Bokdem
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: recover itunes library files

Hello there,

 

I always enjoyed the feature of sorting by 'Times played' and 'Date added' in iTunes.

The problem is I've accidentally deleted these files. (if this data is being stored in the .itdb or .itl / .db or .xml files)

 

You may ask, how can this be possible. Well, I didn't follow the right procedure when transferring to a new iMac. I just copied all the music files in the iTunes Music folder instead of making a 'Export Library' file in iTunes.

 

However, my question is: Is there any way, beside a backup/time machine, for me to recover this iTunes data?

I've always been logged in on iTunes with my own personal Apple ID so I thought maybe there could be a back-up of this somewhere at Apple's side?

 

Any help will be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Mathijs

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), null

Posted on Dec 8, 2015 2:02 PM

by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer
Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe
Level 8 (39,573 points)
Mac OS X
A:

If you subscribe to Apple's iTunes Match service, your iTunes Music library is replicated in iCloud, so your other computers and devices can access it.  Then, that supporting data would be stored online.  Otherwise, it is only stored locally, in your computer's iTunes library.

Posted on Dec 8, 2015 3:18 PM

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Bokdem

Q: recover itunes library files

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Helpful

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Dec 8, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Bokdem
    Level 8 (39,573 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 8, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Bokdem

    That data is stored in the iTunes library database file, which is in your user account Music/iTunes/ folder.  Do you have access to your old Mac?  If you do, the best way to transfer your complete iTunes data to a new Mac is to copy the old Mac's iTunes folder (the one in your user account Music folder) to an external drive.  Then, on the new Mac, replace its iTunes folder with the one from the old Mac.  When you run iTunes on the new Mac, it looks like iTunes on the old Mac, with all of your songs and supporting data (such as playlists, play count, ratings, etc.)  This document describes the procedure in detail

     

    How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Support

  • by Bokdem,

    Bokdem Bokdem Dec 8, 2015 3:02 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 8, 2015 3:02 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thanks for replying. I will try to access my old Mac tomorrow. Also was wondering if Apple stored any of this data online somewhere. I guess not. Thanks anyway. (:

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Dec 8, 2015 3:03 PM in response to Bokdem
    Level 9 (54,353 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 8, 2015 3:03 PM in response to Bokdem

    Moving a library: Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings:  Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive, hold down the option/alt key while starting iTunes, and when requested to select a library select the iTunes Library.itl file in the copied folder. 

     

    When this is to a new computer put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music  (or Home > Music) then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there.  (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)  Remember to authorize the computer in iTunes to your Apple ID if you use this to sync to Apple mobile devices or play DRM protected media (e.g., movies).

     

    Certain items used in iTunes related activities are not stored in the iTunes library folder but in special folders.  If you are moving a library to a different computer you may wish to copy these too:

     

    - Apple Music cache files: http://dougscripts.com/itunes/2015/09/new-flush-apple-music-cache-files/

     

    - iOS device backups, various preferences files: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3285925

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Dec 8, 2015 3:18 PM in response to Bokdem
    Level 8 (39,573 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 8, 2015 3:18 PM in response to Bokdem

    If you subscribe to Apple's iTunes Match service, your iTunes Music library is replicated in iCloud, so your other computers and devices can access it.  Then, that supporting data would be stored online.  Otherwise, it is only stored locally, in your computer's iTunes library.