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No matter what's the reason behind the corrupted iTunes Library, the moment you discover this you will get highly disappointed. However, if you're the one whose iTunes Library is corrupted, there's nothing to be worried about, you still get it fixed on your own. We are going to list some of the solutions through which you will be able to accomplish the fixing of this very issue easily. So, just begin to scroll down and read on how to fix iTunes Library.
Why iTunes Library Corrupted
Mar 20, 2020 Back up your iTunes Media folder, (even though restoring iTunes music library doesn’t affect your media files, it is still best to backup the iTunes Media files first) then quit iTunes. Navigate to your iTunes folder, (For Mac users, iTunes folder can be found in Music on your home folder. ITunes forever changed the way people experienced music, movies, TV shows, and podcasts. It all changes again with three all-new, dedicated apps — Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts — each designed from the ground up to be the best way to enjoy entertainment on your Mac. ITunes prompts you that The iTunes library file cannot be saved there is not enough memory available, follow steps below to delete the temporary files in iTunes folder. First, stop the application. Then start iTunes by keeping the Alt key pressed down, so it will offer the options 'Choose Library' and 'Create Library'. Oct 12, 2010 I get this message about 90% of the time upon opening iTunes or plugging in my iPhone when iTunes is not open. I have searched Google and MR and haven't found anything useful except that it means 'something very bad' happened to my iTunes library. But I've been getting it.
Before moving to the fixing of iTunes Library, we want you to know why your iTunes Library gets corrupted. Firstly, please note that iTunes contains ITL file format unlike earlier when there used to be XML file format. The purpose of this is to keep all your data on your media library and maintaining the playlists straight. Now, if any sort of issue strikes to this file, your iTunes Library is likely to damage as well as you won't be able to open iTunes properly. For instance, virus or malware attacks, data corruption, crashing up of OS etc.
Also, the issue can also be related to permissions with your Home folder when you're on Admin account.
How to Fix iTunes Library? 4 Ways for You
Let us now move to the next section that will demonstrate you what to do when media library gets corrupted. We are going to list 4 different ways for you. Scroll down and master on it.
Itunes Update
Way1: Ultimate Tool to Fix Corrupted iTunes Library
The first way and the best way to fix iTunes Library is to use Tenorshare TunesCare. This tool has the power to solve a wide range of iTunes errors. You can enhance the iTunes performance via TunesCare. Besides this, it fully supports iTunes 12.7 as well as both major operating systems i.e. Windows and Mac. Within just 3 simple steps, you'll be able to achieve the results and fix errors be it iTunes sync errors, install/updates errors or iTunes playing issues. Let's know the steps now.
Step 1 – Begin with launching the software after installing it. Now, connect your device to the PC.
Step 2 – Select 'Fix iTunes Sync Problems' now and start repairing the problem.
Step 3 – Now, wait for the repairing process to get completed and you will get notified that your iTunes Library is repaired now. You can now check your iTunes Library if it is not damaged anymore.
Way2: Rebuild Corrupted iTunes Library from Older Library File Manually
Make sure to close iTunes first and follow the path '/Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl' for Mac and 'C:/Users//[User Name]/My Music/ iTunes/iTunes Library.itl' for Windows.
Now, find the iTunes Library damaged and rename it 'Damaged iTunes Library.itl'.
Next, in the iTunes folder, find the folder 'Previous iTunes Libraries' and hit on it.
You will now be able to notice a recent previous version of your library. You need to now copy it and paste it later where the 'Damaged iTunes Library.itl' locates. After that, rename it to the generic 'iTunes Librar.itl' making it recognizable by iTunes.
Way3: Rebuild iTunes Library - Works for Windows and Mac
Get to the iTunes folder using the path – 'Users/Username/Music/iTunes' (for Mac) and 'C:/Users/[User Name]/My Music/iTunes' (for Windows).
Now, delete these files – 'iTunes Library.itl', 'iTunes Library Genius.itdb', 'sentinel' (ensure that the hidden files are displaying in Finder) and 'iTunes Library Extras.itdb'
If iCloud Music Library is enabled when opening iTunes, hit on 'File' and choose 'Add to Library'. Go to existing iTunes media folder then and highlight it. Select 'Open' now and your media files will be reimported by iTunes.
