Apple Officially Splits iTunes for Windows Into Apple Music, TV, and Devices Apps

[MacRumors]

The Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices apps that Apple has been testing for Windows machines have officially launched, ending a long preview period and bringing an end to the iTunes app on some computers.

The Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices app are part of Apple's effort to split iTunes on PC into multiple platforms to mirror how these apps work on Macs. On Windows 10 and later, PC customers can download the three separate apps to manage devices and access Apple Music and Apple TV content.

Microsoft first announced plans for Apple Music and Apple TV apps for the Microsoft Store back in October 2022, so the split from iTunes has been in the works for more than a year.

Standalone Apple Music, Apple Devices, and Apple TV apps launched in a preview capacity in January 2023, and Apple has been making regular updates since then. As of today, the "Preview" label has been removed from the three Windows apps.

The Apple Music app gives Windows users a way to listen to and manage music from their iTunes library, including iTunes Store purchases, while the Apple TV app allows users to watch and manage movies and TV shows from iTunes. Both of the apps also give access to Apple's streaming services, Apple Music and Apple TV+.

The Apple Devices app is designed to allow PC owners to update, back up, and restore and manage their iPhones and iPads, and sync content from their PCs.

Using the standalone apps requires Windows 10 or later, and all three apps must be installed to transition away from iTunes. After the apps have been added to a PC, iTunes is used only to access podcasts and audiobooks. The iTunes library should not be deleted, because it is used by the Apple Music and Apple TV apps.

PC users not able to update to Windows 10 can continue to use iTunes, but the new standalone apps offer a much more modern and simple-to-use experience that closer mirrors Mac interfaces.

Article Link: Apple Officially Splits iTunes for Windows Into Apple Music, TV, and Devices Apps

 

[Slix]

I’d like to see how they did the Devices app, because holy cow syncing iPods and iPhones from the Finder in macOS is way worse than iTunes ever was.

What about Podcasts on Windows?

 

[DreadedFun]

Can't wait to test it. Not sure if it was a localisation issue (not being in the US but installing from the US Microsoft Store) but the beta did not work very well for me as many songs got skipped. Hope the official launch willl solve this issue.

 

[JonDiesel]

Good. This was a step in the right direction for Apple. It's nice to see them cater to their consumers that may also be users of PCs as well as their devices.

 

[Nekronos]

Splitting these into more apps is a worse experience for the user. I'll take one robust app over multiple any day.

 

[markfc]

If there’s a button to choose which drive / directory to store iPhone backups then I’m in.

 

[PotentPeas]

Looking at the Apple Music screenshot. Don't see podcasts. If I use Apple Podcasts, where do I access that now?

If there’s a button to choose which drive / directory to store iPhone backups then I’m in.

I used a symbolic link to "point" the backup folder to a different drive.

 

[progx]

Good. This was a step in the right direction for Apple. It's nice to see them cater to their consumers that may also be users of PCs as well as their devices.

Don't think they wanted to leave on iTunes for as long as they have, but it might have come down to the way Microsoft has been changing Windows. Especially between 10 and 11. Glad Microsoft stepped in to help mitigate any developer issues they could have been having with bringing Apple Music and Apple TV to Windows.

 

[1BadManVan]

So far off to a rough start, i go to sign in and nothing happens after. Still shows im not signed in and have none of my music lol. I guess sticking to the website for now

 

[Razorpit]

Splitting these into more apps is a worse experience for the user. I'll take one robust app over multiple any day.

Came here to say the same thing. I don’t know if I’m getting older or what, but back in the day I rarely needed to look anything up to use Apple/Mac software and applications. Now I have to constantly look stuff up on the internet to find where the heck {insert common action/feature here} is.

All this stuff doesn’t seem as intuitive as it use to be. Is it just me?

 

[Tito360]

I’d like to see how they did the Devices app, because holy cow syncing iPods and iPhones from the Finder in macOS is way worse than iTunes ever was.

What about Podcasts on Windows?

We have been splitting apples since the 1800s why now

 

[markfc]

Looking at the Apple Music screenshot. Don't see podcasts. If I use Apple Podcasts, where do I access that now?


I used a symbolic link to "point" the backup folder to a different drive.

Yep me too but a simple button and browser would be so much nicer.

 

[ps3zocker]

Are these apps based on iTunes still or have they been completely rewritten? If so, they're already better than the Mac Music app.

 

[Bustycat]

Rated 3.4 for Apple Music and 2.8 for Apple TV. People aren't thankful enough towards Apple.

 

[blcamp]

Looking at the Apple Music screenshot. Don't see podcasts. If I use Apple Podcasts, where do I access that now?


I used a symbolic link to "point" the backup folder to a different drive.

That's what I had to do as well - making a junction link in my Windows file system. This allows me to store backups on both a flash drive and a portable HDD. We have 6 devices which I keep backed up (iPhones and iPads each for my wife, son and myself).

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

What's the point of this exactly?

 

[KPOM]

Splitting these into more apps is a worse experience for the user. I'll take one robust app over multiple any day.

Except iTunes was clunky even on the Mac and especially on Windows.

 

[Act3]

Apple music runs fine on my 14 year old windows machine, 1st gen I7. Much better than iTunes did 14 years ago.

 

[GMShadow]

What's the point of this exactly?

People constantly screamed that iTunes was 'bloated' because it had more than three buttons. Those of us who actually used it now have to suffer this mess as a result.

 

[JosephAW]

Yet you cannot run iTunes on the latest macOS.

 

[TechnoMonk]

iTunes on windows was bloated garbage. Never used it on my windows workstation. Luckily I have HomePod Mini, or IPhone/AirPods to listen. I may try if it is snappy and useable.

 

[MrRom92]

Does the new app allow you to add a FLAC file to your music library or is it still limited to 2003’s finest audio formats?

 

[klasma]

The split is a good thing, though since using iMazing I probably won’t install any of them anymore.

 

[AlmightyKang]

What's the point of this exactly?

There's the voice of someone who has not suffered through the last few years of iTunes on Windows. Not that I have but I've watched people scratching their own eyeballs out and killing each other with blunt plastic spoons over it.

And now it's a bunch of UWP apps so it can suck even harder!

 

[klasma]

If there’s a button to choose which drive / directory to store iPhone backups then I’m in.

In case there’s not, you might want to take a look at iMazing.