Note (October 2026): iTunes was replaced on the Mac by the Music, TV and Podcasts apps in October 2019 and on Windows largely by the Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Devices apps in February 2024. Redownloading past iTunes Store purchases is free and does not require a paid iCloud subscription, as this page originally implied.
To restore a lost iTunes library, first redownload past purchases free from the Purchased section of the iTunes Store (Account > Purchased in iTunes, or your name > Purchased in the Apple Music app). Then recover the library file from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder, restore your own backup of the iTunes folder, or use iTunes Match for non-purchased songs.
Key Takeaways
- iTunes Store purchases can be redownloaded free after you authorize the computer with your Apple Account.
- iTunes keeps dated copies of its library file in a folder named Previous iTunes Libraries, inside the iTunes folder.
- Holding Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac) while opening iTunes or the Music app lets you choose a different library.
- iTunes Match covers up to 100,000 songs, but Apple says it is not a backup service.
- The only reliable protection for CD imports and other non-store media is your own backup of the whole iTunes or Music folder.
iTunes data can be lost for several reasons. A common one is buying a new phone, accidentally syncing it with iTunes, and then not knowing how to get the lost music, videos or playlists back.
Media that was never bought from a store, such as songs imported from CDs, is harder to recover than purchases. Whichever the case, there are several ways to restore a lost iTunes library, and the four main ones are explained below.
1] Rebuild the Library from an iPhone or iPad
Music and videos that are still on an iPhone or iPad can be copied back into a computer library with third-party transfer software. The example used here is the iMyFone iOS Transfer app, iMyFone TunesMate, which its maker describes as able to rebuild an iTunes library from a device. The steps below are the vendor’s workflow and are separate from any iTunes download for windows 7 32 bit.
Download and install the iMyFone iOS Transfer app, then connect the device that still holds the data. Launch TunesMate and, on the first screen, choose the option to transfer iDevice data to iTunes.
A window offering to copy your device data to iTunes appears; click Start.
Tick the types of data you want to transfer and click Start again. Click OK when the app reports that the transfer has finished. Third-party tools are optional: Apple’s own methods below cost nothing.
2] Restore an Older Library File in iTunes
iTunes itself keeps dated copies of its library file, which can bring back the library listing and playlists. This has limits: it only helps if the media files are still on the computer. Follow these steps.
Quit iTunes and open the folder where the library is stored (on Windows, usually Music\iTunes inside your user folder). Drag the current iTunes Library.itl file to your desktop as a safety copy. Next, find the Previous iTunes Libraries folder inside your iTunes files folder and open it. It holds dated copies of the library file, each named iTunes Library followed by the date iTunes saved it.
Copy the most recent dated file into the main iTunes folder and rename it iTunes Library.itl. Then hold down the Shift key on Windows, or the Option key on a Mac, while you open iTunes.
A dialog box asks you to choose a library. Click Choose Library and browse to the Library.itl file you want iTunes to open.
3] Restore Music with iTunes Match
iTunes Match is Apple’s paid service that uploads or matches your music library, including songs imported from CDs, so it can be accessed on all your devices. Apple states that iTunes Match is not a backup service, so keep your own copy as well. Here are the steps.
In the Apple Music app on a Mac or Windows PC, click iTunes Store in the sidebar, scroll to Features at the bottom of the Store window, click iTunes Match and then Subscribe (older iTunes versions had a Store menu option to turn on iTunes Match). The service has a yearly fee, listed on Wikipedia as $24.99 per year in the US as of October 2026. After you sign in, iTunes Match scans the songs in your library.
Songs that match the iTunes Store catalog are added to your account automatically, and the rest are uploaded, which can take a long time for a large library. iTunes Match handles up to 100,000 songs, and iTunes Store purchases do not count toward that limit. Click OK when everything is done.
4] Redownload Past Purchases (iCloud and the iTunes Store)
iCloud can also help: anything bought from the iTunes Store with your Apple Account can be redownloaded free, with no paid iCloud plan needed. Before you start, authorize the computer with your Apple Account. Here are the steps.
Open iTunes and, in the menu bar, choose Account and then Purchased (older versions showed a Purchased link under Quick Links on the right of the Store page). In the Apple Music app for Windows, click your name at the bottom of the sidebar and then click Purchased.
Choose the type of media you want, such as Music, from the pop-up menu in the upper-left corner of the window.
Your purchases are listed. Click the download button next to an album or song, or click Download All at the bottom of the screen. The files are saved back into your library.
Which iTunes Restore Method Should You Use?
