iPod Service missing

I contacted Apple Support (via phone) as JovonaP. suggested. They said my iPod Shuffle 4th Gen is "obsolete" and there's nothing they can do to help me.

They didn't seem to understand this appears to be an issue with iTunes 12.12.3.5, which doesn't install iPod Service in Win 10, and this may also affect new Apple products when used with a Windows PC, if iPod Service doesn't get installed.

DBordo Are you using a Win 10 PC? Did you check to see if iPod Service is installed and running by opening services.msc (Click Start>Run>type in: services.msc and click OK)? Also look on that same services.msc list for Apple Mobile Device Service, which also needs to be running. Just don't change anything, unless you know what you're doing..!

To be honest, I don't know if an iPhone13Pro needs iPod Service when connected to a Windows PC. But it's clearly required for my Shuffle.

I found an Apple link for iTunes 12.10.11 for Windows (Windows 64 bit) but I don't know how that differs from 12.10.11.2 or if it will install iPod Service - or not. Didn't try to download it.

Bottom line: I'm sticking with iTunes 12.10.11.2 and my "obsolete" Shuffle...

[Link Edited by Moderator]

@justin_900 - Thanks for the response, but that doesn't solve the problem because the iPod Service isn't being installed with iTunes v12.12.3.5 on this PC. I even used 7-Zip to unzip the iTunes64.Setup.exe file for v12.12.3.5 but didn't find anything that would install the iPod Service.

The one and only thing that gets the iPod Service installed in Win 10 (21H2) on this PC is to revert to the previous version of iTunes, v12.10.11.2. And after I launch iTunes v12.10.11.2, it recognizes the Shuffle as soon as it's plugged into USB.

As a further test, I uninstalled the working iTunes v12.10.11.2 and that removed iPod Service. I then installed v12.12.3.5 again (3rd time) but it didn't install the iPod Service, so iTunes doesn't recognize the Shuffle (fails diagnostics.) Uninstalling v12.12.3.5 and installing v12.10.11.2 installs the iPod Service, and v12.10.11.2 recognizes the Shuffle again (passes diagnostics).

So something is clearly wrong with v12.12.3.5...

Thanks.

Eric--F - I check for updates on the iTunes Help screen and let it download the latest iTunes64Setup.exe update onto my Win 10 PC. When I double-click that downloaded .exe file, I'm offered the option to get the update from the Microsoft store or to install it "outside the store". I always choose "outside the store". The v12.12.3.5 update from Apple should automatically replace all of the existing files with the newest versions, but iPod Service never gets installed.

When I manually remove iTunes, I use Revo Uninstaller which launches the iTunes uninstaller first, and when that's done, Revo shows all the "leftover" files/folders which I manually delete. So all of it should be gone.

After manually uninstalling Apple's v12.12.3.5 using Revo, I install Apple's v12.10.11.2, outside the Microsoft store. I've done these manual uninstalls with Revo several times now in past few days, followed by reinstalls, always outside the Microsoft store.

Apple's v12.12.3.5 never installs iPod Service, but v12.10.11.2 always installs iPod Service which is needed for iTunes to recognize my Shuffle.

I have not tried installing the latest iTunes update from the Microsoft store...

DBordo - What a mess they've made of iTunes for Windows!

Have you contacted Apple Support? Your iPhone 13 isn't "obsolete" so what's their excuse about this iTunes problem with Windows? The more people who complain directly to Apple Support might make it more likely they'll fix this.

That said, it sounds -to me- like they're trying to stop users from using iTunes on Windows PCs simply by making it impossible for the latest versions of iTunes to recognize Apple devices in Windows.

Guess you'll have to keep reinstalling iTunes v12.10.11.2 every time they force a new update on you, at least until (if) they fix it.

As I said above, I use Revo Uninstaller (free version). It will run the iTunes uninstaller first and then show all the leftover items so they can also be deleted, including some leftover Windows registry entries.

Using Revo is efficient and safe because Revo sets a Windows System Restore point before it does anything, so if any problems should occur, the uninstall can easily be undone.

People need to keep nagging Apple support to fix the problems with iTunes vs Win 10, and/or they will have to learn to use work-arounds...

As long as my iPod Shuffle is working OK and I can use iTunes 12.10.11.2 to manage it, I am not going to replace the iPod, no matter what Apple wants...

I don't want an iPhone or any of their other products, so this Shuffle will be my first/last Apple device.

The real question is if the new versions of iTunes doesn't work properly in Windows, why are they even bothering to offer updates for Win 10 PCs? This whole mess started when they pushed that new version of iTunes on me. I've now blocked iTunes from accessing the internet on my PC, so it won't be able to find/install any future iTunes updates.