How to effectively rename songs and albums in iTunes (PC)?

Gobbledygeek wrote:

As for renaming the songs themselves, directly from Windows Explorer (see comment below), I'd love to, but I can't find the actual copies of my songs in Explorer:

No, that's not what I suggested.

I was suggesting that you check the properties (in other words, what things you are allowed to do to the file) using Windows Explorer. If the file is set to read only, you will not be able to change track information in your iTunes Library, so check to make sure they are not set to read only.

However...

Gobbledygeek wrote:

I've been prompted to sync my Library with the iPhone content, but apparently, only songs purchased (or, in my case, offered; two measly songs in all) via iTunes are stored on my PC hard drive.

The bulk of my music only sits on the iPhone, with no actual backup on the hard drive, it seems,

How can this be so? You previously stated that you import a CD into your iTunes Library, so why is it no longer on your PC? Have you been deleting the music once you put it on your phone? If so, that is a very bad practice.

Gobbledygeek wrote:

Frankly, I think syncing music between iPhone and iTunes is a pain in the rear: there's no easy way to make sure all the songs on the iPhone are actually backed up on the hard drive, apparently, and it makes no sense to me.

Yes there is.

1. Import your music into your iTunes Library, by:
   1. Using iTunes to rip from CD (copy the CD)
   2. Downloading files onto your computer from other sources (this does not add them to your library) and then using File/Add file to Library to add them to iTunes Library. This includes purchases from other stores and free downloads from elsewhere
   3. Sign into your iTunes Store account. (You can leave it signed in all the time if you wish) and use iTunes to purchase music from the iTunes Store. iTunes will download the music to your computer and add it to your iTunes Library
   4. Buying (purchasing) music directly on your iPhone from the iTunes Store and allowing a later Sync between the phone and your iTunes Library to back these up to your computer
2. Make any changes to track names etc now, before connecting the phone to your iTunes Library. (If you try to do it while the phone is connected, you will almost certainly cause the phone to not be properly updated)
3. Connect the iPhone to your iTunes Library and let the changes be synchronised
4. At Sync time, make sure that music purchased directly on the phone appears in your iTunes Library
5. Once Sync is completed, safely disconnect the phone from the computer.

• The music is now on your phone and backed up on your computer. It is all listed in your iTunes Library.
• It is the best practice to back up everything on your computer as well.

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Perhaps you have misunderstood the messages you see when you connect your phone to iTunes. Let's go back to the beginning.

I've been prompted to sync my Library with the iPhone content, but apparently, only songs purchased ... via iTunes are stored on my PC hard drive.

The bulk of my music only sits on the iPhone, with no actual backup on the hard drive, it seems,

Are you sure? You said you imported a CD into your iTunes Library and originally you were complaining of tracks being listed as track 01 etc. and your screenshot showed music in your library. So what makes you think otherwise?

Gobbledygeek wrote:

The issue here is, I can rename the songs, albums and whatnot in the backup folder, but how can I sync the modified folder to my current Library?

I've tried to point iTunes at that folder, but iTunes only offers to import the whole folder, not replace the modified songs/albums,

The use File/Add File to Library, as I suggested previously. That way you can choose the specific song you want, although I thought one of the major problems was that you were unable to change the names.

So, I'm a bit confused...

Gobbledygeek wrote:

I've tried to point iTunes at that folder, but iTunes only offers to import the whole folder, not replace the modified songs/albums, and since the actual songs aren't stored on the PC's hard drive,

It doesn't matter if songs are not on the PC's hard drive, just as long as the drive they are on is powered and ready to read before you start iTunes. If not, iTunes will not find those songs on subsequent start ups.

But it's not just that. In you first post you stated that you had a backup of the xml file, but not the songs. But now you're saying you do have the songs themselves. None of this addresses the original problem you complained about - songs without track names and the fact that you said you could not change the titles. And yet, now you say:

The issue here is, I can rename the songs, albums and whatnot in the backup folder,

whereas before, you couldn't.

I can only assume that the reason you could not change titles is because the files are on a drive which is set to read only, or the files themselves are set to read only. This would make sense if the files are a backup. Often, a backup is a one-time snap shot of a drive and is therefore read only. Further, if you use backup files as your main source, because they are now your only source, then they are no longer a backup.