Also, if iCloud Music Library isn't enabled, you may get prompt by an error message to choose a folder for iTunes Library. You need to now choose your existing library folder and follow the above steps in order to re-add the media files.
Way4: Using Time Machine to Recover iTunes Library File - Works for Mac Only
To start, visit the iTunes media folder under 'Isers/Username/Music/iTunes' and do right click on 'iTunes Library.itl'. Hit 'Rename' and add the file with either 'old' or 'broken' followed by dragging it to the desktop.
Now, hit on 'Time Machine' icon from the menu bar and then select 'Enter Time Machine'.
After this, you will get a pop-up having timeline next to each backup. Now, go to the latest backup and get the library file highlighted. Lastly, click on 'Restore' and open iTunes to check the problem is gone.
Conclusion
Those were the four ways to resolve corrupt iTunes Library. We hope that the above mentioned steps were easily understandable to you. If you're still unable to figure out the best way, we would say using Tenorshare TunesCare will make sense for its simplicity and no technical requirements. Now, that you know what to do if your media library is corrupted, you can easily get the problem fixed without getting panic. We hope you like this post. So, please help us knowing how this post was, by commenting below.
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Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
I have an external drive that has my music library on it. This is for the purpose so both I and my grilfriend can listen to music when one of our laptops is not at home. This is great apart from 2 things.
1. The issue you mentioned which we resolve by consolidating library once we plug the external drive. All new tracks get copied into the main library and we manualy delete everything from the default library.
2. The issue of syncing the itunes database..which i still have to do manualy and i wish there was a quicker way of dooing it.
If anyone has an answer to this it would be most appreciated.
1. The issue you mentioned which we resolve by consolidating library once we plug the external drive. All new tracks get copied into the main library and we manualy delete everything from the default library.
2. The issue of syncing the itunes database..which i still have to do manualy and i wish there was a quicker way of dooing it.
If anyone has an answer to this it would be most appreciated.
Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
The solution I have settled on is to have the entire iTunes folder reside on the shared disk, and replace the iTunes folder on each machine with an alias to the version on the shared disk.
This means that everything in the database is shared -- new songs, titles, ratings, playlists, etc. (which might not be what you want). But it definitely fixes the synchronization issues.
One proviso: only one user can run iTunes at a time (this works for me b/c my wife only uses iTunes at home to sync her iPod), and every user must be able to write to the iTunes Library file and the iTunes directory (to create a temp file). I ran into some permissions problems with this, so I made a shell script to fix the permissions and launch iTunes.
-Esme
This means that everything in the database is shared -- new songs, titles, ratings, playlists, etc. (which might not be what you want). But it definitely fixes the synchronization issues.
One proviso: only one user can run iTunes at a time (this works for me b/c my wife only uses iTunes at home to sync her iPod), and every user must be able to write to the iTunes Library file and the iTunes directory (to create a temp file). I ran into some permissions problems with this, so I made a shell script to fix the permissions and launch iTunes.
-Esme
Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
I started doing this as well (keeping my iTunes library on an external drive) and for some reason, sometimes, when I start iTunes, it can't find some of the songs.
It looks like it's being caused by a timeout as the external FireWire drive spins up.
This creates a problem that I have only been able to resolve manually. I have to go through my library (around 3000 songs) and find the ones with the little exclamation marks on them, then re-point the entries to the files.
For now, I try to make sure the drive is spinning before launching iTunes but it's a pain in the fundament. If anyone has any suggestions for a) making sure it doesn't 'lose' the files, and/or b) an easier fix if it does, I'd be most appreciative!
It looks like it's being caused by a timeout as the external FireWire drive spins up.
This creates a problem that I have only been able to resolve manually. I have to go through my library (around 3000 songs) and find the ones with the little exclamation marks on them, then re-point the entries to the files.
For now, I try to make sure the drive is spinning before launching iTunes but it's a pain in the fundament. If anyone has any suggestions for a) making sure it doesn't 'lose' the files, and/or b) an easier fix if it does, I'd be most appreciative!
I have observed that itunes (I'm running version 4.6, I'm not sure if this is true of older versions) will automatically 'reattach' a track that it had previously marked as missing, if that track suddenly reappears in its original location.
