If you use iTunes to sync or back your iPhone or iPad locally, stream your Apple Music library, or watch Apple TV content, Apple offers new apps to move you away from it. But you might still want to keep iTunes around.
Apple’s Apps to Replace iTunes Are Available on the Microsoft Store
In February 2024, Apple released a trio of Windows apps to phase out iTunes. These include Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices. This move is similar to how Apple removed iTunes from macOS in 2019.
If you’re unsure, here’s a quick rundown of these Apple apps and what they’re useful for:
Apple’s standalone apps for Windows have been available as a preview since January 2023, but they’re now available to the general public. Alongside these iTunes replacements, Apple also introduced a revamped iCloud app for Windows users.
Why You Shouldn’t Uninstall iTunes Just Yet
The release of these standalone Apple apps for Windows devices doesn’t mean iTunes is completely useless. You’ll still need it if you want to access your audiobooks on your PC or listen to free podcasts. Apple has yet to release a standaloneApple Podcasts app we’re familiar with on macOS.
When I opened iTunes on my Windows PC, the app prompted me to switch to Apple’s standalone apps, and everything was removed except podcasts and audiobooks. However, this wasn’t the case for Windows users who downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store instead ofApple’s iTunes download page.
