iTunes 12.6 won't launch on Windows 10

If iTunes is apparently installed correctly try the following in turn until iTunes opens/reopens/behaves normally:

• Remove any SD card that might be in a card reader, or any disc in an optical drive.
• Exit the BTTray.exe Bluetooth utility if installed.
• Locate the shortcut for iTunes, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator. Doing this once may fix certain launch issues. Some users were finding that with the 12.6.1.25 build, for example, they had to use this method every time and modified the shortcut accordingly.
• Try holding ctrl+shift as you launch iTunes so it opens in safe-mode. Again doing this once may sometimes help.
• Try disconnecting your computer from the Internet before running iTunes.
• Delete the iTunes shortcuts from the start menu, desktop, task bar, or similar, then repair iTunes from the programs and features control panel.
• Try Fix unexpected quits or launch issues in iTunes for Windows - Apple Support and test the behaviour in a different user profile or with a different library. If the problem only exists in your profile it may be possible delete some of the iTunes preference files which it would seem that iTunes may be choking on. We can go into details later if the issue is limited to your own profile.
• Temporarily disable any non-Microsoft anti-virus and see if that has any impact on the behaviour.
• See the second box in Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for detailed tear down and rebuild advice. Disable any non-Microsoft anti-virus software when reinstalling and run the installer as the administrator.
• Or see the iTunes installers section of the troubleshooting tip and reinstall the last version that worked correctly for you.

tt2

The problem still persists after updating Windows 10 to latest version KB4048955. Just set iTunes to launch as admin and you're done.

I had the same problem. I had installed i-tunes while device was connected. i had to uninstall i-Tunes and reinstall with the device disconnected and it worked fine. Hope this helps.

I had exactly the same problem with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. iTunes 12.7.1.14 didn't launch. It worked launching it as administrator.

I had UAC disabled but didn't help until iTunes was launched as administrator.

For me, the problem was a process called bttray.exe (Bluetooth tray application from Boardcom).

Once I disabled btttray I could run iTunes without having to run it as administrator.

To disable:

1. Run Task Manager (e.g. right click tasbar and click "task manager')

2. Click the "Startup" tab

3. Locate "Bluetooth Tray Application"

4. Right-click it and then click "Disable"

Note: I got this solution from another discussion forum question, but thought it would be useful to contribute to this thread.

I've had the same experience. iTunes will launch fine after a reboot, but if I close iTunes and then try and reopen it never launches. I've tried all of the other suggested solutions and none of them work.

Thank you TT2. Running as Administrator now starts iTunes. But if I stop it and try to start it normally, it does not start. I see it in Task Manager but it never comes to the desktop. Same result after a repair and reboot. So, this gets it working but does not solve the problem.

But I see below the BlueTooth Tray discussion and that rings true to me as this started after I installed an external BT card.

Gerald

Try the following in turn until iTunes opens normally:

• Locate the shortcut for iTunes, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator. Doing this once may fix certain launch issues.
• Try holding ctrl+shift as you launch iTunes so it opens in safe-mode. Again doing this once may sometimes help.
• Delete the iTunes shortcuts from the start menu, desktop, task bar, or similar, then repair iTunes from the programs and features control panel.
• Try Fix unexpected quits or launch issues in iTunes for Windows - Apple Support and test the behaviour in a different user profile or with a different library. If the problem only exists in your profile it may be possible delete some of the iTunes preference files which it would seem that iTunes may be choking on.
• Finally see the second box in Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for detailed tear down and rebuild advice.

tt2

Having a similar issue starting about a month ago. iTunes will launch fine after a reboot, but if I close iTunes and then try and reopen it never launches. I've tried running as Administrator, no luck. I suspect a recent Windows update or iTunes update has broken something, I get the same behavior on both my work PC and my home PC (both Windows 10 with the Creator update).

addictivkaos, I was excited to see your post as iTunes failed to start after I connected and installed an external Bluetooth dongle. Stopping the BTTray.exe allows iTunes to start normally.

Muchas Gracias, Gerald

I can't use my iTunes account with Amazon music installed--is this correct?

Charles E Taylor wrote:

I can't use my iTunes account with Amazon music installed--is this correct?

I’m sure they ought to be able to coexist.

tt2

Thank you. This recommended fix

Delete the iTunes shortcuts from the start menu, desktop, task bar, or similar, then repair iTunes from the programs and features control panel.

actually worked in a matter of moments. Very bizarre that the latest update (which implemented on June 11, 2017 on my desktop laptop using Windows 10) did not include a way to start iTunes.

Glad it helped. In some cases it seems the iTunes installer doesn't have the correct permissions to update the shortcuts, which I assume somehow remain attached to the removed version of the app, and yet there is no error during the install. 😕

tt2

This worked for me. Thanks.