Causes of the Missing Original File Error

An exclamation point appears next to a song when iTunes doesn’t know where to find the MP3 or AAC file for that song. This situation occurs because songs aren’t stored in the iTunes app. Instead, iTunes functions like a directory for the music files stored on a computer’s hard drive. When you double-click a song, iTunes searches the place on the hard drive where it expects to find the file. If the music file isn’t in the location the application expects, it can’t play the song. The most common causes of the error include a file that has been moved from its original location, a file that isn’t stored in the Music folder, or a song file that has been deleted. Also, another media application may have moved the file without telling you. The default locations for music files are:

In the Music app: Home/MusicIn iTunes on Mac: Home/Music/iTunes/iTunes MediaIn iTunes on Windows 10: Music/iTunes/iTunes Media

How to Fix the Error for a Single Missing Music File

If iTunes displays an exclamation point beside a single song in your iTunes Library, complete the following steps:  

How to Fix the Error for Multiple Missing Music Files (Local Hard Drive)

If there are exclamation marks next to many songs, finding each song individually could take a long time. Instead, you may be able to solve the problem by consolidating your iTunes Library. This feature of iTunes scans a hard drive for music files, and then automatically moves them to the correct location in your iTunes Music folder. To consolidate your music in iTunes, complete the following steps:

How to Fix the Error for Multiple Missing Music Files (External Hard Drive)

If you run your entire iTunes Library from an external hard drive, the link between the songs and iTunes can be lost from time to time, especially after the hard drive has been unplugged. To re-establish the link between iTunes and your library, complete the following steps:

How to Prevent the Error From Happening Again

To prevent the error from occurring in the future, complete the following steps: