iPhone to iTunes on a Windows 11 PC issue

Just because Apple would like Windows users to move to the inferior Apple Music app you don't have to. Once you install any of Apple Music, Apple TV, or Apple Devices iTunes becomes limited to managing audiobooks and podcasts. If you remove each of those new apps iTunes is restored to its former, and much more useful, glory.

tt2

That's not a good sign. I don't have a magic bullet, but I do have a laundry list of things you can try. One of them may help.

If iTunes is apparently installed correctly try the following in turn until iTunes opens/closes/reopens/connects to the store normally:

• Remove any SD card that might be in a card reader.
• Exit the BTTray.exe Bluetooth utility if installed.
• Locate the shortcut for iTunes, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator. Doing this once may fix certain launch issues. Some users were finding that with the 12.6.1.25 build, for example, they had to use this method every time and modified the shortcut accordingly.
• Try holding ctrl+shift as you launch iTunes so it opens in safe-mode. Again doing this once may sometimes help.
• Try disconnecting your computer from the Internet before running iTunes.
• Delete the iTunes shortcuts from the start menu, desktop, task bar, or similar, then repair iTunes from the programs and features control panel.
• Try Fix unexpected quits or launch issues in iTunes for Windows - Apple Support (archived copy) and test the behaviour in a different user profile or with a different library. If the problem only exists in your profile it may be possible to delete some of the iTunes preference files which it would seem that iTunes may be choking on. We can go into details later if the issue is limited to your own profile.
• Temporarily disable any non-Microsoft anti-virus and see if that has any impact on the behaviour.
• See the second box in Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for detailed tear down and rebuild advice. Disable any non-Microsoft anti-virus software when reinstalling and run the installer as the administrator.
• If you installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store you may find the traditional iTunesSetup.exe installer works better for you, or vice versa.
• Or see the bottom of the troubleshooting tip and reinstall the last version that worked correctly for you.

tt2

You might try the approach in iOS device not showing in iTunes for Windows - Apple Community to ensure iTunes is using the correct driver and that the device trusts the computer.

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Bad news. iTunes no longer will be your way to add music to your phone. You'll have to open the Apple Music app on your pc and move all your music to the Apple Music App. ALL your music in iTunes will no longer be there. Your playlists will be moved as well. I did it while on the phone with someone from Apple. I suggest you do get help (it's very easy to get Apple help on the phone, unlike Microsoft!!) to be sure you do it correctly, because you want to move all playlists and songs. It's a shock to suddenly find that NONE of your songs are in iTunes anymore!! Then you use the app, Apple Devices, to add songs and playlists, to your iPhone. The format for the songs & playlists is quite different and not as user friendly in Apple Music as it was in iTunes. Lots of wasted space between songs and in playlists. Whoever designed it never used iTunes, I believe!! I've been gradually adjusting. It takes time. You'll get used to it. We were screwed, basically. Apple wants us to give up and subscribe. Good luck.

One more suggestion, do not move files in the iTunes folder once you switch to Apple Music app. Apple Music doesn't find files like it could in iTunes. I updated to windows 11 and backed up my music (WRONG MOVE!) and all my music in the app was gone. Had to add them back one at a time!!

I have one question I'd love answered while you have iTunes still, when you look at songs or playlist in iTunes, how many songs are you able to see on the screen at a time? In Apple Music I"m only able to view only 16 at a time!!!) I'm making a list of suggestions to Apple for those of us on a pc who are used to YEARS with iTunes!!

OK.. I did what you suggested, uninstalled all the Apple Music suites, along with Itunes app. I then reinstalled Itunes which I was able to get my library back. Now it takes itunes at least 3-5 mins to open... WHY???

I didn't ask my question correctly. I'm wondering while in iTunes how many songs are viewed on the screen in a playlist or song list at a time. In the Music App there is wasted space between songs and at the top of the page, and you i can only view 16 songs at a time on the screen. Wishing Apple Music had the same format as iTunes. Sorry for the confusion!!

The iTunes Songs view of a playlist shows 34 tracks at once on my system.

tt2

BullittDRVR, Which would be how many songs on the screen at a time?