If You Are a Windows User Who Loves IPhone, You Will Need ITunes From the Windows Store.
Before we start, Windows users, let’s start with a statement: we are using Windows. We all agree that iTunes has a terrible design. We’re throwing a party if Apple ever upgrades its app, but we hate that iTunes is the best option for syncing content to our iPhones and iPads.
Now that we’re done with that, you should stop using iTunes – that is, the version you downloaded from Apple. You don’t quit the app completely. You just need to replace it with the version that Apple just released on the Windows Store.
No, iTunes in the Windows Store is no different from iTunes, which you would otherwise download from Apple. And it does not contain any additional functions. You won’t see Clippy pop up and ask you what kind of music you want to sync with your iDevice, although that might please us.
Why use the Windows Store version of iTunes?
If you have Windows 10 S – and if so, I’m sorry for you – you have no choice. Since you can’t just download and install any app from the Internet, the Windows Store version of iTunes is the only way to use iTunes. Sorry it took you so long to sync music from iPhone on Windows.
For most Windows users, the only good reason to use iTunes as a Windows Store app rather than a separate download from Apple is that you won’t be bothered by updates anymore. That’s all. If that doesn’t scare you, then by all means stick to the version you get from Apple if you want.
However, I hate random pop-ups from the Apple Software Update tool on Windows. It is annoying to have to manually install iTunes every time Apple has an update. And for the thousandth time, I don’t want to install iCloud for Windows. I never want to install iCloud for Windows. I’d rather buy a Mac than install iCloud for Windows – that’s how poorly implemented Apple’s utility is.
How to easily upgrade to the Windows Store version of iTunes
If you are using iTunes downloaded from Apple, stop what you are doing now. You don’t need to uninstall the app, move your music library to a temporary folder, or, well, do anything. Just don’t do anything.
Instead, launch the Microsoft Store app, or just click this handy link and install iTunes. During the installation process, everything you did in iTunes downloaded by Apple will be carried over to the version you downloaded from the Windows Store. Nothing could be easier:
While some users of the Windows Store version of iTunes reported difficulty getting an app to recognize or sync files on their iPhone or iPad, I didn’t have any problems at all. ITunes in the Windows Store looks, feels, and works the same as the version you would otherwise download directly from Apple. However, if you’re having trouble, you’ll want to uninstall the Windows Store version and download the iTunes installer from Apple’s website .
(And no, going back to the version downloaded by Apple is not as easy as going to the Windows Store version. You will have to completely uninstall the Windows Store version of iTunes in order to successfully run the iTunes installer you downloaded from Apple)
It’s too early to tell if there will be any delays between iTunes updates released through Apple’s Software Update and iTunes updates for the Windows Store version of the app. I can only assume that both versions will receive updates at about the same time, but I’ll let you know if I notice that iTunes is permanently updated through the Windows Store.