• First of all, decide where you are going to store all your music; either in one location or several, that's up to you, depending I guess on the capacity of your storage locations.
• Having decided that, make sure that those locations have write capability, not just read.
• Make sure you understand the steps I outlined in my previous post about importing music into your iTunes library, using Sync to manage the Library onto a device (such as your iPhone), and the principles of the hard drive being the back up the phone, and the need for a further backup (of your Library, which is on your computer) to another location. Until you understand how this works, you will be chasing your tail trying to manage your music, as you appear to have been doing up to now.
• Once you understand the above, add any music not already in your iTunes Library by using File/Add File to Library for individual songs, or File/Add Folder to Library for a whole folder of music, as I previously suggested. When using these commands, you simply need to navigate to the location of the stored music, where-ever it is.
• Remember to backup this Library, by making a copy of your iTunes Folder, including the files that iTunes uses to manage your music.

It's not clear what you are hoping to achieve since your screenshot shows an album with all the track names and the album name, which is (presumably) what you want.

However, to address the header of your post; How to effectively rename songs and albums in iTunes (PC)? (coupled with your explanation of Track 01, Track 02 etc.), the answer is to make sure that track information is filled in before you copy the CD into your iTunes Library. Note that I've underlined the word effectively, because that is the only effective way to do it. Attempting to rename a whole album once it's in your Library is far from effective. For example, did you miss or not find the other two songs on the album or did you not import them?

iTunes uses an online service to fill in the song titles etc., so your iTunes (and therefore your computer) has to be able to get online to find that information. If you set your iTunes to show the CD before you import it that will allow you to check whether the information has been filled in. To change that preference, in your iTunes, go to Edit/Preferences/General>When you inset a CD and change the option (via the drop-down menu) to Show CD.

As for any albums already imported, you can rename songs in iTunes, you can even rename several tracks in one go - but only fields such as the artist, album title and genre (providing all the songs on the album are the same genre). Obviously, since each track has a different title, the song title has to be done one at a time.

Not sure what you mean by changing the artist name in "properties" in iTunes (I don't know where you mean). Usually, it's done by selecting the song (in your iTunes Library) without your device connected, and clicking on Edit/Get Info/General>artist.

If that doesn't work, check the Properties of the file (that song's file) in your file manager (Windows Explorer) and make sure it is not set to Read-only.

further to "the fiend" above...

... it's often easier to click and select all the files you want to edit (cntrl-click for individual songs, shift-click for a group), right click and select "Get Info" or "Song Info" (it changes in iTunes 12.7). Then alter any details you want including adding artwork etc.

i think if you let iTunes manage your music (Edit/Preferences/Advanced - check "Keep Music Organised") - it copies all files to one location and sets them read-write.

At the risk of confusing what already seems a complicated position - what happens when you right click on a track in iTunes and select "Show in Windows Explorer", or whatever the equivalent is on a Mac - i'm not entirely sure which you are using.

Two choices usually:

1) It opens a explorer window with your files there - and as the fiend says they could be read-only and need to be set read-write if you want to edit - but they are already there.

2) If not in library, it will ask if you want to search/browse for it, in which case you could click on the song in your backup, let iTunes sync to it, (and copy it if you have set iTunes to manage your file structure) and then you can alter any song parameters. iTunes gives an option to try and find any other missing tracks in the same place. If you don't search then it's just a library entry and you can delete and re-import from your backup later.

I don't understand why you would want to correctly label them outside of iTunes - it works but is twice as hard using explorer or whatever. Or am I completely missing the point?

martin1662 wrote:

I don't understand why you would want to correctly label them outside of iTunes - it works but is twice as hard using explorer or whatever. Or am I completely missing the point?

No, you're not. That's a part of the message I've been hoping to get across.

1. Master library in iTunes on pc

2. Create playlist in iTunes with the music you want on the iPhone

3. Set iPhone to sync to the playlist

4. Any changes you make in iTunes automatically sync to iPhone

Simples.

To get the tracks on your iPhone back to your PC you have to use 3rd party software. Just google "copy iTunes music to PC" and there are lots of choices, I have done it in the past, but can't remember which I used, others may be able to recommend, and i think there some listed on this site.

Then you will be able to edit, sync etc.