In some rare instances, you might need to remove iTunes and related software components before reinstalling iTunes. If you're directed to reinstall iTunes by AppleCare, an article, or an alert dialog, you can do so by following the steps below. These steps might take a while to complete, depending on your system.
If you're running Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 see Remove and reinstall iTunes and related software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.
Media you've bought from the iTunes Store or songs you've imported from CDs are saved in your My Music folder by default. They won't be deleted by removing iTunes. Although it's highly unlikely that you'll lose any of your iTunes Library when following the steps below, first make sure that your iTunes library is backed up. See iTunes: Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive for more information.
If you have issues installing iTunes, try the options outlined in Issues installing iTunes for Windows.
If you've received errors regarding inaccessible registry keys during installation, try the steps found in "Could not open key" message when installing iTunes, QuickTime or Apple components for Windows.
Remove iTunes and its related components from the Control Panel.Use the Control Panel to uninstall iTunes and related software components in the following order. Then restart your computer:
Don't uninstall these components in a different order, or only uninstall some of them. Doing so might have unintended affects.
To remove these components:
- iTunes
- Apple Software Update
- Apple Mobile Device Support
- Bonjour
- Apple Application Support
- Quit the following programs if they're running:
- iTunes

- Apple Software Update
- Choose Start > Control Panel.
- In Control Panel, open "Add or Remove Programs."
- Select iTunes from the list of currently installed programs. Click Remove.
- When asked if you would like to remove iTunes, select Yes.
- After the uninstallation is complete, don't restart your computer if you're prompted.
- If you see other iTunes entries in the list, remove them by repeating steps 4–6.
- Using steps 4–6, also remove all instances of:
- Apple Software Update
- Apple Mobile Device Support
- Bonjour
- Apple Application Support
- Restart your computer.
Make sure that iTunes and its related components are completely uninstalled.In most cases, removing iTunes and its related components from the Control Panel will remove all supporting files belonging to those programs. In some rare cases, files might be left behind. After following the steps above, confirm that the following files and folders have been removed. If any are left behind, remove them.
To remove these files:
- C:\Program Files\Bonjour\
- C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support
- C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support
- C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\CoreFP
- C:\Program Files\iTunes\
- C:\Program Files\iPod\
Follow these additional steps if you receive a "Cannot delete iPodService.exe: It is being used by another person or program." message.
- Choose Start > My Computer.
- Open Local Disk (C:) in Computer, or whichever hard disk your programs are installed on.
- Open the Program Files folder.
- Right-click the Bonjour folder (if it exists). Select Delete from the shortcut menu. Choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion.
- Right-click the iPod folder (if it exists). Select Delete from the shortcut menu. Choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion.
Follow these additional steps if you receive a "Cannot delete iPodService.exe: It is being used by another person or program" message.
- Right-click the iTunes folder (if it exists). Select Delete from the shortcut menu. Choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion.
- Open the Common Files folder.
- Open the Apple folder.
- Right-click the Mobile Device Support folder (if it exists). Select Delete from the shortcut menu. Choose Yes when asked to confirm.
- Right-click the Apple Application Support folder (if it exists). Select Delete from the shortcut menu. Choose Yes when asked to confirm.
- Right-click the Apple CoreFP folder (if it exists). Select Delete from the shortcut menu. Choose Yes when asked to confirm.
- From the Start menu, select My Computer.
- Open Local Disk (C:) located in Computer, or whichever hard disk your operating system is installed on.
- Open the Windows folder.
- Open the System32 folder.
- Right-click the Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin.
Reinstall iTunes and its related components.
After you make sure that iTunes is completely uninstalled, restart your computer and install the latest version of iTunes.
If the issue persists, look for more information on the iTunes Support page, including help with specific messages.
Follow these steps if the message "Cannot delete iPodService.exe: It is being used by another person or program" appears when you try to delete the iPod folder.
- Make sure that iTunes and the iPod Updater utility aren't open.
- Press and hold Control-Alt-Delete.
- Select Start Task Manager.
- Click the Processes tab.
- Locate iPodService.exe in the list.
- Click iPodService.exe and choose End Process.
- Quit the Task Manager.