any packages without my permission. Nevertheless, iTunes updated itself to 12.2 AND launched iCloud ... both without my granting permission to do so.
Not only did I lose all of my playlists, I lost all iTunes settings and customizations with the upgrade. It will not allow me to even do a complete rebuild by adding to my library using the standard command from the pull-down menus. If I try to remove the iCloud listings from my library, it thinks I want to hide all of those purchases.
I too have an extensive library stored on an external hard drive. The new iTunes treats all previous versions of my library as corrupt files, and will not allow me to restore from them.
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I don't know if this is the culprit but this happened to someone else I know. Under System Preference under App Store see what is checked. It appears some things are set to download and install in the background on it's own.
I'm back, tt2. Successfully got into Disk Mode but iTunes was "Not Responding" as soon as I attached the iPod. Ended iTunes in Task Manager. Removable Disk E: appeared in My Computer but Windows Explorer get kept reading reading reading it for about 15 minutes, at which point the right-click menu did come up but Properties would not open. I thought I would try the error-checking tool in SlimWare but that froze as soon as it started to read the iPod.
At this point I tried to eject the iPod and my entire PC locked up. When I physically disconnected the iPod, the Properties box popped up.
Is there a background process or service that might be holding up Windows Explorer that I should stop (e.g., the Apple Mobile service)? Should I just jump to the next step in your "Corrupt iPod" post, and if so am I correct that I do this 12-sec reset while the iPod is attached to the PC? I think the Apple Support page that came up when I ran the device connectivity diagnostic in iTunes said not to reset while connected.
I greatly appreciate your help. I live on a boat. The sole source of music is a Fusion stereo that depends on this iPod. Without it, I only have bad radio in Bahasa Malay.
Laura
Try the DFU restore or format methods. The pending sectors indicate a problem. If any key information is stored there then iTunes or the device is likely to stall as it tries to access those areas. Deleting all data from the drive should allow those areas to be reallocated. Check the stats again after restoring to make sure that the pending count is now zero before trying to load up your media.
tt2
No progress with either step, tt2. I attached the iPod to the USB cable, did the 12-sec reset, and opened iTunes. I got 4 pop-up messages in iTunes (something like "connecting to iPod" "iPod needs to be restored" "downloading software" "preparing iPod for restore"). The PC blipped as if the iPod had been disconnected or had turned itself off, then blipped about 10 seconds later ... and iTunes was "not responding" (although Task Manager showed that it was using 22% of CPU for about another 2 minutes). When the CPU usage had zeroed out I shut iTunes down, but like before I had no WiFi until I manually unplugged the iPod.
The iPod did appear in Windows Explorer but like before a right-click would not open Properties -- or Format -- unless and until I disconnected the iPod (without first ejecting, as that again would do nothing). So I haven't been able to attempt this ultimate step.
Any other ideas?
itunes 12.2.0.145 has lost all my music files! Help!
