iTunes Store: Finding missing music and video downloads

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Find files on your computer

If the song is still listed in your iTunes library but you don't know where it is on your computer, see this article for steps to locate where it is on your computer.

If you can't find the song or video anywhere in iTunes, try searching for it on your computer—Windows users, use Windows Explorer; Mac users, use Spotlight or the Finder. The first step is to search for files ending in .m4p (audio), .m4v (video), or .ipg (iPod games). These are the file extensions for music, video, and iPod game files purchased from the iTunes Store. Sometimes the iTunes library can be emptied without actually having deleted the music and video you've imported or purchased.

Windows Vista

1. Type either .m4p or .m4v or .ipg in the Search field of the Start menu. Search results appear and are narrowed down as more text is typed.
2. If you cannot find the song or video, press Enter to use the Advanced Search.
3. Type .m4p or .m4v or .ipg and click Search. You may narrow your search by choosing a location, entering a date, file size, a tag or author.
4. If you see the files you are looking for in the Search Results window, you can add them back into your iTunes library.

Windows XP and Windows 2000

1. On the Start menu, click Search.
2. Click All Files and folders.
3. In the "All or part of the file name" field, type either .m4p or .m4v or .ipg and then click Search.
4. If you see the files you are looking for in the Search Results window, you can add them back into your iTunes library.

Mac OS X users

1. From the File menu, choose Find (if using Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, you can alternatively click the Spotlight menu).
2. Type either .m4p or .m4v or .ipg as the search term.
3. Click Search (Spotlight automatically searches as you type, and does not have a Search button).
4. If you see the files you are looking for in the Search Results window, you can add them back into your iTunes library.

Check your Recycle Bin/Trash

Another place to look for wayward music files is in your Recycle Bin (Windows) or the Trash (Mac). Don't ask. Sometimes things happen and files wind up there. We've all done it and couldn't even begin to guess how. If you find any, just move them from the Recycle Bin or Trash, and add them back to iTunes.

If you don't allow iTunes to automatically organize your music or make copies of songs and videos to the iTunes folder (such as if you use a customized file structure), you may need to rebuild the structure before adding the files back. Check the structure and see if the songs have been returned to their former homes.

Still can't find them?

You may need to restore the files from your backup, if you have one. If a backup is not available, the music or videos may be lost. In that event you may need to purchase replacements. For content acquired through the iTunes Store, please read Apple's policy on replacement.

The best way to avoid this regrettable situation is to make regular backups of your music and video files—especially your downloaded purchases—before this situation arises. Instructions for making an initial backup and subsequent incremental backups are included in the above articles.