How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
Summary
Learn how to re-create your iTunes library and playlists. With iTunes 8 and later, you can back up your iTunes library, playlists, and iTunes Store purchases (including Applications purchased from the App Store) for safekeeping. Click here for more information.
Products Affected
iTunes 7 for Mac, iTunes 7 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Mac
Re-creating the iTunes Library file
Follow these steps:
- Quit iTunes.
- Locate your iTunes folder.
- For Mac OS X the iTunes folder is stored in:
/Users/[your username]/Music - For Microsoft Windows XP and 2000 the iTunes folder is stored in:
\Documents and Settings\[your username]\My Documents\My Music\ - For Microsoft Windows Vista the iTunes folder is stored in:
\Users\[your username]\Music\
- For Mac OS X the iTunes folder is stored in:
- Open your iTunes folder.
- Drag the iTunes Music Library.xml to the Desktop
- Drag the following file from your iTunes folder to the Trash:
- Mac OS X: "iTunes Library" (in versions of iTunes prior to 4.9 this was called "iTunes 4 Music Library")
- Microsoft Windows: "iTunes Library.itl" (in versions of iTunes prior to 4.9 this was called "iTunes 4 Music Library.itl")
- Open iTunes.
Tip: Do not add any content into iTunes at this point.
- Choose File > Library > Import Playlist.
- Navigate to the iTunes Music Library.xml file on the Desktop.
- Mac users: Click Choose.
Windows users: Click Open.
After re-creating your library, any devices that you sync with iTunes (Apple TV, iPod, iPhone) will see your iTunes library as a new library and will completely resync."
If your Podcasts list in iTunes is empty after following these steps, see article HT2562.
If the iTunes Music Library.xml file is not available, see this document for steps to add files back to the Library (because the iTunes Music Library.xml file is not available, playlists and other information will not be available).