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Having Trouble Restoring Music Library (including Playlists) from Time Machine backup

My music library got messed up during an attempt to clean up my computer and I want to restore my music library from a Time Machine backup. Critically, I need to restore the PLAYLISTS. I do not subscribe to Apple Music. I closed Music, went into Time Machine and restored the "Music Library" file from the "Music" folder, and re-opened Music, but the music library looks the same -- that is, without the playlists that were there at the time of the Time Machine backup. What am I missing? Is there a next step after restoring the "Music Library" file in order to get the missing playlists back? Thanks so much!!

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Posted on Oct 1, 2024 11:06 PM

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3 replies

Oct 2, 2024 7:43 AM in response to vortizde

Make sure you're restoring a copy of the .musiclibrary package captured before you started trying to clean things up. Make sure to option-start-Music and use the Choose Library option to select the restored file, in case Music is still connected to the library you deleted, or a cached version of it. See also Empty/corrupt iTunes/Music library after upgrade/crash - Apple Community.


tt2

Having Trouble Restoring Music Library (including Playlists) from Time Machine backup

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