I really dislike iTunes 11. How do I revert to an earlier version?

For all those who use Time Machine:

Really, the easiest way to replace unacceptable updates like iTunes v.11.0 is to use Time Machine's restore option. This option allows individual s/w components to be restored. However, merely restoring the iTunes.app won't cut it. It is also wise to restore the whole iTunes Library where the iTunes.itl file is located. Go to your Home Directory > Music > iTunes and right click on the iTunes folder. You should then see a pop up that offers the restore option. This will restore the supporting files that iTunes.app refers to when it starts up and when it responds to user requests.

OK, I tried to go back to 10.7 using the following methods gleaned from here and other threads:

1. Using terminal cd /Applications then sudo rm -R iTunes.app to delete iTunes

2. Restore the old library iTunes.itl from a CrashPlan backup before updating to 11. Same thing for iTunes Library Extras.itdb which seems to have been modified by iTunes 11.

3. Open the 10.7 installer .pkg file in Pacifist.

4. Install. When it asked to replace I said yes and turned off the confirmation for each one. When it gave the choice of updating or replacing then one time I tried replacing and one time I tried updating. In both cases, when I tried to launch iTunes it complained that it could not launch because there was a newer library file.

The message is "The file "iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?"

But I restored this file! Can anyone help?

Nathan, I also tried the "Pacific" method and found it too confusing... I'm just too dumb I guess. If u r using T/M for backups, the restore optiion is the way to go. Other than that I can't suggest a better solution. If you choose the T/M path, don't forget to restore the iTunes support files (Home dir > Music > iTunes) as well as the iTunes .app file.

i feel also like that bro. After Steve Job has gone, apple product and system all changing and start to disappointed all apple lovers..

I guess Apple will going down soon! 😟

Enough whining. You know the old saying, "embrace the future or be forced to re-live it."

I certainly understand your impatience with whiners like myself. I suppose it's just a waste of energy to fight the inexorable march to mediocrity. It would surely be easier just to accept whatever comes down the pike without question.

I don't consider objecting to feature loss or performance failures to be whining.

My maxim: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

If iTunes v.11.0 adds new features worth having, then add them to those included in v. 10.7. Just don't emasculate 10.7 merely for the sake of change -- which is what I think Apple did in 11.0.

psquare11,

Thanks for your response. I was being a bit sarcastic. I agree with you. Not only about the whining but also about your take on iTunes 11. You hit the nail on the head. I do believe they made many of the changes just to make changes. If they actually think the removal of features and the redesign in general is an upgrade they would be wise to shake up the design staff or get more users opinions before releasing the software.

I hated the loss of iTunes DJ and the slower speed and inability to edit tags. So I downgraded back to 10.7. I got that error message but just dismissed it and it seemed to work fine.

UNTIL

I plugged in my iPhone. Now iTunes can't recognize anything on my phone and the only option it offers is to restore the phone to factory settings. Not real happy about this.

I found this post over at MacRumors...it might help. I had the same problem but after running through this it recognized my phone and my 10.7 is completely back to normal.

I hope apple and all staff revert back the design to iTunes 10.7 this the good way for us i guess..!!!

Why apple does making their customers confusing and disappointed?

Here's the fix (scroll down to the long post by PizzaCake). All my stuff is back to normal.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4553829?start=30&tstart=0

what do i need to dowload from the link in order to download itunes 10.7???

Why on earth did Apple think it's a good idea to make iTunes worse. It's a huge waste of time for everyone who agrees that it's a step backwards to sift through the various strategies for returning to 10.7. Thanks for nothing, Apple.

I don't blame you! I upgraded to iTunes11 only because it will be necessary eventually, given Apple's policy of dropping older versions. All I can say is that I really miss Steve Jobs. He had a design sense of how to make things accessible, which is what made them popular. Between the Maps fiasco on the iPhone (I wish they would just give me Google Maps back and keep customers above their petty disagreement with Google) and this new user interface for iTunes, his successors are proving they lack his visionary ability.

With iTunes 11, I miss the ability to have everything on one screen so I can simply drag songs where I want them, and see all the songs along with all the playlists and what's on my iPhone or iPod all at once. With everything visible, it made it a breeze. Why would I want to have to go through drop down menus and layers, which take extra steps and time? This supposedly new feature of seeing a window with only the album or playlist actively playing was always available with a mere double-click. That way, it was an option - one I rarely chose. I surely don't want it as the default -- and I surely don't want layers of drop-down menus to perform tasks I used to do all on one screen with ease.

While I've been figuring out how to drag and move songs around, and it all seems to work, it is less visible, less intuitive, more complicated, more time consuming. Without Jobs, the new Apple team is going to turn their company into a Sour Apple. I hope you guys read this forum and will consider putting your tail between your legs, admitting that you made another mistake, and return to the old user interface for iTunes.