hw2010
Level 1 (4 points)
iTunes

Q: Deleting iTunes Library after removing original files

Hi there

 

I have recently removed my original music files off my MAC to create disk space and backed them up online. I use iTunes Match

 

But now iTunes is trying to play tracks from the existing library and failing to find the files.

 

Should I turn off iTunes Match in preferences, then delete all the songs int he library manually, then turn Match back on? I'm scared to do this as am worried it may result in me losing the library all together, having to redownload my music collection and start all over again, which would take days of downloads and re-uploads.

 

I also want to keep my playlists - I have exported them to my desktop so think that should work in case they get deleted in the process above?

 

thanks for any help anyone can give

Posted on Aug 4, 2016 9:18 AM

by turingtest2,Solvedanswer
turingtest2 turingtest2
Level 10 (88,293 points)
Apple TV
A:

Try right/option/ctrl/cmd (why can't it be consistent!) clicking a broken link in the library and using remove download (hopefully that option shows even though iTunes can't access the file it should delete). Assuming that works you should now be able to stream that track or redownload it from the cloud symbol. Repeat with a selection of tracks once you know that it works.

 

tt2

Posted on Aug 4, 2016 12:58 PM

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hw2010

Q: Deleting iTunes Library after removing original files

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  • Helpful answers

  • by turingtest2,Solvedanswer

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Aug 4, 2016 12:58 PM in response to hw2010
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 4, 2016 12:58 PM in response to hw2010

    Try right/option/ctrl/cmd (why can't it be consistent!) clicking a broken link in the library and using remove download (hopefully that option shows even though iTunes can't access the file it should delete). Assuming that works you should now be able to stream that track or redownload it from the cloud symbol. Repeat with a selection of tracks once you know that it works.

     

    tt2

  • by hw2010,

    hw2010 hw2010 Aug 4, 2016 12:37 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 4, 2016 12:37 PM in response to turingtest2

    do you mean right click - sorry you confused me! But if you did that doesn't bring up an option to remove download.

     

    Sooo confused and frustrated by this - I spent 30 minutes on help chat last night and another 45 minutes on a call from Apple support today and cant get anywhere forward.

  • by hw2010,

    hw2010 hw2010 Aug 4, 2016 12:39 PM in response to hw2010
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 4, 2016 12:39 PM in response to hw2010

    Ahah! Restarted iTunes and tried again - the option is now there to remove the download - think that has cracked it, thank you. It is no longer looking for the file on the computer and is streaming like it should - thanks so much!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Aug 4, 2016 1:31 PM in response to hw2010
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 4, 2016 1:31 PM in response to hw2010

    You're welcome.

     

    Sorry for the confusion. Unless I'm sitting at my Mac I can never recall what the keyboard combo should be if right-clicking isn't an option.

     

    tt2