Music Can't Find Newly Imported Files

The "missing file" issue with exclamation marks happens if the file is no longer where iTunes or Music expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, one of its parent folders, the drive it lives on has had a name change, or you've moved a non-portable library to a different path (see Make a split library portable for details). It is also possible that iTunes or Music have changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place, or that you've been too aggressive when deleting duplicates at some point.

Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Cmd-I to get Song Info, then click No when asked to try to locate the track. Look on the file tab for the location the library thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drives. Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, a folder renamed, or a drive label has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions. If the difference between the two paths is an additional Music folder in one path then this is a layout issue. I can explain further if that is the case. If everything is where it is supposed to be try Repair security permissions for iTunes for Mac - Apple Community.

In some cases the library may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps with Get Info, or when playing a track, but this time click Locate and browse to the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links. Although it says something like "use the same location" I think it expects to find the tracks in the same artist & album layout they were in previously, with one systematic change to the path.

If you want me to try to provide specific advice please post back the following details:

1. The location of the media folder under iTunes|Music > Preferences > Advanced
2. The location of a sample missing track shown under Song Info > File > Location that begins file://
3. The true path to the file whose details you gave in 2

See also FixLinks - an AppleScript to repair broken links in Music - Apple Community.

tt2

Hi Steve,

I am having this issue where I import tracks into the music library and get the exclamation mark on some tracks. All the tracks are added to the appropriate media folder (on an ext Hd) but music app somehow loses the connection. This appears to be a bug in the way additions are processed. I tend to delete those tracks and reimport from media folder.

Jim

Hi Jim,

When you see this happen what is the path listed under Song Info > File tab and what is the true location? Do you have an Apple Music subscription? The OP's tracks would appear to be in the right place, but where does the app currently think they should be if it cannot access them? I've seen cases where that data appears to match, which is really weird.

tt2

Hi Steve,

There is no location showing in get info and like OP the file is in the correct location! In my opinion, I don't think the music app is creating the link in the first place.

I have iTunes Match . I don't have this problem adding music to iCloud music library.

JIm

Could you post a screenshot? Is there literally a blank space against location. Would you mind testing my AppleScript next time to see if helps you? Are you ripping from CD or importing files from elsewhere on your computer?

tt2

Were you able to do that by locating the file or did you have to remove the entry and then reimport as you've done before?You'll gather I've not had this actually go wrong on my computers so I'm still not sure of the exact behaviour. If manually locating a single track works then my script should be able to fix a whole bunch automatically.

tt2

Hi Steve,

I was able to locate file as I only had the one. In other circumstances when I had a large number, I found it quicker to delete and reimport. Yes, your script should work as usual.

What I find odd is that this problem occurs when you are adding new tracks. , so the link should be created when importing the tracks.

Jim

Hi,

Importing mainly mp3 purchases from various sources into my iCloud music library from my download folder.

When I import CDs or 7digital purchases they are imported as ALAC to my non iCloud library. I use XLD to rip the CDs or convert FLAC. They are usually sent to Automatically add to library folder, sometimes use import command. Not had any problems when importing to iCloud library.

Jim

This major bug has been present for over a year and Apple still haven't fixed it, even thought they acknowledge that there is a problem. So frustrating. It seems that Apple doesn't really care about it because they'd rather you stream music from their Apple Music service.

Hi Steve,

This is a track I tried earlier. It was added to correct location in media folder along with 3 other tracks.

This doesn't happen when I add to the non iCloud library>

Jim

Thanks. That is very odd. How can it complete the matching/uploading process without a file to review? 😕

tt2

Hi Steve,

It did not complete the matching process until after I corrected the link. .

Jim

Thanks Jim,

Can I run this one by you again? Are you ripping from CD or importing files from elsewhere on your computer?

tt2

Thanks.

tt2