Downgrading iTunes 9 to 8

Hey! I am pretty much hating iTunes 9 as well (look at my post titled Sorting Problem).

So I called Apple Support and they told me I CANNOT downgrade once I have installed 9. Apparently 9 uses different forms of library files and da da da (tech jibberish) and downgrading to 8 is not an option at all.

I am sad.

Make a 100% cloned backup before you do anything, then you won't lose anything you can't recover.

Ways to get back to itunes 8:

1) Restore the computer to its pre-iTunes 9 state using the 100% complete clone backup you made just before you installed any new software you hadn't tested. 🙂

2) Drag itunes9 to the trash along with associated iTunes preference files in your user preferences folder in your personal library folder. You may, however, also find that your iTunes library may no longer work, having been irrevocably upgraded to iTunes 9. You then have to drag the library file to the trash but you will lose all your playlists, play counts, and ratings. Then reinstall iTunes8, open it and re-import your music.

Actually, downgrading is an option.

1) Quit iTunes.

2) Delete iTunes from your Applications folder.

3) Go to your ~/Music/iTunes folder. Delete or rename the "iTunes Library" file.

4) Open the "Previous iTunes Libraries" folder and look for the backup of your old pre-9 library; it should be dated at about the time you first ran iTunes 9. Copy it back out to the ~/Music/iTunes folder, and rename it to "iTunes Library".

6) Go to <http://support.apple.com/downloads/iTunes 8_21> and download iTunes 8.2.1. The page says it's for G3, but the Read Me file says it'll run on G4, G5, and Intel too. Open the diskimage and run the installer.

You should now be able to run iTunes 8.2.1 again.

And your iTunes will restore to before you upgraded and you won't lose anything.

That is a d.amn good idea. I think I'm going to go and do that now.

iTunes has become completely unusable and beachballs every time I connect my iPhone. Absolute rubbish.

Will it be okay with the other files, eg iTunes Library Extras and Genius files? What about the XML? Doesn't seem to backup any of these... I just hope the downgrade works okay with these files too...

GangstaPenguin... You are a genius!! I just downgraded and it worked a charm. I can actually use iTunes again! Yay!

I did purchase one tune while in ownership of iTunes 9, but all I needed to do was use Spotlight, open the file, then it added again and I dragged it to my Purchased playlist.

and... BOOM! iTunes 9 RIP! Thank F *.

I cannot stand the new iTunes... I hope they go back to the older one.

@GangstaPenguin

Thanks for the great instruction on how to get the beloved old itunes back. Seems to work great so far and iTunes is once again usable. All songs, ratings, play-counts, playlists, apps, etc. are still there.

The new iTunes 9 gave me the beachball every couple of minutes and rendered it pretty much useless. Sort it out Apple !!

Thanks for your instructions. Worked great for me.

I wanted to use iTunes in Spanish, but iTunes 9 only has English support. Thanks, it works really well.

Hallelujah! Worked great - thank you. Hated the new iTunes 9 - and until they sort out the problems will use 8 again thanks to you!

Thank you GangstaPengin!

I did exactly what you posted except step 5.

Everything is back where it was, play counts and all.

I cannot believe that Apple would put a stark, white background in the grid view, and then take away the ability to change the size! Why isn't there an option to change the background color? I'm sure NO ONE at Apple has all of their desktop icons on a plain white background! Feedback sent.

I had upgraded to iTunes 9 from 8.21 on Old Leopard. I'll be holding off on Snow Leopard for the time being...

Thanks again.

OMG!! thank you so much. i hated itunes 9. now i am back to 8.

Hi -

Thanks for the post but when running the installer - I was told that I have a previous version installed and that I couldn't continue. I deleted the new library and re-named the previous one as the instructions notated. Any thoughts?