On a new support page, Apple touted three new apps as replacements for a similar features in iTunes for Home windows.
Now obtainable within the Microsoft Retailer for Windows 10 and 11, the Music app enables you to entry and play your albums and songs. The TV app does the identical on your motion pictures and TV reveals. And the Gadgets app will let you again up, restore, and sync your music, motion pictures, and TV reveals between a Windows PC and an iPhone or iPad.
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With the brand new devoted apps, the one remaining use for iTunes for Home windows is to entry podcasts and audiobooks. However with standalone apps for podcasts and audiobooks lengthy obtainable for iOS and iPadOS, Home windows variations of those two ought to be on the best way.
For the reason that new apps work solely in Home windows 10 and 11, any of you continue to operating an older model (and also you should not be as they’re not supported) will nonetheless want to make use of iTunes. And if that does not persuade you to improve to a supported model of Home windows, I do not know what’s going to.
If you happen to do obtain and set up the brand new apps, Apple does supply some phrases of knowledge.
First, you may want to put in all three apps; you may’t simply choose and select. If you happen to obtain solely one among them, iTunes for Home windows will immediate you to obtain the opposite two.
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After putting in the apps, do not take away iTunes, as you may nonetheless want it to view your podcasts and audiobooks. To grant you entry to the identical albums, TV reveals, and flicks, the Apple Music app and the Apple TV app learn the contents of your iTunes library — so do not take away the Library folder or information. To see your iTunes Retailer purchases in each apps, you may must authorize your Home windows PC along with your Apple ID.
After you obtain the Apple Music app, Apple TV app, and Apple Gadgets app, you may not discover any of your music or video content material in iTunes. And you will not have the ability to use iTunes to manually sync and handle your iPhone or iPad any longer.
You’ll be able to obtain the brand new apps from the Microsoft Retailer through the next hyperlinks:
For Home windows customers who’ve lengthy struggled with the monstrosity referred to as iTunes, this comes as welcome information. Do not get me flawed. Launched in 2001 for the Mac and in 2003 for Home windows, iTunes began life as a easy and dependable app, permitting you to buy music, audiobooks, and different content material.
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However through the years, Apple saved including increasingly options, turning it right into a gradual and buggy mess, particularly the Home windows model.
In 2019, Apple eliminated iTunes for the Mac with the discharge of MacOS Catalina, changing its features with completely different devoted apps and including backup and syncing capabilities to the Mac’s Finder device.
In October of 2022, Apple and Microsoft each signaled the same destiny for iTunes for Home windows, revealing that the Apple Music and Apple TV apps would be available in the Microsoft Store in 2023. The next January, preview versions of the two apps and the Devices app did pop up within the retailer, however just for Home windows 11.
The most recent information marks the official rollout for any Home windows 10 or 11 person anxious to wean off of iTunes. You’ll be able to add me to that listing.
