how do i get itunes on my ipad mini

Welcome to Apple Support Communities

You cannot install iTunes on an iPad mini because it is only compatible with Macs and PCs.

Instead, to transfer songs from iTunes on your MacBook to your iPad, you need to connect the iPad mini to your MacBook and sync your iPad mini with iTunes. This is done automatically after connecting the iPad mini and opening iTunes, so you will get your songs

The player on iOS 7 is called Music App.

The icon for the App is red and white.

Camino fan 2010 wrote:

The player on iOS 7 is called Music App.

The icon for the App is red and white.

That has nothing to do with what the OP asked

In contrast, the iTunes Store App is where you may purchase Songs from Apple.

It is a Purple (or violet) icon.

Of course you want to Synchronize with iTunes on your Mac

just as mende1 described.

Then play your iTunes Library on your iPad Mini

using the Music App

Sync music to iPad (tap to enlarge image)

I had already gone down this route but keep getting the message that the " iPad (this is a iPad Mini 4 which I purchased LAST Month) cannot be used because it requires a newer version of iTunes. Go to www.itunes.com to d/l the latest version of iTunes". This leads me in a Loop, i.e. I click on the Download, it repaints the page and then offers me a link sent to me via eMail. I did this 2-3 times with the same results, i.e. I am sent BACK to the page I just left. Worst yet, there is NO option on the page I see on the iPad where I can download the latest version. I should indicate here I attempted a work-around by seeing if I could sync or copy the mp3 files over to my 3 year old iPad but got the same message on my Macbook. When I opted for the route noted above the screen/page on my MacBook reveals to me -- to the left of the two sets of images in the download section-- the info on the latest version of iTunes (11.4 ?) for my MacBook (10.6.8). Easy... click , d/l and I then unpack and install the latest version of iTunes. BUT HOW DO I ACCOMPLISH THIS ON MY new (one would have thought it would have ALL the latest versions installed) iPad Mini4?

To the plug in your iPad to your computer and it will Sync automatically . . . well that did NOT work either as I get the message I note above. Ergo I am in a sinkhole someplace now and would seriously appreciate assistance in solving this problem. Gosh it seems when I first used my Cmdr 64 and Classic (which I still have) I never had those problems but then . . . .

George Mayo wrote:

I had already gone down this route but keep getting the message that the " iPad (this is a iPad Mini 4 which I purchased LAST Month) cannot be used because it requires a newer version of iTunes.

You need to update your Mac OS to at least 10.8.5 get the latest version of iTunes.

See this -> https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201541

Thank you for your quick reply. From digging deeper I have surmised now that the 'Latest Version' which btw I installed yesterday as a result of a screen msg / prompt on the iPad Mini 4 being OS 9.1 is NOT the latest version. I also note from Apple Inc page that "iTunes 11.4 for OS X 10.6" has below it that rather useless, "Email Download Link". The update yesterday on my iPad mini was 9.2.1. It would seem that is a rather copper fastened System software exclusive to the iPad and until such time as Apple attends to this in a meaningful way, we can forget using our iPad Mini 4's for something that is incompatible. IT's just that my wife had purchased some 8 recording which has to do with various helpful exercises for her right eye sight. She was hoping to be able to have them available on the mini for travelling. Not sure if there was some other route to accomplish this. I did a drag and drop copy from the d/l folder of the tapes/recordings over to the MacBook iTunes and that was easy to accomplish. However from the Macbook to the mini . . Stuck ! Albeit, thank you again for your info.

George Mayo wrote:

Thank you for your quick reply. From digging deeper I have surmised now that the 'Latest Version' which btw I installed yesterday as a result of a screen msg / prompt on the iPad Mini 4 being OS 9.1 is NOT the latest version. I also note from Apple Inc page that "iTunes 11.4 for OS X 10.6" has below it that rather useless, "Email Download Link". The update yesterday on my iPad mini was 9.2.1. It would seem that is a rather copper fastened System software exclusive to the iPad and until such time as Apple attends to this in a meaningful way, we can forget using our iPad Mini 4's for something that is incompatible. IT's just that my wife had purchased some 8 recording which has to do with various helpful exercises for her right eye sight. She was hoping to be able to have them available on the mini for travelling. Not sure if there was some other route to accomplish this. I did a drag and drop copy from the d/l folder of the tapes/recordings over to the MacBook iTunes and that was easy to accomplish. However from the Macbook to the mini . . Stuck !

