it doesn't matter what i do- it's not the iTunes dashboard widget because I removed it, i turned off the iTunes helper app so it doesn't start up with the computer, and it keeps opening up and playing music for no reason. please help!
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iTunes keeps opening itself and playing music
- Thread starter bryantm3
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iTunes helper doesn't start iTunes at boot... it starts iTunes whenever it detects an iPod.
Are you sure there is no script in the autorun section that could start it? And iCal events?
Are you sure there is no script in the autorun section that could start it? And iCal events?
Do you have a iPod devise plugged into the computer? As noted, it will cause iTunes to open. Also, check the iTunes preferences. Are you using another player to play music?
I'm getting this under XP. iTunes just suddenly, sometimes with no input at all, to load up. Sometimes it likes to load back up after its been closed.
Then again my iMac also likes to turn itself on and the volume sometimes goes up or down on its own so I'm used to robots.
Then again my iMac also likes to turn itself on and the volume sometimes goes up or down on its own so I'm used to robots.
Try this:
1. make sure iTunes is not running.
2. Delete file: /Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.plist
3. Delete all files: /Users/yourname/library/preferences/byhost/com.apple.itunes.(a hex string here).plist
This has so far worked for me (just over a week now without incident).
1. make sure iTunes is not running.
2. Delete file: /Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.plist
3. Delete all files: /Users/yourname/library/preferences/byhost/com.apple.itunes.(a hex string here).plist
This has so far worked for me (just over a week now without incident).
I'm having the same issue. It's downright freaky! It's been happening for two days now. iTunes just opens itself and starts playing a random song by itself. I have a wireless Apple keyboard, so it may be a keyboard malfunction entering the "play" key.
I'm using the latest iTunes on a 24" alum. iMac, Snow Leopard 10.6.2, with no iPhone or iPod plugged in when it happens.
I'll turn off the keyboard for awhile and see if it happens again, but it's so intermittent and random, it will take hours of it not happening for me to be sure that's the problem.
In ten years of avid Mac use, I've never had anything like this happen before. Very strange indeed.
... the only other thing I can possibly think might be the culprit is that I recently reinstalled a new version of Quicksilver. Has anyone else with the problem also installed Quicksilver recently?
I'm using the latest iTunes on a 24" alum. iMac, Snow Leopard 10.6.2, with no iPhone or iPod plugged in when it happens.
I'll turn off the keyboard for awhile and see if it happens again, but it's so intermittent and random, it will take hours of it not happening for me to be sure that's the problem.
In ten years of avid Mac use, I've never had anything like this happen before. Very strange indeed.
... the only other thing I can possibly think might be the culprit is that I recently reinstalled a new version of Quicksilver. Has anyone else with the problem also installed Quicksilver recently?
For what it's worth, I simply turned off my wireless keyboard and turned it back on, and it hasn't happened since. As I suspected, it was just some weird Bluetooth bugginess.
I'm getting the same issue. 24" Alu iMac, 10.6.2 but don't have a Bluetooth keyboard so that's not the cause. It started today and the only thing that's different since yesterday is a Firefox update.
I had the same issue where iTunes would open itself and start playing a song. Sometimes it would pause itself and start up again. If I closed iTunes it would come back on after some time. It turned out to be the cable from my macbook to my speakers. This port is made to be used with iPhone-style headsets that can have a remote pause and unpause feature. Once I unplugged the speakers the problem went away.
Elegant solution 
GO to System Preferences > Accounts > [your user account] > Login Items. Click on "iTuneshelper" and click " - " to remove it. After next reboot, Play button won't kick it off, but it won't start up when you plug in your iPhone either.
GO to System Preferences > Accounts > [your user account] > Login Items. Click on "iTuneshelper" and click " - " to remove it. After next reboot, Play button won't kick it off, but it won't start up when you plug in your iPhone either.
iTunesHelper is not in my Login Items list at all (and I've restarted, deleted prefs, yadda yadda).
It's the strangest thing. Is there anything that can happen over the network to open iTunes? I haven't installed anything but Office 2011 in the past few weeks, and I don't see how something in Office could cause iTunes to start playing a random song.
It's the strangest thing. Is there anything that can happen over the network to open iTunes? I haven't installed anything but Office 2011 in the past few weeks, and I don't see how something in Office could cause iTunes to start playing a random song.
I had the strange problem of iTunes suddenly pausing whatever it was playing, with absolutely no indication as of why. Eventually I put my remote in a drawer, assuming that was the cause. Didn't help tho.
