iTunes Store: Finding missing purchases and downloads

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Find files on your computer

If the item is still listed in your iTunes library but you don't know where it is on your computer, see Finding the files of your iTunes Store purchases for steps to locate where it is on your computer.

If you can't find the item anywhere in iTunes, try searching for it on your computer—Windows users, use Windows Explorer; Mac users, use Spotlight or Finder. The first step is to search for files ending in .m4p (audio), .m4v (video), .m4b (purchased audiobooks), .m4a (AAC or iTunes Plus audio), .ipa (iPhone and iPod touch applications), or .ipg (iPod games). These are the file extensions for music, video, audiobooks, iTunes Plus, iPhone and iPod touch applications, and iPod game files purchased from the iTunes Store. Sometimes the iTunes library can be emptied even if you haven't deleted the music or video you've imported or purchased.

Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. Type either .m4p, .m4v, .m4b, .mp4, .m4r, .m4a, .ipa, ipg, .ite, or .itlp 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 either .m4p, .m4v, .m4b, .mp4, .m4r, .m4a, .ipa, ipg, .ite, or .itlp 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, .m4v, .m4b, .mp4, .m4r, .m4a, .ipa, ipg, .ite, or .itlp 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. In the Finder, choose File > Find (if using Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you can alternatively click the Spotlight menu).
2. Type either .m4p, .m4v, .m4b, .mp4, .m4r, .m4a, .ipa, ipg, .ite, or .itlp 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

Check the Recycle Bin (Windows) or the Trash (Mac). If you find any of your files, 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 media or copy files to the iTunes folder (for example, 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 files have been returned to their former homes.

Copy iTunes Store Purchases from your iPod or iPhone to a Computer

If you have any of these items on an iPod or iPhone, you can transfer them from the iPod or iPhone to your computer using iTunes.

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 media 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.

If the item that is missing is an App, you can download it again, free of charge.

The best way to avoid this regrettable situation is to make regular backups of your media 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.