Starting over with a fresh iTunes folder

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Level 1

13 points

Starting over with a fresh iTunes folder

After an update several versions back, it scrambled my totally sorted complete music library (argh) (missing songs that I own, multiple versions of the same album, etc.)

So I am trying to rebuild it, again. I did a Shift-start iTunes (PC). Then created a new folder ("New Music" which then has "iTunes Media" in it, and I put the album (Back in Black) in that folder (correct??). Then inside the "Back in Black" folder I have all the songs, like, "01 Shoot to Thrill" etc. Then if I try to add the folder to iTunes, I get all their albums with songs all over the place and some missing, and other there I don't have in that folder?? So I delete it and start over.

If I add just 1 song, and do a "Song Info" and makes sure all the categories, and names are the same (Artist, Album, etc.). Then I add the next song, and check all the "Song Info" and it makes 2 folder with the same name?

I am beyond frustrated (beginning with the iOS toasting my music) and now this garbage loop.

I would REALLY appreciate any help.

Thank you very much

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Jul 21, 2025 01:57 PM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

277,723 points

Jul 22, 2025 03:15 AM in response to reconscout2

When adding folders to the library iTunes may import any .m3u playlists that also exist, which might be why additional items are being imported. iTunes will also typically display any unhidden purchases that are not currently downloaded/added to your library with cloud links allowing them to be streamed or downloaded. See Duplicate songs in iTunes - Apple Community for general advice on duplicates. Multiple artist/album folders in Windows Explorer might potentially be triggered by minor inconsistencies in tags.

If iTunes or Music show multiple instances of an artist or an album then what generally works is to select all related tracks and use Song Info to add say a trailing X to each of the fields that the tracks should have in common:

For an album; Album, Album Artist, and Artist (if artist is the same for all tracks) *
For an artist; Album Artist (and Artist unless there are guest/featured artists listed which should not be changed)

Apply the change which merges things together, then remove the excess characters. Occasionally it may help to close and reopen the app between the two renaming operations. Part of a compilation should also be set consistently.

* If tracks are to be synced to a non-iOS device there should be a common Artist and/or the album should be set as a Compilation.

Use the songs view and display the fields Album, Sort Album, Album Artist, Sort Album Artist, Artist and Sort Artist side by side so you see whether or not it is appropriate to edit Artist and if sort values could be causing any further problems. See Grouping tracks into albums for more help if required.

One further tip for really stubborn duplicates. At one point I had three lots of Various Artists in the artists view of my iTunes Match library that wouldn't respond to the usual trailing X treatment. What I found worked was to add the trailing X to start with, but then with each group that iTunes wanted to keep separate start typing a value and let it autocomplete from say Var... to Various Artists. Picking from the autocomplete lists seemed to work when pasting/editing the whole value didn't.

tt2

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