Without iTunes, Apple mobile devices cannot be synchronized with a personal computer. Therefore, when problems arise in the operation of the software, the users lose most of the functionality. Most faults are associated with incorrect installation or removal of software. One such problem is an error with the text: “The iTunes Library.itl file cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. In this article, you will find the answer to the question of how to fix this error.

First, let's not resort to a radical method with a complete reinstallation of the software. We will restrict ourselves to deleting individual elements. In most cases, the error occurs due to a problem with the iTunes folder, which is located in the folder with the same name as the Windows account. Open the system partition of the hard drive, go to the Users folder, and then to the directory with the account name. Now find the Music directory, which contains the folder you are looking for.

In no case should this folder be confused with the iTunes directory of the same name, in which the files of the program itself are located. The directory for deletion is located exactly in the directory with the name of the account.

Delete the folder to the trash can via the context menu, by pressing Del or by dragging with the mouse cursor. If this method does not help, then you can restore the library back at any time.

The only drawback of this method is that when you delete the iTunes folder, you completely erase your music collection. If the method helped to eliminate the error, then you will have to re-fill the library with tracks.

If the previous method did not lead to a positive result, then go to the next method. It consists in creating a new library. To use this option, you must first close iTunes completely. To do this, make sure that the icon is not on the taskbar, and there is no process of the same name in the "Task Manager". After that, hold down the Shift key and double-click on the program shortcut to launch it. Instead of the usual main iTunes window, a small menu will appear with a proposal to select or create a library. Click on the "Create Library" button.

Then an explorer window will open, with which you need to select the path to the new folder on the hard disk and specify the name. By default, the library is saved in the directory mentioned in the previous method. Select any other folder or partition on your hard drive. Click on the "Save" button. After creating a new library, the iTunes window will appear and the error in the Library.itl file should be gone.

And finally, the last option is a complete reinstallation of iTunes. First, you need to completely uninstall the application. To do this, open Windows settings and go to the "Applications" section. Now, in the list of installed software, select the iTunes item and click on the "Remove" button.

After uninstalling, be sure to restart your computer. It is also recommended to clean the registry and temporary files using the special CCleaner utility.

Now you need to install the official version of the software. If you are using Windows 10, then install the software through the Microsoft Store. Launch the application and search for iTunes by name through the search. On the description page, click on the "Get" button. Wait for the download to finish.

Together with the proprietary program iTunes installs a new version of the driver, so you do not have to download it separately.

For users of all other Windows versions, we provide a link to download the program distribution kit.

Video instruction

The presented video details all the ways to troubleshoot the iTunes library error. Be sure to watch the video before proceeding to solve the problem yourself!

Conclusion

We are finishing the analysis of the troubleshooting methods and hope that our guide will help you get rid of the problem with iTunes. If you want to clarify any point, then do not hesitate to write questions in the comments to the article!

Recently, Apple has been making updates that users are not happy with. This applies not only to the latest versions of iOS, but also to iTunes, which was deprived of the App Store.

Many users, without hesitation, simply find an older version on the Internet and install it. If there was nothing on the computer before, then the whole process will go perfectly.

But if you had a newer version and then you installed the old one, then you will see the message "Unable to read the iTunes Library.itl file", which simply will not allow the program to start.

There are several options for solving this problem and I think each of them will find people who need it.

A short plan of action for today:

Where is the iTunes Library.itl file located?

Without the help of Google, many immediately start looking for this ominous file in order to try to do something with it. Finding it is quite easy and the path depends on the version of the operating system that you have installed on your PC.

You can find the iTunes Library.itl file in the following ways:

• macOS- / Users / username / Music / iTunes
• Windows XP- C: \ Documents and Settings \ username \ My Documents \ My Music \ iTunes
• Windows Vista- C: \ Users \ username \ Music \ iTunes
• Windows 7, 8 or 10- C: \ Users \ username \ My Music \ iTunes

This information will be useful for solving this problem. So we'll come back here. And one more thing, instead of “My Music”, you can have “My Music”, because we usually have Russian-language versions of Windows installed (Users can be Users).

If you need to save information about music

Let's see what the iTunes Library.itl file is for. If anyone did not know, here is all the information on music, playlists and other things. And as you understand, for many, this information is very important.

Therefore, if you want everything to remain in its place, we act according to the following scheme:

1. go along one of the paths of the previous point and find the file iTunes Library.itl;
2. rename it to "ITunes Library.old";
3. now go to the folder Previous iTunes Libraries and looking for the file with the most recent date;
4. copy it to any place convenient for you, rename it to ITunes Library.itl;
5. we return it to its original place, in the iTunes folder;
6. trying to launch iTunes.

Everything, now everything should work, and most importantly, all information about your music will be in the same place. It may be that you do not have Previous iTunes Libraries and this only simplifies the task. We just use one of the following methods.

The fastest method

Let's say you don't need to save anything and your main task is to run an older version of iTunes.

In this case, we take these simple steps:

1. follow the path depending on your OS (first section of the article);
2. find and delete the file iTunes Library.itl;
3. open iTunes.

The next time you run the program, it will create this file again over a new one. It's just that the whole problem is that the old version cannot read the library file of the older version.

Creating a new library

Although it may well come in handy if you want to store data on another disk and if something happens, you will know exactly where to find it.

Here is a diagram for this method:

1. create a folder for a new library;
2. push the button Shift and clamping it open iTunes;
3. choose Create a library and specify the folder (created in step 1) and save the settings;
4. trying to open iTunes.

It's just one of the options to solve the problem and I think you have the right to know that it exists.

I tried to collect all the methods that only exist. The second method is almost always the most relevant. But I described the details of each and in which case they are used, so then it's up to you.

Now we got rid of the evil "Unable to read iTunes Library.itl file" error. Now we use iTunes and it doesn't matter if it's an older version.

As a rule, many problems with iTunes can be solved by completely reinstalling the program. However, today we will consider the situation when an error occurs on the user's screen when starting iTunes "The iTunes Library.itl file cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes." .

As a rule, such a problem occurs due to the fact that the user did not completely uninstall iTunes from the computer at first, which leaves the files on the computer that belong to the previous version of the program. And after the subsequent installation of the new version of iTunes, the old files come into conflict, which is why the error we are considering is displayed on the screen.

The second common reason for the appearance of an error with the iTunes Library.itl file is a system failure that could arise as a result of a conflict between other programs installed on the computer, or the actions of virus software (in this case, the system must be scanned with an antivirus).

Method 1: delete the iTunes folder

First of all, you can try to solve the problem with a little blood - delete on the computer a single folder, due to which the error we are considering may appear.

To do this, you need to close iTunes, and then go to the following directory in Windows Explorer:

C: \ Users \ USERNAME \ Music

This folder contains the folder ITunes , which you need to delete. Then you can launch iTunes. As a rule, after completing these simple steps, the error is completely resolved.

However, the disadvantage of this method is that the iTunes library will be replaced with a new one, which means that a new filling of the music collection in the program will be required.

Method 2: creating a new library

This method is, in fact, similar to the first, however, you do not have to delete the old library to create a new one.

To use this method, close the iTunes program, hold down the key Shift and open the iTunes shortcut, that is, run the program. Hold down the key until a miniature window appears on the screen, in which you need to click on the button "Create Library" .

Windows Explorer will open, in which you will need to specify any desired location on your computer where your new library will be located. Preferably, this is a safe place from which the library cannot be accidentally deleted.

The screen will automatically launch iTunes with a new library. After doing that, the error with the iTunes Library.itl file should be successfully resolved.

Method 3: reinstall iTunes

The main way to solve most problems associated with the iTunes Library.itl file is to reinstall iTunes, and iTunes must first be removed from the computer completely, including additional software from Apple installed on the computer.

Having completely removed iTunes from your computer, restart your computer, and then perform a fresh installation of iTunes, downloading the fresh distribution of the program from the official website of the developer.

