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iPhone and iPadFixed—iTunes Library.itl Cannot Be Read Error on PC

Fixed—iTunes Library.itl Cannot Be Read Error on PC

By Achilles Hill | Last Updated

“After connecting my iPhone, I opened iTunes but only get the prompt said that the file iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. How can I fix this iTunes error and get it back to normal?”

If you encounter the iTunes Library.itl cannot be read error, how can you fix iTunes back to normal? Don’t worry, this error typically appears when you try to access your iTunes library with an older version of iTunes after it has been updated to a newer version. Thus, you can try the below solutions to fix iTunes Library.itl cannot be read error on PC.

fixed-iTunes Library.itl file cannot be read

Why iTunes Library.itl Cannot Be Read Error Appears

The error message typically occurs due to the following reasons:

  • 1. Version Mismatch: Downgrading iTunes or switching between older and newer versions can cause incompatibility with the existing iTunes Library.itl file.
  • 2. Corrupted Library File: The iTunes Library.itl file may become corrupted due to unexpected crashes or file system errors.
  • 3. Software Bugs: Glitches or bugs in iTunes may prevent it from reading the library file.

Solution 1: Fix the iTunes Error with iSunshare iOS Repair Genius

There is an easy way for you to fix iTunes Library.itl cannot be read issue. iSunshare iOS Repair Genius is highly recommended to fix your iTunes common errors in an effortless way. With this iTunes repair tool, you can easily fix iTunes cannot read the content of iPhone, iTunes cannot be open, and etc. errors with no data loss.

Step 1: Download and install iSunshare iOS Repair Genius on your PC.

Step 2: Open the software and select iTunes Repair option.

click iTunes Repair

Step 3: Choose Repair iTunes Errors on the interface to move forward.

click Repair iTunes Errors

Step 4: In no time, the software will start checking issues on your iTunes components.

Step 5: After the scanning, you can hit Repair button to fix the iTunes Library.itl cannot be read error.

click Repair

Step 6: Soon, the repair process starts. When the process ends, you can re-open iTunes and check whether the issue has been fixed or not.

Repairing iTunes Process

Solution 2: Rename or Delete the iTunes Library.itl File

As the issue is caused by the iTunes Library file, you can rename or delete the iTunes Library.itl file to fix iTunes to normal. Open This PC > Music > iTunes, locate your iTunes Library.itl file and rename/delete it.

rename or delete iTunes library file

Solution 3: Completely Uninstall and Reinstall iTunes

You can also update the iTunes version to make sure the library file can be readable. Just open Control Panel> Programs and Features, locate iTunes and uninstall it. After that, navigate to Apple official website, download and install the newest version of iTunes. Thus, your iTunes library file is compatible with the iTunes version.

uninstall iTunes

FAQs about iTunes Library File

1. If such iTunes Library error happens on my Mac, how can it get it resolved?

All above methods can work effectively on Mac. But the operation may variously depend on the Library file location.

2. If there are multiple iTunes libraries, how can you fix the iTunes?

In this situation, you can create a new iTunes library file. Just press the Shift key (Windows) or Option key (Mac) while running iTunes. After that, select Create Library or Choose Library. Then, you can follow the instructions to create a new iTunes library file.

3. Where does iTunes Library.itl file locate?

You can find iTunes Library.itl file on iTunes folder:

For Windows: C:\Users\[Your Username]\Music\iTunes

For Mac: /Users/[Your Username]/Music/iTunes

4. Will renaming the iTunes Library.itl file delete my playlists?

Renaming the file might remove custom playlists. However, you can restore them using a backup from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder.

Conclusions:

The “iTunes Library.itl cannot be read” error is a common but fixable issue on Windows PCs. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can resolve the error and regain access to your iTunes library.