iTunes Issue: How to Clear iTunes Library and Start Over

“I'm running iTunes 11 for Windows and JAWS 14 on an XP SP2 machine. I need to delete my current iTunes library and start a new one. I want to keep all my media files and just delete the library files. How do I do this? – applevis.com”

If after updating iTunes you started looking for your music files, videos or podcasts, then you need to learn how iTunes library files can be deleted while keeping all other media files at the same time. But most iTunes users just like our clients (Applevis.com) don’t know this trick. So, we shall be discussing ways/tricks to clear iTunes library and start over.

How to Clear iTunes Library and Start Over

#1. How to Clear iTunes Library and Start Over – on Windows

1.1 Easiest and Best Way

We’ve done much research on the issues faced by users of iTunes for Windows PC, and we found that many of them go through rigorous processes and yet never achieve their aim which is clearing iTunes library in order to start over. However, we finally found this software: iMyFone TunesFix can clear iTunes library in just 1-click. Even you are poor with computer technology, you can use the software without any difficulty.

Here are the steps to clear iTunes library and start over via TunesFix:

Step 1: Open iMyFone TunesFix, go to home interface, select "Quick Clean" mode.

Step 2: Click "Scan" to let the software scans your iTunes library. When the scan is done, your iTunes library will be showed by list.

Step 3: Check "iTunes Media Files" and click "Clean".
Step 4: When the clean is done, your iTunes library will be cleared. Open your iTunes, it will automatically create new library.

Some key features of TuneFix:

1.2 Free Way

besides the way using iMyFone TunesFix, there is another ways to clear iTunes library, follow these steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Launch Windows Explorer, click on Music Folder, and then iTunes Folder. You will see two files: iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml.
Step 2: Delete both files from iTunes folder.
Step 3: Restart iTunes, and it will automatically create new library.

#2. How to Clear iTunes Library and Start Over – on Mac

If you always use your MacBook to play audio files, podcasts, videos, and other iTunes library files, but unfortunately, your iTunes library got corrupted, you may have to clean iTunes library and start over again.

To delete iTunes library on Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1: Close iTunes windows on your MacBook, and click on Finder button.
Step 2: From the Finder menu, click Go > Home; your MacBook home directory will be displayed.
Step 3: Double click Music > iTunes to open the iTunes folder.
Step 4: Drag the “iTunes Library.itl” file to the trashcan. Hold “Ctrl” and click the trashcan to empty it. This implies that your iTunes library files have been erased but your media files are still intact.
Step 5: Restart iTunes, and it will automatically create new library.

How to Clean iTunes Duplicates

Having duplicate songs in iTunes is annoying problem, but there is a way to erase, stop and prevent duplicates in iTunes in the future. If you are having the new version of iTunes, here are the steps for iTunes clean duplicates.

Step 1: Launch iTunes App.
Step 2: Click File > My Library > Show Duplicates
Step 3: Click “All” to view duplicates. Then arrange Names, Artists, and Albums so you can view them well in iTunes Music column. To do this, hold down the Control Key and click the iTunes column.
Step 4: Click the Name column to view duplicates files. Highlight the duplicate files and erase them by clicking Delete button on your keyboard.