Fix iTunes itl File Error: The iTunes Library File is Locked, on a Locked Disk

What to do if you notice a message as soon as you launch iTunes, “The iTunes Library file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file”. Follow the instructions listed below on how to fix a locked iTunes Library file that prevents iTunes from loading.

Locked iTunes

Steps to Fix Locked iTunes library.itl file

Step #1 Click Launch Finder by its icon in the dock.

Step #2 Select Music from the list of places of the Finder window then double-click the iTunes folder.

Step #3 Find the iTunes Library file and drag it to your desktop.

Step #4 Launch the iTunes application. It is important to note that your iTunes Library will be empty. Just quit the application by pressing the Command+q keys.

Step #5 Drag the iTunes Library file from the Desktop back to the iTunes folder you original took it from and then click the Replace button to continue.

Step #6 You can now launch iTunes as normal without receiving a locked library message.

Tagged as: iTunes

Karthik707

its just simple to clear this problem:
go to itune program file where it has been installed or to my music . there u can see itune . inside itune u will see itune library file-right click – properties -remove tic mark from both read and hidden option then ok.
pdoffmax

Nup. Cant move my files ANYWHERE. Access denied. Cant move to desktop or to Previous libraries. I even downloaded the new itunes version to get around this.. LAME LAME LAME Itunes, shame on you for this, user friendly is just a term, not a reality… far out… who could ever be bothered with this time consuming life sapper that is itunes, you ve lost me well and truly… come on, try and win me back, i dare ya…. Am i supposed to get a degreee in itunes management to just listen to music… get stuffed….
http://twitter.com/chinmay007 chinmay bhalke

i could do it just by moving the file “iTunes Library” to folder “previous itune library” and replacing the older file instead. Thanks for helping me locate the file.
Banga

I removed Safari and this seemed to correct the problem….
Banga

I removed Safari and this seemed to correct the problem….
Matthias

This problem came up for me and I almost had a fit…tried a bunch of different things and nothing worked. I did the above fix and it also failed. However, the simplest of all solutions did end up working. I used Time Machine on my iMac to go back to soon before the error message started to appear, and a grabbed my iTunes Library file (the same file from above) and I restored it. I clicked "Replace" to change out the locked file with the one that worked and after that iTunes started right up with everything intact. By the way, just a little FYI, I think all this started for me because I was trying to rip a DVD onto my computer…I didn't know what I was doing with the file conversion and I screwed myself.
Matthias

This problem came up for me and I almost had a fit…tried a bunch of different things and nothing worked. I did the above fix and it also failed. However, the simplest of all solutions did end up working. I used Time Machine on my iMac to go back to soon before the error message started to appear, and a grabbed my iTunes Library file (the same file from above) and I restored it. I clicked "Replace" to change out the locked file with the one that worked and after that iTunes started right up with everything intact. By the way, just a little FYI, I think all this started for me because I was trying to rip a DVD onto my computer…I didn't know what I was doing with the file conversion and I screwed myself.
Emily

The only solution that actually worked!!!thank you!

How to Fix a Locked iTunes itl Library File?

Steps to Fix Locked iTunes library.itl file