To be able to add new music to iTunes, permissions must be correct on your Music folder and the folders in it.

Symptom

You get this alert message:

"Attempting to copy to the disk 'your hard drive name' failed. You do not have enough access privileges for this operation."

This occurs when you:

• Drag music from another location into iTunes.
• Add music to iTunes using "Add to library..." ("Add file to library..." and "Add folder to library..." on Windows) from the File menu in iTunes.

Or you may see a message reading:

"Error occurred while converting the file 'song name'. You do not have enough access privileges for this operation."

This can occur when you:

• Import music from an audio CD.
• Convert a song in iTunes to another file format using "Convert Selection to chosen format" from the Advanced menu in iTunes.

Or you may see a message reading:

"There was an error downloading your purchased music. iTunes could not save to your Music Folder because you do not have write access. Check the permissions on your Music Folder, then use the Check for Purchased Music command in the Advanced menu to try again"

This occurs when you:

• Buy music from the iTunes Store.

Products affected

• iTunes for Mac OS X
• iTunes for Windows

Solution

These messages occur if permissions are incorrect on your designated music folder or on a folder inside your designated music folder. Permissions are settings that determine who can read, write to, or execute a file or folder on your computer. Every file and folder on your hard disk has an associated set of permissions.

Example: If permissions are correct on your Music folder, but incorrect on the U2 folder inside your Music folder, you would be able to add other music to your iTunes library, but not that new U2 album.

Look here for help in correcting the permissions on folders:
Mac OS X:

• Setting Permissions
  
• Troubleshooting permissions issues in Mac OS X
  
  

Windows XP:

• How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows XP
  
  

Note: Permissions and privileges for files are different from authorization to play a song purchased from the iTunes Store. Click here for information on authorizing a purchased song to play.

Related documents

A note about copyright
This software may be used to reproduce materials. It is licensed to you only for reproduction of non-copyrighted materials, materials in which you own the copyright, or materials you are authorized or legally permitted to reproduce. If you are uncertain about your right to copy any material, you should contact your legal advisor.