iTunes Not Opening

Hi Noctura,

Thanks for replying! Based on what you've tried, it may be helpful to Remove and reinstall iTunes and related software components for Windows 7 and later. If that doesn't resolve the issue, use this link to reach Apple directly: Contact Apple Support

Take care.

Windywave are you sure iTunes is supposed to be an AutoPlay handler in Win10? It never has been in the AutoPlay dropdown menu for an iPhone in Win7 because iTunes itself controls whether or not it opens automatically when an Apple device is connected to your computer with the “Automatically sync” checkbox. I wouldn’t think this would’ve changed in Win10 but only been on a Win10 laptop once.

Hello Noctura,

Thanks for posting. We understand that iTunes is not opening automatically when you connect your iPhone. We'd like to see if we can help.

You mentioned you're not seeing the option to open iTunes once your device is connected. In that same section, do you have an option to "Automatically sync when this [device] is connected" there? If so, make sure that's checked, and then restart your PC and test it out.

If you find that doesn't help, we recommend using this link to Contact Apple Support to look into the issue further.

Cheers.

I have a win10 (20H2) desktop. I'm running iTunes 12.11.0.26. I'm connecting an iPhone 11 with ios ver 14.3. Same as Scaredcrow, I noticed this issue first within the last several months. I have the same toggles set as Scarecrow (that is, Automatic sync checked, Devices>Prevent iPods,.... unchecked, and Win10 autoplay set to "ask me every time" (there is no option to launch an application.) The registry key appears to be missing autoplay handlers settings, but I can't find aany information on how to re-establish the necessary keys. Any ideas from the community?

I do know that the autoplay handlers in the registry have changed, but I am definitely not certain that this is what is causing the problem. However, I think this is a likely source of the issue since the issue has arisen in coincidence (broadly) with the 20h2 win10 release. I've also enabled both itunes helper and itunes mobile device helper in task manager startup functions, but again with no results. I can't find a way to isolate whether the problem is related to itunes or to win10, so i'm looking for a solution in both places. I'm hoping I get a nibble on this from someone else in the community who might be able to give us a lead.

Also, in some recent version of itunes, the toggle used to be to automatically launch itunes. At some point it was changed to automatically sync.

Don't know😒

You really shouldn’t mess with the registry. Microsoft has even said on their website “Edit the registry at your own risk”. You should never edit the registry unless you’re absolutely sure of what you’re doing. I don’t know what your level of computer knowledge is but based on all the testimonies in this thread this is obviously an issue with iTunes for Windows, not Windows itself. We’ll just have to wait for Apple to fix it, if they ever do.

I am having the same issue. I am on a work issued Windows 10 laptop. I have iTunes 12.11 installed. I have an iPhone XR (iOS 14.2). When I connect my phone to my laptop via USB cable, iTunes does not automatically open. I have to manually open iTunes. Once iTunes is open, it does recognize my phone. The option "Automatically sync when this [device] is connected" is checked. Additionally, within preferences under devices tab, the option "Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically" is disabled. I have tried uninstalling iTunes per the direction provided in this thread and reinstalling iTunes twice; I installed iTunes from Apple as well as from the Microsoft store. I have tried multiple USB ports. I have restarted my laptop and iPhone. None of those actions have helped. Could there be a setting buried deep that my organization has enabled on my laptop preventing iTunes from automatically opening when I connect my iPhone? What other suggestions are there to correct this issue?

Same issue here but on Windows 7. This issue began 4 or 5 months ago which I believe was the last 3 releases of iTunes. I have the latest version (12.10.10), iPhone 7’s IOS is up to date (14.3), I’ve reinstalled iTunes and rebooted my computer + unchecked and rechecked the “Automatically sync” box countless times just like all of you yet iTunes is still dead to the world when my iPhone is connected. Everything syncs fine when I manually open iTunes but it doesn’t open automatically anymore. I was beginning to think I was the only one with this issue. GOD I HATE iTUNES! It’s been nothing but a headache in my twelve years of using it!

Same issue for me, tried it all. I guess its a fight between Apple and Microsoft! Sucks because I just recently moved to Apple from Blackberry and this feature alone, iTunes, made it worth the transition.

Has uninstalling iTunes actually worked? I think everyone has this problem but no one has said if this fixed it or not.

I have tried all the same potential resolutions and called Apple. They were unable to help. So strange that it worked one day and not the rest. it is very frustrating.

Not sure why I got ***** for a word that indicates what you do with a straw!