'iTunes Library.itl' cannot be read...' - but the iTunes is brand new!

I have just bought a new PC. Trying to transfer my iTunes collection, I got the message "The file 'iTunes Library.itl' cannot be read because it was created by a newer version. But the version on my new PC was downloaded yesterday! how can I correct this? I have even tried starting from scratch but after 8 hours of scanning and copying to the new version, after rebooting I have the SAME message!

Posted on Dec 20, 2017 10:30 AM

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Posted on Dec 20, 2017 2:25 PM

12.1.3.6 is an old version (the last one to support PCs running Windows XP or Vista). The current version is 12.7.2.30 - this is what you should get if you download from iTunes - Download iTunes Now - Apple.

8 replies

Dec 20, 2017 11:53 AM in response to sweetda

That error can sometimes be caused by a corrupt preference setting. Explicitly choosing the .itl file that iTunes opens when it starts can work around the issue. See the 4th paragraph from the bottom of Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.


See Move your iTunes library to a new computer for more on moving the library from the previous computer.


tt2

Dec 20, 2017 11:34 AM in response to sweetda

Just to be clear, what exact version of Windows and iTunes are you using. Don't just say the most recent version - that doesn't help us much. For example, iTunes 12.2 and later versions require Windows 7 or later and Windows XP will not run those versions of iTunes. Also, what version of iTunes created the 'iTunes Library.itl' file?

Dec 20, 2017 12:51 PM in response to javaliga

New PC iTunes is 12.1.3.6 - downloaded this weekend.


OS is Windows 10 (home) version 1709 build 16299.125


Don't have a display on the old PC right now but the iTunes can't - I would have thought - be newer than on the new since. as I say, I literally downloaded the app from Apple on Friday or Saturday. Besides, I explicitly tried copying the .itl from an older version saved in the summer - same message.


In any case, I got this same message when trying start again from scratch - in other words NOT copying any .itl files but just pointing the program at my music library (which is on a NAS if that makes any difference).


Sorry for any irritation showing through - I appreciate the efforts you and others make to help idiots like me, but this does seriously make me wonder if the advantage of having the same manager on Windows, Mac and iOS are now outweighed by iTunes' drawbacks.

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'iTunes Library.itl' cannot be read...' - but the iTunes is brand new!

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