The right iTunes restore method depends on what was lost and where a copy still exists. This table summarizes the options covered above.
| What you lost | Best method | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Songs, films or shows bought from the iTunes Store | Redownload from Purchased | Free |
| Playlists and library listing, files still on the computer | Older file from Previous iTunes Libraries | Free |
| Whole library after a new computer or drive failure | Restore your backup of the iTunes folder | Free if you made a backup |
| CD imports and other non-store songs, with no backup | iTunes Match (if subscribed before the loss) or copy from a device | Annual fee; third-party tools may be paid |
How Do You Restore a Library in the Apple Music App?
On a Mac, iTunes was replaced by the Music app starting with macOS Catalina in October 2019, and Finder took over device management. To switch to another library in the Music app on a Mac, Apple’s instructions are to press and hold the Option key while you reopen Music, then choose the library you want.
On Windows, most iTunes features moved into the Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Devices apps in February 2024, while iTunes for Windows remains available. In the Apple Music app for Windows, past purchases are under your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then Purchased.
Sync Library, which shows the same music library on all your devices, requires an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription. In the Apple Music app for Windows it is turned on in Settings > General.
How to Back Up Your iTunes Library So You Never Lose It
Apple’s method for backing up an iTunes library on Windows is to copy the whole iTunes folder to an external drive. These steps follow Apple’s guide to moving an iTunes library.
- In iTunes, choose File > Library > Organize Library and select Consolidate files, so copies of all your media are placed inside the iTunes Media folder.
- Note the location of the iTunes Media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced. By default it is in your user folder under Music\iTunes\iTunes Media.
- Quit iTunes.
- In File Explorer, drag the iTunes folder to an external drive.
To restore that backup, quit iTunes, drag the backed-up iTunes folder back to the internal drive, hold Shift while opening iTunes, click Choose Library, and open the iTunes Library.itl file in the restored folder. Before selling or giving away an old computer, Apple advises deauthorizing it under Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
For broader protection of the rest of a PC, see this overview of backup software for Windows PCs and why it helps to back up and recover data in the cloud.
Restoring an iTunes Library vs Restoring an iPhone Backup
Restoring an iTunes library and restoring an iPhone backup are different jobs. The library holds your music and videos on the computer; an iPhone backup holds the phone’s settings, messages and app data.
To restore an iPhone or iPad from a computer backup, Apple’s steps are: connect the device by USB, select it in Finder (Mac), the Apple Devices app (Windows) or iTunes, click Restore Backup, pick the backup by date, click Restore, and enter the password if the backup is encrypted. Keep the device connected after it restarts until it finishes syncing. If the phone itself will not start, this guide to an iPhone stuck in a boot loop covers the usual fixes.
Common Mistakes When Restoring iTunes Data
- Opening a file from Previous iTunes Libraries directly. Double-clicking it starts iTunes but does not change which library it opens; copy and rename the file, or hold Shift or Option and choose it.
- Overwriting the only copy. Move the current Library.itl to the desktop before replacing it, so you can go back.
- Treating a sync service as a backup. Apple states that neither Apple Music nor iTunes Match is a backup service.
- Forgetting hidden purchases. If a bought song is missing from Purchased, check Account Settings, scroll to Hidden Items, click Manage and unhide it.
If you are thinking of moving away from Apple’s software after a restore, this comparison of iTunes alternatives and this review of TunesGo for transferring iTunes media files may help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my old iTunes library back?
An old iTunes library can often be recovered from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder inside the iTunes folder, which holds dated copies of the library file. Copy the newest one into the iTunes folder, rename it iTunes Library.itl, and open iTunes while holding Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac).
Is it free to redownload music I bought on iTunes?
Yes. Music bought from the iTunes Store can be redownloaded free from Purchased in iTunes or the Apple Music app, after you authorize the computer with your Apple Account. Items you hid must be unhidden first.
Does iTunes Match back up my music?
No. Apple says iTunes Match is not a backup service. It makes up to 100,000 songs available across your devices, but you should still keep your own backup of your music collection.
Where is the iTunes library file stored on Windows?
On Windows, the iTunes folder is usually in your user folder under Music\iTunes, and the media files are in Music\iTunes\iTunes Media by default. The iTunes Library.itl file and the Previous iTunes Libraries folder sit in the iTunes folder.
Is iTunes still available?
On Mac, iTunes was replaced by the Music, TV and Podcasts apps starting with macOS Catalina in October 2019. On Windows, iTunes remains available, but since February 2024 most of its features have also been offered in the Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Devices apps.
