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Indexing my music library

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It was necessary to divide my iTunes Music Library of 30k+ tracks into three parts in order to index it under the new Sonos software. This resulted in my iTunes index losing the location of all the existing tracks. I, accordingly, added the new folders created by dividing the library as referred to above. This worked but resulted in every track being duplicated but with only one of each actually working.

I understand that, unlike with Sonos, complete folders cannot be removed from iTunes. It would take far too long to delete 30k+ tracks one at a time.

My question is whether the duplicates, which do not locate the tracks named, could be removed by removing iTunes from my pc and then reinstalling it? On reinstallation, I would, of course, only add the new folders created by dividing my library as referred to above.

I would take a back up copy of the library before removing the iTunes software from my pc.

Best answer by Airgetlam

I’m not sure I understand this question. Are you asking about iTunes itself, which probably should be directed to Apple, and not a Sonos board, or are you asking about the Sonos controller? I’d have thought a ‘Scan for new content’ in the Sonos controller would have erased the ‘old’ data, and given the system the correct pointers to the new locations where you’ve (or Apple Music, no longer called iTunes) stored your music. 

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4 replies

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • 42990 replies
  • Answer
  • March 31, 2025

I’m not sure I understand this question. Are you asking about iTunes itself, which probably should be directed to Apple, and not a Sonos board, or are you asking about the Sonos controller? I’d have thought a ‘Scan for new content’ in the Sonos controller would have erased the ‘old’ data, and given the system the correct pointers to the new locations where you’ve (or Apple Music, no longer called iTunes) stored your music. 

Bruce
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  • Neil Barnes
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • 5 replies
  • March 31, 2025

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I suppose it is primarily an iTunes issue.

However, given the issues with indexing music libraries on Sonos since the update last May, I thought someone may have experienced the same knock on problem with iTunes.

It could only index my library on Sonos by dividing it into three separate parts.

Adding these new music folders to iTunes has caused the duplication issues.

I will direct my query to Apple as you suggest.

Thanks, again,

Neil.

Airgetlam
1 person likes this
  • Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • 42990 replies
  • March 31, 2025

Is the duplication issue shown in the Apple Music library, or the Sonos library? 

There have been reported cases of the Sonos library ‘pointer’ including the NAS’ deleted files folder, which can cause duplication, but only in the Sonos library. 

Frankly, while I am still an Apple user, I don’t use Apple Music much, other than to rip things. And I’m on an iPad right now, so the desktop menus aren’t available to me, but isn’t there an equivalent to ‘update music library’ somewhere? That’s the only thing I can think of that would delete invalid pointers in Apple Music. Unless it’s also picking up the ‘deleted’ information.

Unfortunately, as you can tell, I’m not sure why Apple Music isn’t working for you. 

Bruce
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  • Neil Barnes
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • 5 replies
  • April 4, 2025

Hi All,

I have now downloaded Apple Music to my PC as I thought this would be more sophisticated than iTunes, thus, removing the duplication issues.

I was wrong. The iTunes Library now only shows in Apple Music and has the same duplication problem. Every track is duplicated or even trebled.

It would appear that both iTunes and now Apple Music trace every copy of every track on a  PC wherever they are stored.

Fortunately, once working with new software, Sonos appears much more advanced and sophisticated only picking up one copy of each track.

I solved the music Library issues on Sonos by splitting my iTunes Library of 30k+ tracks into three separate parts called Sonostwo, Sonosthree and Sonosfour. For some reason a part which I originally called just “Sonos” would not index!
Thanks to all who replied,

Neil.

Airgetlam
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  • Airgetlam
    Airgetlam

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