Restoring lost media after downgrading to iTunes 12.6...

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Restoring lost media after downgrading to iTunes 12.6...

In order for my downgrade from iTunes 12.7 to 12.6.3 on my old MacBook Pro to work I had to use an old iTunes Library.itl file dating back several months. I lost a great amount of media (music, playlists, videos, etc) in doing so. Now I would like to get that media back. I still use iTunes 12.7.4.80 on my current MacBook Pro and I can share files between the two Macs. I am doing all of this to be able to still use my 1st Generation Apple TV that won't work with iTunes 12.7.

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.6), Early 2011 13"

Posted on Apr 28, 2018 5:42 PM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

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Apr 28, 2018 8:34 PM in response to jacbec

The .itl file is the library and is not backwards compatible. The XML file can be read by third party software. It can also be used to rebuild a corrupted library. In principle the XML of a later version of iTunes can be used to recreate the same library in an earlier build. That would be the way to get all of the latest versions of your playlists. If you only want the media use File > Add to Library. Anything in the media folder that isn't already part of the library will be added.

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

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Apr 28, 2018 5:49 PM in response to jacbec

You could import the media by simply adding media to the library. Alternatively you could try reinstalling 12.7 and its library, export the library as XML or ensure that iTunes is generating an iTunes Library.XML file and make a copy of it when iTunes is closed. You could then reinstall 12.6.3 and import the XML you saved earlier to bring the library up to date.

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

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Apr 29, 2018 12:20 PM in response to jacbec

Copying the XML file from one computer to another is unlikely to work as the files are unlikely to be in exactly the same locations on both systems. That's why I talked about you needing to upgrade, restore the 12.7.4 library that you'd put to one side, export the XML, then go back to the older version and import it. Putting the XML file in the folder doesn't work either. iTunes reads the ITL file. You need to actively import an XML file to read the playlists that it contains.

tt2

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Answer 4

jacbec Author

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Apr 29, 2018 12:52 PM in response to turingtest2

The .xml file seemed to be in the same place, I have both old and new Macs side by side so I can see exactly what is in each Music/iTunes folder. I have tried upgrading and downgrading at least a dozen times over the past 2 weeks and tried everything I could find on the web. After probably 30 or more hours at this I'm just going to let it go and be much more careful about upgrading from Apple. Since I have used Apple's since 1982, I should know better. Thanks for your help.

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Answer 5

jacbec Author

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Apr 29, 2018 11:52 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks, 1) Replaced .xml file with latest from my new Mac, nothing seemed to change. 2) Added all in the 'iTunes Media' folder, still missing songs and some Playlists.

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Answer 6

jacbec Author

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Apr 29, 2018 1:42 PM in response to jacbec

This solved my problem, imported new Playlists and deleted each old one. transfer playlists to new computer

The solution by 'b nor'.

Thanks to everyone for all of the excellent help, great forum.

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Answer 7

jacbec Author

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Apr 28, 2018 7:54 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the help but I'm not sure how to proceed. I have not moved my 'iTunes Music Library.xml' file before. I was under the impression that the 'iTunes Library.itl' file (2.4 GB) contained all of my music metadata like playlists, etc. My current iTunes folder on my main Mac is 144 GB, iTunes Media folder is 143 GB, Music folder (within iTunes Media folder) is 32 GB and Movies folder is 92 GB.

If I label the current 'iTunes Library.itl' file copied from iTunes 12.7 as iTunes Library.itl.OLD and add the Previous iTunes Libraries folder file, going back to say 'iTunes Library 2017-09-13.itl' and relabel it 'iTunes Library.itl', then open iTunes with Option/Open and Choose Library 'iTunes Library.itl', iTunes opens fine, except some of my music and all of my Movies are missing. All of my Playlists seem to be intact, except for missing some songs.

I would be satisfied if I could just copy the missing songs from my new Mac (iTunes 12.7.4.80) to my old Mac (iTunes 12.6.3.6), but I don't know how to do that. I have been using file sharing using Thunderbolt between the 2 Macs.

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Restoring lost media after downgrading to iTunes 12.6...

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