iTunes is a program developed by Apple more than 20 years ago. How relevant is it now, what can it do and how to install it? We will tell you about this and much more in this article.
What is iTunes
iTunes is a media player and media library developed by Apple. Originally launched in 2001, iTunes became the central application for managing music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and books on Apple devices. It also became the basis for the iTunes Store, where users could buy and download digital media.
iTunes closed?
In 2019, Apple announced that it would be shutting down iTunes and replacing it with three separate apps in macOS Catalina: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. This change affected Mac users. Windows users can still use iTunes, as it remains available on that platform.
On macOS Catalina and later, iTunes has been split into three separate apps. Users now manage music via Apple Music, videos via Apple TV, and podcasts via Apple Podcasts. Syncing and backup features have been integrated into Finder. When you connect an iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your Mac, you’ll see the device in the Finder sidebar and be able to manage it just like you did with iTunes.
On macOS Mojave and earlier, iTunes continues to function as a centralized app for managing music, videos, podcasts, and syncing devices.
On Windows, iTunes is still available for download and use. Users can manage media files, purchase music and videos, and sync their devices.
iTunes Key Features
Now that we’ve covered the state of iTunes in 2024, let’s take a look at the program’s main features.
- Media Library. iTunes allows users to organize and store all their media files in one place. Users can create playlists, sort music by albums, artists, genres, and many other criteria;
- Purchase and download. The iTunes Store allows users to purchase and download music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks. The store has become one of the largest platforms for legally purchasing digital content;
- Syncing: iTunes was used to sync media files with iPods, iPhones, and iPads. This included transferring music, videos, photos, and apps between your computer and device;
- Media playback. iTunes lets you play music and video, supporting a wide range of file formats. It also provides access to Internet radio;
- Podcasts and Audiobooks: iTunes offers users the ability to subscribe to podcasts and purchase audiobooks, making it a versatile media player.
Why do you need iTunes?
What else might you need iTunes for?
- Organize your media collection. iTunes helps users keep their media files organized, making music and video management simple and convenient;
- Purchasing and downloading content: With iTunes Store integration, users can easily purchase new content;
- Syncing devices: iTunes has long been a key tool for transferring media files to Apple devices, making it a must-have for iPhone, iPod, and iPad users;
- Backup and restore. iTunes allows you to create backup copies of your device data, which is important for protecting information and restoring it if your device is lost or damaged.
As a reminder, with the release of macOS Catalina in 2019, Apple replaced iTunes with three separate apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. This change made media management more focused and simplified. However, iTunes is still available and usable on Windows and some older versions of macOS.
Pros and Cons of iTunes in 2024
In 2024, iTunes is still used by many users, especially on Windows and older versions of macOS, despite being split into separate apps (Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts) on modern versions of macOS. Let’s look at the main pros and cons of using iTunes in 2024.
| Centralized management. iTunes lets you manage your music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks in one place. | Difficulty of use: iTunes’ interface can feel dated and less intuitive than modern media apps. |
| Create playlists: Users can create and customize playlists to their liking, making it easy to organize and play their favorite tracks. | No updates: Since Apple no longer updates iTunes, no new features or improvements are added. |
| Access to the iTunes Store. Purchase and download a wide range of content, including music, movies, and audiobooks. | Heavy. iTunes can be slow, especially on older computers, due to its large number of features and data. |
| Legality and quality. All purchases in the iTunes Store are legal and of high quality. | Errors and Crashes: Users may experience errors and crashes, especially when working with large media libraries. |
| Support for older devices. iTunes continues to be an important tool for syncing and managing older Apple devices, such as iPods and early iPhones and iPads. | Compatibility: Newer Apple devices and features (such as Apple Music and iCloud Music Library) are not fully integrated with iTunes, making some features less convenient to use. |
| Data Security: iTunes allows you to back up your device data, which is important for protecting your information and restoring it if your device is lost or damaged. | Need for adaptation: Users upgrading to new versions of macOS must get used to using separate apps for music, video, and podcasts, which can be inconvenient for those accustomed to the unified iTunes interface. |
What You Need to Know About iTunes Syncing
Syncing iPhone with iTunes allows you to transfer and manage media files, data, and settings between your iPhone and your computer. This includes music, movies, photos, apps, contacts, calendars, and more. Here are the details on the process and features of syncing iPhone with iTunes in 2024.
Preparing for synchronization
Installing iTunes
- On a Windows computer: Download and install the latest version of iTunes from the official Apple website using the instructions above;
- On Mac: In macOS Catalina and later, iTunes has been replaced by three separate apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. Use Finder to sync across devices. In earlier versions of macOS, use iTunes.
Connecting the device
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB or USB-C cable;
- Open iTunes (or Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later).
Sync via iTunes
Device overview
- In iTunes, your iPhone should appear in the upper left corner of the window. Click the iPhone icon;
- In Finder, your iPhone will appear in the sidebar under Locations.
Setting up synchronization
Music
- Go to the “Music” section;
- Select Sync Music and choose which songs, albums, playlists, or genres you want to sync.
Movies and TV Shows
- Go to the Movies or TV Shows section;
- Select Sync Movies and choose which movies or shows you want to add to your iPhone.
Books and podcasts
Go to the relevant sections and select the content to sync.
Start synchronization
- After setting all parameters, click the “Apply” or “Synchronize” button in the lower right corner of the window;
- Wait for iTunes to finish syncing. This may take several minutes, depending on the amount of data.
Wireless sync
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable;
- Open iTunes and go to the device overview;
- Under Options, select Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi;
- Click Apply;
- Make sure your iPhone and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync;
- Click Sync Now.
Problems and solutions
iTunes Doesn’t Recognize iPhone
- Try using a different cable or USB port;
- Restart iTunes and iPhone;
- Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer.
Sync error
- Please double check your sync settings in iTunes;
- Make sure your iPhone has enough space for the new data;
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting your iPhone.
Backup and Restore
Creating a backup copy
- Connect your iPhone to your computer;
- In iTunes, go to the device overview;
- Under Backups, select Back up now.
Restore from backup
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- In iTunes, go to the device overview.
- In the Backups section, select Restore Backup and select the desired backup.
Syncing your iPhone with iTunes remains an important feature for managing your content and data, despite the advent of cloud services and improvements in wireless technology.
iTunes Alternative
There are several iTunes alternatives that offer different features for managing and syncing media content on iPhone and other Apple devices.
iMazing
iMazing is a powerful iOS device management app that allows you to transfer files, backup, restore data and manage apps.
WALTER
WALTR is an app that allows you to easily transfer music, videos, ringtones and other files to iOS devices without using iTunes.
Download .
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pros
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Minuses
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| Ease of use: drag and drop files | Paid app |
| Support for multiple file formats | |
| Fast data transfer |
Syncios
Syncios is a data management program for iOS and Android devices, offering a wide range of features for transferring media files, creating backups and converting videos.
Download .
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pros
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Minuses
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| Support iOS and Android | Limited features in free version |
| Built-in media converter | |
| Ability to manage applications |