The file iTunes Library.Itl cannot be read Error [Solved]

A lot of iTunes users are facing an issue while trying to access the iTunes app on their PC or Mac. When they tried accessing it, it threw an error message on the app window that said “The files iTunes Library.Itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes”.

This error message could have possibly occurred because the user must have upgraded the iTunes app on their system or updated their system’s operating system. After they are upgraded, it causes the library files to be mismatched with the iTunes app causing it to throw the error message.

In this post, we are going to show you how you can easily and effectively resolve this issue using the troubleshooting fixes given here.

How to Fix “The file iTunes Library.Itl cannot be read” Error on Windows PC

Step 1: Upgrade the iTunes app on your Windows PC if you have not done it already.

Step 2: After upgrading, you need to press the Windows + R keys together on the keyboard to open the Run command box.



Step 3: Copy-paste the below given line into the run command box and hit the Enter key.

 

C:\Users\%username%\Music\iTunes

 

Run Command Itunes Folder 11zon

 

Step 4: This will open the iTunes folder on your system.

Step 5: Here, you have to locate the iTunes Library.itl file and select it.

Step 6: Now right-click on the file and select the Rename option from the context menu that appeared as shown in the below screenshot.

Step 7: You need to rename this file from iTunes Library.itl to iTunes Library.old and press the Enter key.

 

Rename To Itl To Old 11zon

 

Step 8: It might pop up a warning window on your screen and to continue, you have to click Yes.

 

Yes To Rename 11zon

 

NOTE – This is to keep the existing library file as a backup. So that you can revert it in the future.

Step 9: Now open the Previous iTunes Libraries folder inside the iTunes folder itself.

Step 10: Copy the iTunes Library latest file with the date and paste it into the iTunes folder.

Step 11: You should rename this file to iTunes Library.itl after pasting it.

NOTE – If you do not have a Previous iTunes Library folder, then don’t worry. You can proceed with the rest of the steps but you will get the iTunes app with a blank library without any previous data.

Step 12: After doing that, you need to reopen the iTunes app on your Windows PC and will get to notice the error is not occurring now.

Also, if you have iCloud backup, you can get the library back.

How to Fix “The file iTunes Library.Itl cannot be read” Error on a MacBook

WARNING – If you are using iCloud for the data backup, please turn off the internet connection on your MacBook while performing the steps below in order to avoid syncing to iCloud which might cause problems later while retrieving data from iCloud.

Step 1: Press the Command + Shift + G keys together on your keyboard.

Step 2: Then type the below given line in the Go to Folder window and click Go.



 

~/Music/iTunes/

 

Step 3: This opens the iTunes folder on your system.

Step 4: Locate the iTunes Library.itl file and rename it to iTunes Library.old.

Step 5: Now go to the Previous iTunes Library folder and copy the latest iTunes Library file and paste it into the iTunes folder.

Step 6: Once done, you have to rename this file back to iTunes Library.itl since it has date attached to the filename.

Step 7: At last, relaunch the iTunes app on your Macbook and test it once.