having trouble downloading the latest version of itunes

Sue_M_ASmith wrote:

I don't have the option to 'Check Updates' for iTunes.

That suggests that you have downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store, in which case it will update automatically (hence no need to "check for updates"). It's the version of iTunes from Apple that has the check for updates feature.

That is more or less the only difference between the two versions and since you appear to have the Microsoft Store version (which is an Apple product), then your version is up to date.

So if we concentrate on iTunes taking a long time to open instead:

1. how long is too long?
2. has it always been slow to open or has it become noticeably slower recently? (If the slowdown is recent, have you done anything significant on your computer that might be around the time iTunes became slow?)
3. where are the files for your iTunes Library stored, is it the C drive on your computer, an additional drive in your computer or an external drive?