Yes. Apple still provides iTunes for Windows, but it is no longer the default app for every kind of media or device management. On a current Windows PC, Apple directs users to Apple Music for music, Apple TV for movies and television, and Apple Devices for iPhone and iPad updates, backups, restores and syncing. iTunes remains the Windows app Apple identifies for podcasts and audiobooks.
On Mac, the answer depends on the operating-system version. Apple’s documented iTunes syncing instructions cover macOS Mojave and earlier; newer Mac releases require the current Apple media and device-sync instructions for that version.
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What “support” means in 2026
iTunes has not vanished from Windows. Apple still lists a Windows version, distributes it through the Microsoft Store and provides update guidance for it. However, “supported” no longer means that one application is the recommended home for every Apple media and device task.
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| Platform or task | Apple’s current guidance |
|---|---|
| Windows music | Use Apple Music to listen to and manage music from an iTunes library, including iTunes Store purchases. |
| Windows movies and TV shows | Use Apple TV to watch and manage library content, including purchases made through Apple’s TV store. |
| Windows iPhone or iPad management | Use Apple Devices to update, back up, restore, manage and sync an iPhone or iPad manually. |
| Windows podcasts and audiobooks | Use iTunes for Windows. Apple describes iTunes as the home for audiobooks and free podcasts. |
| Windows without Apple Music or Apple TV installed | Apple says iTunes can continue to handle all media in that configuration. |
| Mac syncing | Apple’s cited iTunes instructions apply to macOS Mojave or earlier. Newer macOS versions use Apple’s current media and sync guidance. |
Which iTunes app should you use on Windows?
Apple Music for songs and music libraries
Apple Music is the Windows destination for listening to and managing music that was previously handled by iTunes. Apple specifically says the app can access an iTunes library, including music bought from the iTunes Store. Moving to Apple Music does not by itself mean that a purchase has been made again; the app is designed to work with that existing library.
If your computer contains locally imported songs, playlists or iTunes Store purchases, open Apple Music and follow its library-import or library-selection prompts. Keep the original iTunes library and its media files in place until you have confirmed that playlists, artwork and files appear as expected. The exact import prompts can vary by app release.
Apple TV for films and television
Apple TV replaces iTunes for watching and managing movies and TV shows on Windows. It is also the app Apple identifies for library content and purchases associated with Apple’s TV store. If you install Apple TV, use it rather than iTunes for video playback and video-library organization.
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Apple Devices is the dedicated Windows utility for manual device work. Apple lists updates, backups, restores, management and syncing among its functions. This is the appropriate starting point when your goal is to connect an iPhone or iPad to a Windows computer rather than play media.
iTunes for podcasts and audiobooks
Apple still assigns podcasts and audiobooks to iTunes for Windows. If those are the only Apple media types you use on a PC, there is no need to install every replacement app simply to preserve that workflow.
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- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
Can you still download iTunes for Windows?
Yes. Apple’s Windows download guidance directs users to the Microsoft Store. The Store is also the route Apple identifies for checking for updates, and Apple says it carries the latest versions of its Windows applications, including iTunes.
- Open the Microsoft Store on the Windows PC.
- Search for Apple’s iTunes app and verify that the publisher is Apple.
- Select the install option and allow Windows to complete the download.
- Open iTunes after installation and sign in if the task requires access to your Apple media library.
- Return to the Microsoft Store periodically and use its update controls to keep the app current.
Store listings and features can vary by country or region. If iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV or a particular store feature does not appear, check Apple’s availability information for your location instead of installing an unofficial copy from a download site.
What happens to an existing iTunes library?
Your library can remain useful after Apple separates the Windows functions. Music is handled by Apple Music, video by Apple TV, and podcasts and audiobooks by iTunes. Apple Music is specifically documented as able to read an iTunes library, including iTunes Store purchases.
Before changing apps, make a separate backup of important music files and note the location of the iTunes library database. A library database records playlists, ratings and other organization; the audio or video files may be stored elsewhere. Keeping both available gives you a recovery option if an import does not show the arrangement you expect.
A cautious migration sequence
- Close iTunes and make a backup of the library database and media folders.
- Install Apple Music or Apple TV from the Microsoft Store only if you need those functions.
- Open the new app and select the existing library when prompted.
- Check several playlists, recently purchased items and locally imported files.
- Do not delete the old library until playback and organization have been verified.
Installing Apple Music or Apple TV changes which app handles those media categories. Apple’s guide says that, after installation, music belongs in Apple Music and movies and TV shows belong in Apple TV, while iTunes remains for podcasts and audiobooks. If you do not install Apple Music or Apple TV, Apple says iTunes can continue to be used for all media.
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Can iTunes still sync an iPhone or iPad?
It can in the situations Apple documents, but the recommended Windows workflow is now Apple Devices. On a Windows PC, use Apple Devices for manual updates, backups, restores, management and synchronization.
Current Windows procedure with Apple Devices
- Install Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store.
- Connect the iPhone or iPad to the computer with a USB data cable suitable for both devices.
- Unlock the device and respond to any trust or passcode prompt.
- Open Apple Devices and select the connected iPhone or iPad.
- Choose the required operation, such as an update, backup, restore or sync, and review the settings before confirming.
