Hi.
Recently iTunes has started to import more and more song to the library that allready is in library before. This is happens every time I ad a new song to my library, then all the other files gets imported again. When I look at what file it songs are linked to it`s the exact same file also as the one allready in itunes.
The list with songs also keeps on groving every time..
How can this be fixed?
PS: I`m on a windows 10 machine
When I look at what file it songs are linked to it`s the exact same file also as the one allready in itunes.
I suspect your issue is due to the reason highlighted.
iTunes may create duplicates if the same content is repeatedly added from outside the media folder when it is set to make copies of anything that is added to the library, or is added from an external drive that hosts the media folder that was offline when iTunes was launched.
Apple's official advice on duplicates is here: Find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library. It is a manual process and the article fails to explain some of the potential pitfalls such as lost ratings and playlist membership, or that sometimes the same file can be represented by multiple entries in the library and that deleting one and recycling the file will break any others.
Start in the Songs view. Use View > Show Duplicate Items (pre iTunes 12.4) or File > Library > Show Duplicate Items (post 12.4) and then click Same Album to display exact duplicates as this is normally a more useful selection. You need to manually select all but one of each group to remove. Sorting the list by Date Added may make it easier to select the appropriate tracks, however this works best when performed immediately after the dupes have been created. If you have multiple entries in iTunes connected to the same file on the hard drive then don't send to the recycle bin.
Use my DeDuper script (Windows only) if you're not sure, don't want to do it by hand, or want to preserve ratings, play counts and playlist membership. See this thread for background on the script, this post for detailed instructions, and please take note of the warning to backup your library before deduping.
(If you don't see the menu bar press ALT to show it temporarily or CTRL+B to keep it displayed.)
The most recent version of the script can tidy dead links as long as there is at least one live duplicate to merge stats and playlist membership to, and should cope sensibly when the same file has been added via multiple paths.
tt2
It sounds like iTunes might be having trouble detecting what is already on that partition, causing it to add files that should already be in the library when you scan the folder again. You could try a tool called iTunes Folder Watch so you can at least review what is about to be added and stop if it looks like too much.
See also Make a split library portable for some thoughts on organizing an iTunes library. When it is all set out in the standard layout there should be less scope for problems.
tt2
Thanks for your reply.
The songs are added from another folder and itunes is told not to make a copy to it`s folder. so this is not the case. As mentioned the songs is also linked to the same file at the same location.
Tried the "duplicates in itunes" button, funny thing. It shows a lot of duplicates but not the ones that just was added..
What can I do then?
I made an edit to my initial post after re-reading yours. Is the media hosted on an external drive or network share? Are you being specific in adding only new tracks or are you adding a whole set of folders with the hope that iTunes would add only the new content within?
tt2
I have a folder on another partition on my harddrive, here I keep adding new files as I get new music. And in Itunes I just scan that folder everytime there is new files there.
Itunes imports songs twice
