Your previous iTunes installation must be removed before continuing

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Level 1

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Your previous iTunes installation must be removed before continuing

I've always had trouble updating iTunes on my Windows 10, 64-bit machine. Every time I have to jump through all kinds of hoops and then it won't recognize my phone. It has twice put my phone into a recovery mode loop that I can't get out of unless I use iTunes on someone else's computer.

Today I was attempting to back up my iPhone. It refused to recognize the phone and threw an error. Finally I tried to repair iTunes. I re-booted my machine. When iTunes came up, it said it was now completely up to date. Great! It's never been that easy in the past! Still wouldn't recognize the phone. I decided to uninstall iTunes by following explicit directions on one of these forums from Apple, which involved uninstalling from Programs and Features not only iTunes, but Bonjour, and other Apple services in a particular order. Done. Reboot. Then delete a bunch of Apple folders. Remove from Recyle Bin. Reboot. It now appears as though all traces of previous iTunes are gone.

Then I try to reinstall iTunes from the Windows Store. It says it's installed. Try to run it, and get the message 'Your previous iTunes installation must be removed before continuing. Would you like to remove it now?' If I say Yes, it takes me back to Programs & Features to uninstall the so-called 'previous' installation, and there's nothing there. So I am now caught in this loop. I can't find any answers anywhere. What do I do now? I can't uninstall something that is not showing in the list, and I can't install because it thinks the previous installation is still there. I'm at my wit's end. Help, anybody?

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Jun 15, 2019 12:14 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

278,055 points

Jun 17, 2019 9:03 AM in response to Alane M

For general advice see Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates. You may need to use the Microsoft troubleshooter at Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed.

The steps in the second box are a guide to removing everything related to iTunes and then rebuilding it which is often a good starting point unless the symptoms indicate a more specific approach. When reinstalling right click on the downloaded setup file and use run as administrator. It may also help to temporarily disable any non-Microsoft anti-virus.

Review the other boxes and the list of support documents further down the page in case one of them applies.

The further information area has direct links to the current and recent builds in case you have problems downloading, or want to revert to an older version if the current one won't work properly for you at the moment. Links to the most recent builds are now at the bottom of the page.

Your library and device backups should be unaffected by these steps but there are links to backup and recovery advice should it be needed.

tt2

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Answer 2

Alane M Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 16, 2019 1:57 PM in response to Joseph_S.

Hello Joseph,

Yes, I have followed all of those instructions and can find no trace of iTunes anywhere on my system, including the registry.

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Answer 3

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Jun 16, 2019 10:25 AM in response to Alane M

Hey Alane M,

I see that you're having some trouble with iTunes on Windows, and now you're unable to install a new version. I'll be happy to help out.

It sounds like you already followed the steps to remove iTunes since it's not appearing in the Programs list to be uninstalled. You also mentioned that you followed a forum to remove related components. Just to be sure, were all related components removed as listed in this resource? Remove and reinstall iTunes and related software components for Windows 7 and later - Apple Support.

Have a great day.

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Your previous iTunes installation must be removed before continuing

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