- Keep the cable connected until the operation reports completion.
The connector is not universal: the correct cable depends on the iPhone or iPad model and the ports on the computer. A charge-only cable may not establish a data connection, so use a cable known to support data transfer.
Legacy iTunes syncing on Windows
Apple still documents iTunes syncing on Windows, particularly for users who have not installed the replacement media apps or who need the older workflow. The same documentation describes connecting over USB and enabling Wi-Fi syncing after the initial setup.
There is an important library limitation: a device can sync with only one iTunes library at a time. If you connect it to another computer and choose Remove and Sync, selected content on the device is replaced by content from that computer. Read the warning carefully and make a backup before accepting it.
Wi-Fi sync considerations
Apple’s older instructions describe USB as the initial connection method and Wi-Fi as an option that can be enabled afterward. Both the computer and device need to be available on the same network for a Wi-Fi synchronization attempt. If Wi-Fi sync is unreliable, reconnect with USB, confirm that the device is trusted and check whether the computer sees it before changing library settings.
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- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
What about iTunes on a Mac?
Mac support is a separate case from Windows. Apple’s cited syncing instructions explicitly cover iTunes on macOS Mojave or earlier. They should not be read as confirmation that iTunes is the current general-purpose media or device-management app on every Mac.
For a Mac running a later macOS release, use Apple’s current instructions for that macOS version and task. Apple’s support material points to cloud-based options such as iCloud and Apple Music, but the available workflow depends on whether you are moving music, handling video, backing up a device or synchronizing specific content. Do not assume that the Windows Apple Devices app is available on Mac.
If you are unsure which instructions apply, check the Mac’s version in the Apple menu under About This Mac, then consult Apple’s current media and device-sync documentation for that version. This avoids applying Mojave-era steps to a newer system.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if you install the new apps but still open iTunes?
That behavior is expected for some tasks. After Apple Music or Apple TV is installed, iTunes is no longer the primary Windows app for music or video. It remains relevant for podcasts and audiobooks, and Apple says users who do not install the dedicated media apps can continue to use iTunes for all media.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsUse the app associated with the task rather than trying to force every library into iTunes:
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- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
- For songs, playlists and music purchases, open Apple Music.
- For films and television programs, open Apple TV.
- For iPhone or iPad backups, restores, updates and device sync, open Apple Devices.
- For podcasts and audiobooks, open iTunes.
Troubleshooting common problems
iTunes is missing from the Microsoft Store
Availability can differ by country or region. Confirm that Windows is signed in correctly, search the Store for Apple’s published app and check Apple’s regional availability information. Avoid third-party installers that claim to provide a newer or modified build.
Music purchases do not appear in Apple Music
Confirm that Apple Music is using the intended iTunes library and that you are signed in to the Apple account associated with the purchases. Check the original library and its media-folder location before deleting anything. Apple qualifies store availability and features by region, so a purchase or feature may not be offered identically everywhere.
The iPhone or iPad is not detected
- Try a different USB port and a known data-capable cable.
- Unlock the device and accept the trust prompt.
- Close iTunes or other Apple media apps that may be using the connection, then reopen Apple Devices.
- Restart both the computer and the device if detection still fails.
- Do not choose a restore or “Remove and Sync” option until you have confirmed that the computer contains the data you intend to use.
A sync wants to remove content
Stop and read the confirmation screen. Apple’s documentation warns that a device syncs with only one iTunes library and that “Remove and Sync” replaces selected content with the other library’s content. Cancel, make a backup and determine which computer should be the device’s library before proceeding.
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A newer Mac guide does not match your screen
Check the macOS version first. The iTunes sync instructions cited by Apple apply to Mojave or earlier; a later Mac requires the current instructions for its release. Do not substitute Windows steps or assume that an app with the same name exists on both platforms.
A quick decision guide
| Your goal | Use this app or path | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Listen to songs in an old iTunes library | Apple Music on Windows | Apple says it can access iTunes libraries and iTunes Store purchases. |
| Watch purchased or previously managed video | Apple TV on Windows | Video-store availability and features vary by region. |
| Back up, update or restore an iPhone or iPad on Windows | Apple Devices | Connect with a suitable USB data cable and review prompts. |
| Manage podcasts or audiobooks on Windows | iTunes for Windows | Apple still assigns these categories to iTunes. |
| Keep one Windows app for all media | iTunes, if Apple Music and Apple TV are not installed | Apple says this remains possible in that configuration. |
| Sync on a Mac | iTunes only where Apple documents it, including macOS Mojave or earlier | Use current Mac-specific guidance on newer releases. |
Bottom line for Windows and Mac users
Apple still supports iTunes, but its role is now narrower and platform-dependent. Windows users can download it from the Microsoft Store and continue using it for podcasts and audiobooks, or for all media if they do not install Apple Music and Apple TV. Once those dedicated apps are installed, use Apple Music for music and Apple TV for video. Use Apple Devices for modern Windows iPhone and iPad management.
On Mac, treat macOS Mojave and earlier as the documented iTunes-sync boundary. For newer releases, identify the macOS version and follow Apple’s current app-specific instructions rather than assuming that the old iTunes workflow still applies.
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