How can I recover lost music after Apple ID migration?

Question

Level 1

53 points

How can I recover lost music after Apple ID migration?

I migrated my music from one Apple ID to another using the Purchase Migration feature in Music. I got a confirmation email saying "The purchases and subscriptions associated with the secondary account, xxxxx@comcast.net, are now available on the primary account, xxxxx@mac.com. The secondary account can no longer be signed in to, and will no longer be used for purchases."

I am now signed into all my devices using my @mac.com account and my music library is empty. I cannot log back into my old @comcast.net anymore. What happened to my 21 years of music purchases???

[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Feb 16, 2025 8:24 AM

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Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,007 points

Feb 19, 2025 9:05 AM in response to JupiterOne

The first question is were you aware of this KB article;

Migrate purchases from one Apple Account to another Apple Account - Apple Support

After perusing it, is there anything that may have escaped your process to migrate?

It would seem logical that only Apple Support can assist you in this.

Direct link to Apple Support options -

https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=kbase&PGF=PGF63005&category_id=SC0245&symptom_id=23362

World-wide Apple Support -

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

M1 Mac mini, macOS 15.3.1;  Watch, series 10 GPS-only, watchOS 11.3.1; iPhone 16, iOS 18.3.1; TV 4th Gen, tvOS 18.3; HomePods, audioOS 18.3 and Airport Express w/ Airplay 2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

276,665 points

Feb 24, 2025 9:05 AM in response to JupiterOne

Hi. See Empty/corrupt iTunes/Music library after upgrade/crash - Apple Community for some background on restoring playlists from an older version of your library. For this to work you need to go offline before accessing an older version of your database so that it doesn't instantly update to the current version in the cloud. You can then export your old playlists, reconnect to the current library and then import them. The imports will only work if those tracks are physically located on your computer in the same locations in both libraries, so if they are currently in the cloud you will need to download them first and reintegrate them into the older library before exporting the playlists. Make copies of any library files first just in case of accidental cloud updating.

tt2

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Answer 3

JupiterOne Author

Level 1

53 points

Feb 24, 2025 8:30 AM in response to JupiterOne

I was just able to locate my Music. I had to go into the Music.app on my Mac and click Account > Purchased. On the Purchased screen I selected the "Not in my Library" tab and there was my music. Clicking 'Download All' did nothing, I had to go to select each and every (hundreds of) song and click the Download icon next to each one.

I then opened a case with Apple Support because all my playlists were gone. A senior support person called me back and after some checking, she said that playlists are not migrated unless you have an Apple Music subscription, which I do not, I only have an iTunes Match subscription.

After a few days, I opened another support ticket because my HomePods cannot access any Music in my library. After some troubleshooting and looking at my old account and my Apple ID account, he was stumped because my iTunes account was not migrated. This was escalated to the development team and I haven't heard anything yet.

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Answer 4

JupiterOne Author

Level 1

53 points

Feb 24, 2025 1:18 PM in response to turingtest2

I looked at that article but I don't have any of the files it talks about (.itl, .xml). When I look at my Previous Library folder, I have several files all named Music Library [timestamp].musiclibrary. If I right-click on any of them and select Show Package Contents, there are several files inside there too, but again, no .xml or .itl files, only what seem to be database files. (.musicdb, .itdb,) and a .plist file. Opening them in Music.app didn't bring back any playlists.

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

276,665 points

Feb 24, 2025 1:28 PM in response to JupiterOne

Apologies, I thought that I had updated it to fully include Music at some point, but it seems not. In the case of Music you are looking for dated .musiclibrary packages that you treat in the same way as the .itl files. I.e. you can option-start-Music to access one of the packages for the purpose of exporting data. If you were going to fully revert to an older library you would copy it to the main ~/Music/Music folder and remove the date, then option-start-Music to select it. As noted if you have somehow corrupted your iCloud Music Library you need to avoid mirroring those unwanted changes into the library until you have had a chance to export the playlists that you want to recover. Note if you attempt to open any of these files in Finder Music may open, but not necessarily with the selected file. You must hold down option as you launch Music, then use the Choose Library... button to select the .musiclibrary package that you want to review.

tt2

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Answer 6

JupiterOne Author

Level 1

53 points

Feb 24, 2025 1:52 PM in response to turingtest2

Yes, sorry if I wasn't clear. I opened them my holding down the Option key while opening Music. When prompted, I selected the most recent file and my playlists still were not there. I also tried with two other ones from a couple of years ago.

I'm hoping to hear back on my support ticket tomorrow. The guy really seemed to think there was something wrong with my account because my iTunes Match subscription never migrated. Fingers crossed.