Downloaded podcasts won't play on computer.

Question

Level 1

8 points

Downloaded podcasts won't play on computer.

My downloaded podcasts on my laptop now have an exclamation mark in front of each episode title OR a cloud after the title. They won't play. I have downloaded more than 2,000 over the years in my library & would love to know how to fix, please. Otherwise, it's a huge data download [which I don't have] to re-do. I dare not connect my iPod classic [where a lot are synced], in case I lose them on that device also.

Also, I am now having trouble backing up my whole podcast library onto my computer. I thought it used to automatically do this, but can't see any settings to do this manually. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

iPod classic, Windows 10.

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 9:00 PM

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Answer 1

jeremy_v

Community Specialist

Apr 18, 2016 8:47 AM in response to cheryliPod

Hi cheryliPod,

Thanks for visiting Apple Support Communities.

You mention that you see an exclamation mark or a cloud icon next to your podcast episodes in iTunes, and you're having trouble backing up your iTunes library. Has the location of the library or your podcast files been changed? For example:

iTunes might not be able to find a file if:

Content was moved outside of iTunes. You should use iTunes to manage your iTunes media library.

Files or folders have been deleted from your computer.

The network or external drives storing the content are unavailable.

The quote above comes from If your music is missing from iTunes. You can also find steps at this link that can help with locating the files and restoring them to their previous location.

Sincerely.

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Answer 2

cheryliPod Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 20, 2016 4:49 AM in response to jeremy_v

Thank you for your prompt reply. I am now seeing latest podcast episodes automatically backing up. I must have corrected a setting. However, my problem is with older podcast episodes from eg last year. They still have an exclamation mark in front of the title. iTunes actually says where they are located - [ User / Music / iTunes / Podcasts.... titles]. However, when I go to that computer folder, they are definitely not there. I assume they must be backed up somewhere, as the location is given.

I thought I could drag an episode title directly across to the back up folder, but this causes an exclamation mark to come up before the title & again it won't play. Windows 10 recently downloaded without my permission, so hope this didn't contribute to problems. Once again, any help is appreciated as it would avoid me having to download again.

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