Q: Most of library and all playlists are GONE!!!  Please help!

Hi kimberlyfromlivonia,

I understand you updated your iTunes for Windows software and can't see your music and playlists.  I can certainly understand your frustration.  The following resource will help you restore your iTunes library and get you back on track.  Since you are working on a PC, I only included the steps for Windows here.

If you don‘t see your entire library after you update iTunes on your Mac or PC

Learn what to do if you don’t see all of your songs, albums, playlists, or other imported content after you update iTunes on your computer.

iTunes keeps track of your content and playlist in a library file. If iTunes can't update your library file immediately after an iTunes update, you might notice missing imported content and playlists. Learn how to restore your iTunes library.

If you're missing content or playlists and didn't recently update iTunes, get more help:

Learn what to do if you see an exclamation mark next to music in iTunes.

Restore your iTunes library

Before following the steps below, make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes.

1. Quit iTunes.
2. Go to the iTunes folder that contains the iTunes library files:
   Windows: Navigate to \Users\username\Music\iTunes\.
3. Drag the iTunes Library.itl file to your Desktop. Learn what to do if you can't find the file.
4. In the iTunes folder, open the Previous iTunes Libraries folder.
5. Find the file named iTunes Library YYYY-MM-DD where YYYY-MM-DD is the date you updated iTunes (Year-Month-Day).
   If you don't see a Previous iTunes Libraries or a recent YYYY-MM-DD file, your iTunes Library file might be in a custom location. Search for Previous iTunes Libraries on your computer to find the most recent YYYY-MM-DD, then continue with step 6.
6. Select the file, then press Ctrl + C (Windows).
7. Press Alt + Up arrow (Windows).
8. Press Ctrl + V (Windows).
9. The YYYY-MM-DD file should now be copied into your iTunes folder. Rename the copy "iTunes Library.itl" (without the quotation marks).
10. Hold down the Shift key (Windows) and open iTunes.
11. When you see a message that asks you to Choose iTunes Library, click Choose Library. Point iTunes to the file you renamed in step 9.

Your iTunes Library should now be restored. If you see all your content and playlists in iTunes as expected, you can move the iTunes Library.itl file on your Desktop to the Trash.

Any changes that you made to your library after the date on the iTunes Library that you used in step 5, such as new playlists that you created or songs that you added, might be missing.

Last Modified: Jun 23, 2016

Kimberly, it is always a good idea to have a backup of your important files before doing a software update, or in case your hard drive should fail.  If you do not have a backup of the 8,000 songs in your iTunes library on an external drive, here are the steps to create one now.

Manage and back up your iTunes media library

Take care,