The pausing problem happened several times a day, for a while now.
I too have installed MS Office 2011 & never made any connection to it, until I read your post.
Strange thing is, I installed the new MSN messenger last night (non-beta version). No more pauses since then.
This probably is a huge coincidence, but I thought it might be useful to post anyway.
Oh, this was happening to me as well on my 24" Aluminum iMac when the new iTunes 10 first came out...it hasn't done this recently, but it would play music randomly when it did. I thought someone in my apartment complex was using an apple remote that was causing my computer to do this, but I turned off the preference to detect apple remotes.
weird.
weird.
This happens to me on my 2008 Mac Pro and my MacBook Pro. Running the latest version of iTunes on each. OS X 10.5.8 on both. No bluetooth keyboards, magic mice, Office 2011 or anything like that. I don't have a solution (except quitting the app again); just thought I'd throw my hat into ring as well.
at least it's a cool song
Same issue for me. Not plugged in, no prompt, no wireless keyboard, no buttons pushed, no nuttin. Happens every few days and just happened today in the middle of a business meeting: Itunes just starts on my iphone and anyone nearby can hear it. It always goes to the same song and only that song.
Phone was just sitting on the table today. Happened last week in the middle of a phone call. I'll keep checking here for solutions, but since no one is touching anything when this happens and it is completely random, I'm not optimistic.
Fortunately, it's a cool guitar instrumental, so no one is put off by the music. But it is poltergeisty (new adjective; you heard it here first).
Same issue for me. Not plugged in, no prompt, no wireless keyboard, no buttons pushed, no nuttin. Happens every few days and just happened today in the middle of a business meeting: Itunes just starts on my iphone and anyone nearby can hear it. It always goes to the same song and only that song.
Phone was just sitting on the table today. Happened last week in the middle of a phone call. I'll keep checking here for solutions, but since no one is touching anything when this happens and it is completely random, I'm not optimistic.
Fortunately, it's a cool guitar instrumental, so no one is put off by the music. But it is poltergeisty (new adjective; you heard it here first).
Hmm, since someone mentioned MSN Messenger
have any of you experiencing the problem checked to see if you have any instant messenger program which is set to display the current playing song as your status? I'm wondering if a bug in one of those could be triggering this
jW
jW
Same problem. I rejected the new iTunes download because I was in a hurry and soon after I started having the problem. I deleted iTunes and downloaded the new one and I'm still having the same problem.
Sometimes it will happen once an hour, or its every other second and it wont stay closed. It also pauses and un-pauses the song and it will keep changing the song. SUPER annoying, especially since there is no other solid alternative to iTunes for Mac.
I have never downloaded MSN Messanger and I tried the iTunes Helper suggestion and it didn't work
First time I have ever had a problem with my 13'' Mac Book Pro in 2 years. Probably all the porn I watch
Sometimes it will happen once an hour, or its every other second and it wont stay closed. It also pauses and un-pauses the song and it will keep changing the song. SUPER annoying, especially since there is no other solid alternative to iTunes for Mac.
I have never downloaded MSN Messanger and I tried the iTunes Helper suggestion and it didn't work
First time I have ever had a problem with my 13'' Mac Book Pro in 2 years. Probably all the porn I watch
try going to Start, All Programs, Start Up. Look for the itunes folder or a folder for the song that itunes plays on start up.
Speaker Jack
This problem is related to the microswitch located at the very bottom inside the speaker jack. Whenever you get this problem, make sure your speaker cable is fully inserted into the speaker jack. Even the slightest depress on the microswitch can create interference, causing itunes to start and random songs to start playing. I also recommend bringing your computer to an apple store and getting the speaker jack cleaned, since dust or other contaminants can cause this issue. They can also make sure that nothing is wrong with your microswitch. A friend of mine had to have his motherboard replaced due to a faulty microswitch. This is covered by warrantee as long as your mac isn't too old to be covered.
This problem is related to the microswitch located at the very bottom inside the speaker jack. Whenever you get this problem, make sure your speaker cable is fully inserted into the speaker jack. Even the slightest depress on the microswitch can create interference, causing itunes to start and random songs to start playing. I also recommend bringing your computer to an apple store and getting the speaker jack cleaned, since dust or other contaminants can cause this issue. They can also make sure that nothing is wrong with your microswitch. A friend of mine had to have his motherboard replaced due to a faulty microswitch. This is covered by warrantee as long as your mac isn't too old to be covered.