Itunes wiped out my CD library on my computer

After three phone calls and six technicians, Apple has succeeded in wiping out the CD library on my Windows 11 computer. The library is still on my iphone. I told them I thought there was compatibility issue as the library was created 10-13 years ago. I uploaded 4 new CDs and was trying to sync them to my phone from my one year old laptop. I have no idea how my CD library got on my phone or computer. But I did notice an older microsoft version of itunes restored the library after trying to add a driver. Now the older version of itunes is gone and so is my voluminous CD library on my computer. Apple told me they are not supporting itunes because they want people to pay for tunes in the Apple store. I am really ticked off. Why couldn't they tell me I can't synch the **** phone instead of wasting hours of my time and blowing out my library of CDs?

Windows, Windows 11 (26100)

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 01:44 PM

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5 replies

Feb 4, 2025 08:50 AM in response to spudskiblue

But you can use iTunes to Sync your music (that you have purchased) to an iPhone.


Consider and if required, follow the steps listed below, in the following order:

    1. Is iTunes still installed on your computer? Install it if it is not
    2. If you use Apple Music (the app), Apple Devices or Apple TV, they take over and prevent you from synchronising your purchased music to the device. So uninstall all three of those apps.
    3. I'm not familiar enough with Apple Music (the subscription service) but If you subscribe to it, I believe that will also prevent you using your music library. That's because Apple thinks that if you're using the service, you don't need access to your own purchased music since it will all be available in Apple Music (well, it wouldn't in my case, which is one reason why I don't use it).
    4. Is iTunes showing your music (once you remove the apps etc.)?
      1. if the answer is no, use Windows Explorer to look in the folders and see whether your music files are in the Music folder. If they are there, then your music is not lost and you simply need to ensure that the apps mentioned above are removed. If your music Library does not automatically show in iTunes once you remove the apps, you may need to restart iTunes and perhaps even add the music back by using File/Add Folder to Library
      2. if (when) the answer to the above question is yes, does the music play in iTunes? Once you reach this step, you should be able to play your music collection in iTunes

Feb 4, 2025 12:10 PM in response to spudskiblue

spudskiblue wrote:

I have not ever purchased music through Itunes.

I didn't suggest that you had. Everything I wrote refers to music contained in your iTunes Library, regardless of its source.


In addition to my suggestions, please read the article written by turingtest2, to which he provides a link in his post.


Here's something from your original post:

I have no idea how my CD library got on my phone or computer.

To add music from CDs to an iPhone, one would use iTunes, to which you would have added the music, either by:

    • using iTunes to rip (copy) the CD into iTunes and then using iTunes' Sync procedure (synchronise procedure) to add that music to the phone or,
    • using previously created files (that were originally from a CD) and adding them to your iTunes Library by using File/Add Folder to Library*


* Note that a CD, copied onto a computer, either by using iTunes, Finder or a third-party programme, becomes a digital music file and is no longer "a CD". My wording reflects that fact.


I do not know of a method for getting directly from a CD onto an iPhone (or other iDevice) without using iTunes (or Mac's Finder). If there is such a method, turingtest2 will let us both know (and I will be much the wiser).


I told them I thought there was compatibility issue as the library was created 10-13 years ago.

It's possible that you are pursuing a red herring.


If you follow the steps I outlined previously, but still cannot locate your library, please let us know which step number doesn't work as excepted and what does happen instead.

Feb 4, 2025 10:20 AM in response to the fiend

I have not ever purchased music through Itunes.I have over 1000 CDs. The apple senior technician wiped out all my CDs on my Computer trying to sync new CDs i loaded onto my computer to my Iphone. Thankfully all my music is still on my phone until who knows when (the latest update?). She looked thru various folders on my computer to find the lost music and did not. I tried downloading various older versions of Itunes to recover the CDs on my computer. I guess I can be thankful that the sync of my computer and Iphone did not work properly. If I had a choice i need the music on my iphone to workout to. I can live without the CDs on my computer. I just don't understand how the synch failed. And neither did she.

Feb 6, 2025 01:43 PM in response to turingtest2

I don't think I have the ability to do as you suggest. I am not technologically savvy. I did attempt. First, I do not see applemusic/devices apps on my computer. Second when I go to my old iTunes library listings they have been accessed by the apple senior technician who wiped out my library on my computer. The only one that has an older 2022 date is the genius file. I do not know what that even is. I had an apple 18.3 something update pushed to my phone to add a device reader to it. Could this be causing the issues. At this point I am about ready to give up and do what they want which is buy my music from the itunes store. I am totally disgruntled. I guess I could pay my computer guy to do this but why? I have my whole library on my phone which is where I need it. I can't add any more CDs without fear of wiping out my phone so I will have to buy the tunes.

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Itunes wiped out my CD library on my computer

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