Windows 11 iTunes only opened by Administrator

I contacted the company that made the external hard drive (MYCLOUDEX2ULTRA) for assistance with allowing the double clicking iTunes icon on my desktop screen, to open it. After trouble shooting and finding things were set up correctly, I was instructed to change the iTunes in properties/compatibility, to "Run as Administrator." Now the icon does open with the two double clicks. I also put it on my task bar, where I had it before this mess started. Selecting the icon on the task bar also opens it. But, that's because it is now set to run as administrator. We didn't fix the problem, but I no longer have that extra step of selecting "Run as Administrator" every time I want to open iTunes. I'm going to say this case is closed for now! Go figure.... Thanks for everyone's help. Jan

I decided to compare the security settings on my laptop to the problem desktop. I downloaded iTunes on my laptop, using the link apple that was provided in this community. iTunes opens with the double click on the icon on the laptop (same Windows upgrade). I compared the security permissions on the laptop with my desktop, the one I tried to edit based on the repair security instructions provided in this community. I noticed on the laptop, under security permissions that I have the box "Disable Inheritance" visible. Also I don't have "Include inheritable permissions from this object's parent" option on either PC. On the problem desktop the "Enable Inheritance" is shown. I just changed that box to "Disable Inheritance." I also noticed that although I had unmarked "Read only" on the desktop General tab previously (clicked OK), it reverted back to being marked. I just double clicked the iTunes icon, but it didn't open. I'll restart the computer and see if the permission settings revert back on the General tab again.

Since iTunes is working, and I don't get an error message, I guess I will try "Repair Security Permissions, on that link you sent. I'm tired now, so I may wait until the morning. I'll let you know if that then allows me to open iTunes with the double click.

I tried to follow the instructions for repairing security permissions (link provided above) and found that my screens did not match the screens shown. I tried to follow the instructions anyway and I noticed that it went to the external hard drive and changed permissions settings, I guess. Since my screens did not quite match, I decided to open the iTunes folder on the C drive, where the program is, and also on the external hard drive, and did permission edits in both places. Then I tried to open iTunes with the double click, but no luck. Then I went to end the iTunes task and I was told I did not have permission, which has never happened before.

I think I need to uninstall and then reinstall iTunes since I have no clue how to go back to the security settings and revert back so I can at least end an iTunes task. What a bummer.

Which iTunes folder were the security permissions supposed to be edited? I have the iTunes App or program on the C drive, under Programs, so I have an iTunes folder there. I also have an iTunes folder on the external hard drive, where the music resides. As I mentioned, the instruction screens did not match my screens, so I edited both folders. I have not done anything with the iTunes folders today since I think I may have to redownload iTunes and re-edit the security permissions in the right iTunes folder.

After restarting the desktop, double clicking the iTunes icon does not open iTunes. I went into task manager and ended that task. iTunes will open when I select "run as administrator." It is maddening that it works on the laptop, which has never had iTunes loaded before today. That darn desktop!

Actually, I did not move between systems. I had not done anything. One day the SONOS speaker system could not play the music (all CD's). The CD's were loaded via iTunes over the years, but I had not loaded any CD's recently. In researching the SONOS issue, I found out that I could not open iTunes. About a week before that, I remember the DELL computer did an update. There may have been a Windows update too.

I now have iTunes set up to NOT do automatic updates. I'll see how this goes.

I got to thinking that if this happens again (and iTunes has had problems in Windows before, as I can tell from my notes over the years) I will try to download iTunes from my backup. This is a good reason to do backups!

I am going to contact the external hard drive support to see if I am missing something there. More later.