For example, if I have try to play a track that itunes can't find because it's on an external firewire drive that hasn't powered up yet, I can do the following:
(1) click 'cancel' when itunes asks if I want to try and find the missing track
(2) power up the external drive that holds the missing track
(3) double-click this track in itunes (which now has a '!')
(4) itunes finds the track, and the '!' is gone
HTH
rob
For example, if I have try to play a track that itunes can't find because it's on an external firewire drive that hasn't powered up yet, I can do the following:
(1) click 'cancel' when itunes asks if I want to try and find the missing track
(2) power up the external drive that holds the missing track
(3) double-click this track in itunes (which now has a '!')
(4) itunes finds the track, and the '!' is gone
HTH
rob
Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
if you don't mind waiting a few minutes for itunes to recatalog your library, simply reimport your library from preferences -> advanced -> itunes music folder location -> change.. and reselect the same folder you used before.
you do not need to delete your library first, nor do you need to worry about duplicates, as this will only add/repair items not currently shown as normal (no ! or ?)
you do not need to delete your library first, nor do you need to worry about duplicates, as this will only add/repair items not currently shown as normal (no ! or ?)
Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
try writing a quick script:
- try open <external drive name>
-on error, dialog 'drive not spun up'
-wait 10
-launch iTunes
or something like that, and rename it iTunes and use it instead of the iTunes app itself.
- try open <external drive name>
-on error, dialog 'drive not spun up'
-wait 10
-launch iTunes
or something like that, and rename it iTunes and use it instead of the iTunes app itself.
Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
Attach the 'New item alert' script to your internal music folder via folder actions. Then at least you will get a warning when iTunes starts writing to it.
I have an external drive with all of music, and an iBook that is not always connected to it. When I accidentally launch iTunes and import a song without it, I then:
1) Quit iTunes.
2) Connect drive.
3) Open iTunes.
4) Consolidate library.
Since I keep all iTunes music in this lcoation, the consolidate is only for a song or two (quick), and painless.
Am I missing something?
1) Quit iTunes.
2) Connect drive.
3) Open iTunes.
4) Consolidate library.
Since I keep all iTunes music in this lcoation, the consolidate is only for a song or two (quick), and painless.
Am I missing something?
Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
Can't you just make a symbolic link from Users/username/Music/ to your network storage? Then, when it is disconnected, it can't write anything at all, and when it connects it is seamless.
-Jim
-Jim
Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
Even an alias will do this. iTunes isn't pretty when it breaks, since it can't even read/write the Library file, but it can't do anything unless the external volume is mounted.
AppleScript Solution to Mount Remote iTunes Library
Itunes App
Here is a simple solution that works very well for me. Create an AppleScript like:
Save it as an application on the same mount that contains your music files. To be spiffy, rename it something like 'Launch iTunes', and replace the generic icon with the one from iTunes. Now drag the AppleScript from the remote mount to your Dock.
From now on just use this docked script to launch iTunes. If the file system is not mounted, the Dock will mount it, launch the AppleScript and iTunes. If it is mounted you will hardly notice the delay.
Cheers,
Felddy
Felddy
AppleScript Solution to Mount Remote iTunes Library
Connect To Itunes
You know.. I think that's a pretty great hint, along the lines of 'It's so obvious, it's brilliant!'
Though, I do agree that Apple should make iTunes smarter. It's entirely half-assed that they provide a way to change the default Library location but then fail silently AND change settings when that location isn't available.
iTunes' behavior is as irritating as it would be for Safari to reset your 'Home Page' if the page you had set wasn't available when you started up Safari.
Though, I do agree that Apple should make iTunes smarter. It's entirely half-assed that they provide a way to change the default Library location but then fail silently AND change settings when that location isn't available.
iTunes' behavior is as irritating as it would be for Safari to reset your 'Home Page' if the page you had set wasn't available when you started up Safari.
Itunes Stuck On Saving Itunes Library Mac App
Yet Another AppleScript to Stop iTunes from saving to default Library location
Itunes Account
I also use a network volume to centrally store all iTunes Libraries; I use the following script as an iTunes launcher attached to Keyboard Maestro: