M-P-H83

Q: Itunes Files Could Not Be Found

I recently moved my itunes library from the main drive onto an external drive. The files moved across ok but there is an exclamation mark next to the majority of the files.

 

I know that I can individually locate each of the files but this is going to take forever. Is there a way of locating these files in one move?

Posted on Aug 17, 2016 7:10 AM

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Q: Itunes Files Could Not Be Found

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  • by stuckboss,Solvedanswer

    stuckboss stuckboss Aug 19, 2016 12:45 AM in response to M-P-H83
    Community Specialists
    Aug 19, 2016 12:45 AM in response to M-P-H83

    Hello M-P-H83,


    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. 


    I understand from your post that you have moved your iTunes Library to an external hard drive and now the iTunes Library in iTunes has exclamation marks next to each song. Keeping your music on an external hard drive is a great way to save space on your Mac. 

    I recommend changing the location information within iTunes so it points to your external hard drive. This article has the steps you can use to change the pathway to your files on your external hard drive: 

    Locate and organize your iTunes media files

    Find and change the iTunes Media folder location

    On the Advanced tab:

    • Look in the box under "iTunes Media folder location" for the location of your iTunes Media folder.
    • To change the location, click the Change button and enter a new location.
      iTunes media folder location

    After you change the location of the folder, existing files won't be moved unless you consolidate your files. To consolidate your files:

    • Mac: From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen, choose File > Library > Organize Library and select "Consolidate files." Then click OK.
    • Windows: Hold down the Control and B keys to open the iTunes menu bar. Choose File > Library > Organize Library, and select "Consolidate files." Then click OK. Learn more about menus in iTunes for Windows.

    Best Regards

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Aug 19, 2016 5:32 AM in response to stuckboss
    Level 9 (53,665 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 19, 2016 5:32 AM in response to stuckboss

    The above information actually solved your problem? I am really, really, really surprised. Unless they have changed iTunes radically in the past 2 weeks changing media folder location will not re-link to old media. All it does is tell iTunes to store any new media there.  Oh well, since it seems to have solved your problem I guess you don't need to know how it is really done.

  • by M-P-H83,

    M-P-H83 M-P-H83 Aug 19, 2016 5:39 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 19, 2016 5:39 AM in response to Limnos

    I changed the folder location using the above method. After this was completed it gave me the option to consolidate the files. I chose yes and it seems to have worked. Although not all of the album/artist artwork transferred across.

     

    All the media has transferred and the exclamation marks have moved. Do you have a better way? please share as it may save time in the future.