Why won't iTunes play my music on Windows 8.1?

Question

Level 1

10 points

Why won't iTunes play my music on Windows 8.1?

I have downloaded the latest update of the iTunes media player (aka 11.1.3.8) and have the most recent update of Windows 8.1. When I open up iTunes it appears as if everything is working just fine but when I try to play any music, including music purchased from iTunes, it will just sit at 0:00 and not move nor play. I can move the seek bar manually but it will still sit there at whatever I have moved it to and not play any music. This happens with music on both my internal and external hard drive. I have uninstalled and reinstalled iTunes numerous times and tried moving my music into the default folder that iTunes set up to see if that was the problem but nothing has come of it so far. I have even called the iTunes support line and the guy, while very willing, was unable to help me out as he has never seen this problem before. Apparently, I have bad luck when it comes to electronics since no one else seems to be having this issue. I have searched Google countless times but to no avail. I wouldn't think I'm the only person with this problem but it seems no one else has posted on it. When it comes to syncing my iPhone or iPod I can move the music on them just fine but it will not play on my computer through iTunes no matter what I do. Has anyone else ran into this problem or is there any suggestions that you may have to help me fix this problem?

I, along with Apple apparently, am out of ideas as to how to get this fixed so I can play my music. I have resorted to Pandora, while not a bad thing I just really want to listen to my music that I have without the ads it comes with. PLEASE HELP ME

p.s. My music had played prior to the update of Windows 8.1 and iTunes. Also, I cannot simply do a refresh or restore on my computer since I did not create a previous restore/refresh point. I mention this since this is the most common questions asked when I talk to people about it.

Lenovo Yoga-OTHER, Windows 8

Posted on Nov 21, 2013 11:17 PM

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Answer 1

policino

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2013 1:20 PM in response to kloper90

I was on the same boat, bud! I saw you had the exact same problem as I did and decided to come back to help you out. On another apple discussion page, a user--Charlicharli-- posted a link to download and everything seems to be fine now. Apparently we had to check with Lenovo. We were looking in all the wrong places for the fix!

Conexant Audio Driver for 64-bit Windows

This is was he said for us to click on and it helped a chunk of people--including myself. Hope this helps you out in some way like it did for me!

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Answer 2

Jan 11, 2014 8:16 PM in response to policino

I am having the same problem with 8.1 but when I tried to download Audio Driver suggested it gets to the installing part and says my computer doesn't have the right driver to install it.If you can help me I would appreciateit. Thank you!!

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Answer 3

Jan 11, 2014 8:39 PM in response to Tamysmile

OK it actually says "Device for this driver not found." I trouble shot it and it said the program was incompatable with my computer so I guess I can't use it. I need something that will help me. Maybe I should just take my computer to the Geek Squad and get them to fix it for me?

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Answer 4

Geaatl

Level 1

4 points

Feb 20, 2014 3:02 PM in response to kloper90

Unfortunately the problem exists still for me (Win 8.1/Lenovo Ultrabook). But the program suggested in this thread is gone. They have a newer driver that I am about to test.... j8ab11ww.exe ... Apple really needs to figure out why 8.1 computers have so many hassles with iTunes and develop a patch/fix.

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Answer 5

Mar 3, 2014 6:27 AM in response to Geaatl

I had this issue and just fixed it on my computer. I went into iTunes preferences / playback tab. Under the Bitrate for Audit Playback, the box was empty. I selected 44.1 from the dropdown box and the music now plays. Hopefully that works - seems like an easy fix for me, but took a long time to find a solution.

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Answer 6

Mar 5, 2014 3:49 AM in response to policino

Thank you for sharing this download! Now my iTunes on Lenovo Yoga is functioning again!

Cheers!

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Answer 7

weary74

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2014 1:59 AM in response to miss_orange13

I had the issue also and my solution was similar to smithje60.

Went to iTunes Preferences > Playback. Set "Play Audio Using" to "Windows Audio Session" (from "Direct Sound"). "Bitrate for Audio Playback" was already set to 44.1khz.

Windows 8.1, iTunes 11.1.5.5, HP Split x2

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Answer 8

Oct 17, 2014 7:53 PM in response to smithje60

Thanks Smith. I have a Lenovo Yoga 13 and downloaded Windows 8.1 and had the same problem. Music would not play at all and just stayed at 0 seconds. I could scroll forward and back on the track but no sound and the seconds wouldn't move. I went to preferences in iTunes > Playback > and it was already set to 44.1. All I did was drop down to 44.1 again and hit "ok" and it worked. Really weird. Didn't have to download anything but basically reselected 44.1. I am using 12.0 if that helps.

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Answer 9

mbsapple

Level 1

0 points

Nov 11, 2014 2:31 PM in response to kloper90

I have searched high and low for the right solution for this issue. I'm on an HP Envy laptop, running iTunes 12, and just upgraded to Windows 8.1.

I tried the settings for bit rate as suggested above and it still didn't work, but I did solve the problem.

In iTunes I went to Preferences > Playback > Play Audio Using ... and changed the setting from "Direct Sound" to "Windows Audio Session"

Now my iTunes on my laptop works!

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Answer 10

MerylUK

Level 1

0 points

Dec 8, 2014 1:43 PM in response to djargonaut

I also have the same problem on a Lenovo Ultrabook with Windows 8.1. Was downloading the suggested driver when I also tried djargonaut suggestion and just reselected 44.1 and hit OK and it worked! This has been driving me insane and such a simple fix. But so annoying!!

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Answer 11

flapinux

Level 1

9 points

Jan 27, 2015 1:47 PM in response to kloper90

I have the same issue and I can repeat the problem by simply doing this. If I change my playback device to stereo, "Direct Sound" works. If I set it to 3.1, which is my actual setup, I get the same problem you're having unless I change it to "Windows Audio Session". The problem is that then it will not use my Subwoofer which makes me very sad.

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Answer 12

Feb 25, 2015 12:18 PM in response to kloper90

i may have found a solution to this problem if your windows 8.1 computer has Realtek HD Audio Manger then if you go onto that then on default format and click the menus/options until you get to hear the music from iTunes 🙂

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Answer 13

jpmccr56

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2015 9:24 AM in response to mbsapple

This was my fix (HP Envy Notebook, Windows 8.1). I have been looking for this answer for months now! Ever since the last iTunes update. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

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