We hope these simple methods helped solve your problems with the iTunes Library.itl file.

ITunes is a service used by most owners of Apple mobile technology. It really simplifies their life, as it allows you to solve most of the problems from one place.

Unfortunately, sometimes it starts to fail. For example, when you try to perform an action, a message appears: iTunes Library.itl cannot be read.

The natural desire of a person is to find an answer to the question - what to do? But, initially, it is advisable to deal with the root causes of such a nuisance.

What most often leads to this error

Most often, this situation occurs due to the fact that the user is using an older version of iTunes on their device. It would seem that the solution is very simple - just upgrade to the most current version. But this does not always seem right to the person, as recent versions, as many say, do not include a number of useful features.

Another possible root cause is exposure to viruses. It is clear that they should be found with a high-quality antivirus program and destroyed.

It is possible that the conflict began after installing some third-party software. In this case, it is better to remove it and look for an alternative - if there is one.

If the causes of the error are not recognized so easily, then you can try to fix it in slightly different ways.

Error solution technique

So, if all the above proposed actions are not relevant for the user, and the inscription "... cannot be read" still continues to restrict the program, then you can try to fix the failure by other methods:

Destroying a specific folder

This is one of the quickest options for dealing with a situation like this. It is enough to find on the hard disk of your PC a daddy that contains the Library.itl file. And - completely remove it from the hard drive.

Naturally, initially it will be necessary to exit the program itself. To locate this element, you need to use the OS built-in search. Or do it manually.

Introducing another library

How to do it:

Installing a clean distribution

Before using the installation package, it is very important to make sure that there are no old versions and any leftovers left on the computer:

Hey! Updating software isn't always a good thing. A vivid example of this is the new version of iTunes, in which the developers of Apple for some reason "sawed out" the App Store. Completely. They took and removed the ability to fully manage games and applications on their iOS device via a computer. The App Store item in iTunes just disappeared!

To be honest, I didn’t understand all this “multi-move” from the glorious company from Cupertino at all. Tim Cook, are you all right there? Do you have any other problems and tasks? Why remove something that did not bother anyone and helped many people? Like now, for example, Naughty, Apple, oh, they naughty ...

Fortunately, there is a way out. Now I will tell you how to return the game and application store to iTunes on a PC, let's go!

So, Apple decided that ordinary users do not need programs in iTunes.

But there are other options for using the company's devices - in business, education and other corporate settings. And that's where the installation of programs through iTunes can play a very important role - you cannot remove it.

Therefore, a special press release was issued, which says that if you are a business representative, then continue to use iTunes as usual, no one forbids :)

Let's use this assumption to add the App Store to iTunes:

1. Open Apple's statement here at this link.
2. We also download iTunes (12.6.3.6) - available for Mac and Windows.
3. If the computer is using.
4. Install.

However, at startup, you may encounter the message: "The iTunes Library.itl file cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes."

What to do about it?

• Find the iTunes Library.itl file on your computer.
• You can use search, but just in case, here is the "standard" location path for Windows - C: \ Users \ Username \ My Music \ iTunes... And for MAC - Personal> Music> iTunes.
• Delete or move iTunes Library.itl from this folder.

Important! After deleting or moving a file, you will need to re-create the library. This can be a problem if all of your iTunes music has been sorted and sorted.

That's it, connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and see ... that nothing has changed - there is still no App Store in iTunes! Calm down, the main thing is not to panic :)

Now we can safely say that the ability to download a game or application through iTunes has returned. Hooray!

Updated (important note)! One of the readers unsubscribed in the comments that he did everything according to the instructions, but he did not succeed. What could be causing this? Just because the "wrong" version of iTunes is being downloaded. Please be careful - the article contains all the necessary links and tips. Many thanks:)

P.S. If the instructions helped, then you shouldn't regret the "likes" - click on the social media buttons! It's not hard for you, but the author will be very pleased. Thanks again:)

P.S.S. Do you have any questions or just have something to say? Feel free to write in the comments - I'm always waiting!