Not sure what all this is...

To sync your iPad mini 9.2.1 with iTunes on your computer, you need to use iTunes 12.3.

In order to use iTunes 12.3 on your MacBook, you need at least Mac OS 10.8.5.

Follow the link I posted to see how to update your Mac OS so you can sync the iPad mini to you iTunes on the computer.

My apologies for the rather long 'learning curve'. When it is stated 'just open iTunes, in UL corner click on About iTunes.... et cetera', well NONE of this is available on the mini 4. You have Music and the iTunes Store App. To think there I am looking for this 'About' in the two former noted. I now understand / reading between the lines as it were that IT IS iTunes on the MacBook that attends to the Sync'ing that happens, the iPad mini is somewhat of a passive recipient. Now I come to the matter of whether it is at all to my advantage to upgrade my OS X 10.6.8 to 10.8.5. This I have to check up on. Again , my sincere appreciation for you information. Kind regards and Make A Nice Day.... they are not give as is Have A....

You got it!

🙂

Any further questions post back.

Well I no longer feel like an idiot but definitely disappointed. I bought my ipad mini when it first came out, prior to this the only Apple product I owned was 2 ipods which I loved. Itunes did take me some time to get use to and never really became my favorite player. Vlc takes it. However syncing libraries took work but was capable. I heard Apple products (Mac computers, laptops, etc.) were "user friendly", easier to use and less likely to get viruses than PC. Everytime I used my friend's Mac lap top it wasn't so easy but maybe because I was use to PCs (I am able to learn but couldn't find help menus on mac). Iphones are sweet but my cell carrier Metro PC is late on phone compatibitlity and really I was fine with my android smart phone and ipod (yes with Iphone it's like having both in one). Then the unfortunate happened, both ipods either don't function or don't function the same. One of my ipod's forward button doesn't work one. At this time I was starting to get fed up with the viruses (had to replace my internal hard drive after a year with my new PC lap top) and Ipad mini was new in the market. I thought about getting a mac lap top but being pricier than PCs and my annoying PC was fairly new I purchased ipad mini as a start hoping to eventually get a lap top. Now comes my big disappointment. I'm VERY limited to what I can do or use on the ipad. What is it? Do I simply not know how to use it? Ipad mini rarely gets used. My files and programs I use on pc, I can't have and continue using them without a problem on my ipad. Music files thinking those shouldn't cause a problem (because I have a large music library half of it on an Itunes account) so I can at least use my ipad as a large ipod player (so I thought) AND NOPE. Read here and elsewhere it's not possible. Eventhough people offer solutions just sync this and that update this update date, rollback to such and such version blah nlah blah I'm yet to see the proof that itunes works on ipad mini. BUMMER!!! (typed this from my android 4g smart phone)

revolucion360 wrote:

Well I no longer feel like an idiot but definitely disappointed.

about what?

I thought about getting a mac lap top but being pricier than PCs and my annoying PC was fairly new I purchased ipad mini as a start hoping to eventually get a lap top. Now comes my big disappointment. I'm VERY limited to what I can do or use on the ipad. What is it? Do I simply not know how to use it?

What do you want to do with it?

Music files thinking those shouldn't cause a problem (because I have a large music library half of it on an Itunes account) so I can at least use my ipad as a large ipod player (so I thought) AND NOPE.

Nope?

Why do you think this?
Put your music into iTunes on your computer and sync it to the iPad.

Read here and elsewhere it's not possible

Really? I haven’t read that here or anywhere else.

Eventhough people offer solutions just sync this and that update this update date, rollback to such and such version blah nlah blah I'm yet to see the proof that itunes works on ipad mini. BUMMER!!!

You don’t use iTunes on the iPad to play music (as stated a few years ago in this thread).

You use the Music app on the iPad.

You use iTunes on you computer to sync content to the iPad then play music on the Music app.