iTunes version 12.12.0.6 only works on English-language Windows, crashes on startup when Windows UI is in a different language

Note that it's English (United States) that is specifically required as well. The other versions of English also don't work. I have English (United Kingdom) and that won't load either, giving the same error message. I've switched my Win10 20H2 build to English (United States) and am now back in business with this as a workaround until Apple fix this problem and I can switch my language back.

I have tested this and the error occurs on a Windows 10 64-bit PC in English-UK but NOT in English-US. if you change the Windows Language to English-US without doing any re-installs, repairs or de-installls then the issue goes away following a Signout and Signon to the PC!

I went to "my library" and re-downloaded it from there. It downloaded a newer version (12.12.1.1) that has fixed the issue. My PC's language is set to English (Canada) and the new version works properly. After downloading the new version, my PC showed a notification that it was installing optional Windows features with a language icon. I'm not sure what it did since it didn't install any new languages. These are the steps I used in case anyone else wants to try this:

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Click the three dots in the top right corner
3. Click on "My Library"
4. Click on "All Types" at the top and select "Apps". Then click on "Sort by most recent" and change that to "Sort by name." These filters make it easier to find iTunes.
5. Scroll the list of apps and find iTunes.
6. When you find it, click the "Install" button beside it.
7. Let it install. After it installs, launch it and it will ask you to agree to the user agreement. After you agree to it iTunes should finish starting and work again.

This morning (23rd September) Apple pushed a new version of iTunes for Windows via the Microsoft store that appears to fix the problem. Suggest you try upgrading to version 12121.1.54014.0. It worked for me, good luck! :-)

It has been confirmed elsewhere that is specifically affects Windows users if the language is set to anything other than US English (so UK English will not work either).

There is another solution though, which is to roll back to the 12.11.4.15 release - which is the latest version prior to 12.12 (the one with the problem). This is what I did, prior to discovering the language setting issue.

You can download a 12.10 release here: https://support.apple.com/downloads/itunes which is dated December 2020. I'm sure I had a link to the 12.11.x release, but I can't find it now! Anyway you can then either stay with that 12.10 version for now, until Apple release a fixed 12.12.x, or run Apple Software Update after installing it and it will offer you the 12.11.4.15 update.

So I've also just been offered the 12.12.1 release through Apple Software Update, this has resolved the 'files missing' error.

If you are still struggling and do not want to/can't change your language setting (to en-US) or are not seeing 12.12.1, please see the link to the prior versions of iTunes in my earlier post.

I confirm that the secret is to change language to English (U.S). My default language was EN (Sweden) which is where I first saw the issue. I also have EN (New Zealand) and EN (U.K) installed, neither of which worked either. INstalled the U.S. version and now iTunes opens fine. Shame I went and uninstalled / reinstalled it before learning of this bug... will probably lose my hard-earned history forever now ...

I have the same issue and my Language is set to English United Kingdom. If I switch to English US, log out and in again then ITunes does a reinstall and works. Change the Language back to English UK, repeat the process and ITunes stops working again

Struggled with issue for hours on Windows 10 Pro (Hebrew). This solved the problem:

1. Go to compuer's Settings > apps
2. Select iTunes and click on the Advanced Options link.
3. Click on Repair
4. You MUST Reatart your PC

Hope that helps all x

Saying "nothing else will work at the moment" is not technically true!

While it is correct that is currently the only solution IF you want to stay on the 12.12 release of iTunes, more accurately what you can say is that users can roll-back to an earlier release. At least this way non-English speakers can stay with their native language.

This link: https://support.apple.com/downloads/itunes will get you to a 12.10 installer (Dec 2020), from there you can choose to stick with that version or run the Apple Software Update which will offer the latest pre-12.12 release - which is 12.11.4.15.

Try downloading and installing version 12.12.1.1 worked for me. (Note some discussions seem to mention backup may be an issue but at least you can get access to your music.

Install U.S. language and set to default. You'll have to put up with some weird/ annoying keyboard oddities until the bug is fixed but I can't imagine it will take longer than a few days, then set your native language back to default at that time.

Not really a surprise anymore, but the Dutch version has the same issue. I actually tried some other languages as well and can conclude all versions exept the US-Englisch one are affected. However Apple did stop the enrollment of 12.12 trough "Apple software updates", the latest version there is now 12.11.4. In iTunes itself however the update to 12.12 is still visual an d will (as now known) cause the problem when executed.