itunes suddenly won't start in windows 10

Suddenly, iTunes no longer starts, I'm on Windows 10

both Windows 10 and iTunes are up to date

I've been using iTunes for over a year.

what changed, what happened?

this link has proven a waste of my time

Fix unexpected quits or launch issues in iTunes for Windows - Apple Support

and it contains a loop. I.E. if I can't open iTunes, then go to this link. I go to this link, and the first thing it wants me to do is open iTunes, duh

I have not reinstalled iTunes, it takes a long time, and why should I - I've seen many other posts of people reinstalling and get no further ahead, they just wasted their time. Why won't it start, Safe Mode won't start, turning off my wifi it won't start, turning of my antiviral it won't start, very frustrating

iPhone 5s, iOS 10.1.1

Posted on Apr 27, 2017 9:28 AM

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

278,363 points

Posted on Oct 2, 2017 3:05 PM

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

Remove any SD card that might be in a card reader.
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 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

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35 replies

Feb 27, 2018 5:19 AM in response to Community User

Having the exact same problem. Even tried to uninstall and reinstall to no resolve. Also, what I noticed, is that I can no longer move new ringtones to my iphone 7. Separate issue, I know, but it did happen at the same time.

Jun 8, 2017 2:28 PM in response to Community User

I have been trying to get iTunes to open for the past several weeks. I have completely uninstalled and reinstalled twice.....nothing, not even an error message. So just now, I right clicked the shortcut and saw 'Run as an Administrator', so I did. It loaded immediately!

So complex not even the designers know how to fix it! I just got lucky and have no idea what happened.

javaliga

Level 10

120,179 points

Apr 27, 2017 12:01 PM in response to Community User

You say iTunes is up to date & you also say you been using it for over a year. Those statements are contradictory. The latest version of iTunes (version 12.6.100) came out 2017-03-23. (I have heard about stability issues with it.) You should be able to roll back to iTunes 12.5.5.5 if you think that is the problem. See the iTunes installers section of:

Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates

Oct 2, 2017 12:21 PM in response to fullstop213

That, unfortunately, does not fix it in Windows 8.1. Running it as Admin doesn't change anything -- it crashes immediately.

turingtest2

Level 10

278,363 points

Dec 29, 2017 7:37 AM in response to dezsijanos

What anti-virus software are you using? What exactly happens when you try to run iTunes now? Have you run through my post above?

tt2

Mar 2, 2018 11:36 PM in response to fullstop213

Hello. I tried the Run as administrator thing but then this window shows up: askin if i allow this app to mKe changes to your device.

I click yes but still itunes doesnt open. What can I do?

turingtest2

Level 10

278,363 points

Mar 3, 2018 12:57 AM in response to sanafromnyc

Work methodically through my post above, ignoring the aside on ringtones.

tt2

Apr 27, 2017 5:38 PM in response to javaliga

You are the only person to reply, and I appreciate your intent. I don't think my statements are contradictory. I have been using iTunes for over a year. It doesn’t matter if I've updated it once, or ten times, I have still been using iTunes for over a year.

Before I tried to roll back which I have been avoiding, I did one final reboot (my 4th time) of my PC and crossed my fingers and rolled my magic 8 ball.

I started iTunes in safe mode, it worked. I shut it down, opened it up normal, and it worked.

I'm simply going to sadly put this problem towards the nuances between Apple software on a PC. Even though you heard stability issues with the new iTunes release, Windows 10 (and other things on a computer, e.g. antiviral) are not blameless. Products like blaming each other, PC & Apple like pointing fingers at each other, but it would be great if they would play nice together in the sandbox.

Thank you for your reply, I'm closing this problem. I hope to never see it again, as today I needed my iPhone to be in Sync with my calendar on my PC, and I suffered for the differences.

Jun 10, 2017 11:41 AM in response to fullstop213

thank you so much, I have just spent hours uninstalling/reinstalling iTunes and even spoke to iTunes help line to no avail. Like you the programme just stopped working, run as administrator was instant remedy!!! :-) no safe mode just a simple click of the mouse, very pleased and thanks again!

Gibbon39

Level 1

4 points

Jun 16, 2017 9:49 AM in response to Community User

Several possible causes but most common is iTunes now needs to be run as administrator (right click -> Run as administrator). If it does then change the short cut properties to always run iTunes as administrator.

pezworld

Level 1

10 points

Jun 17, 2017 6:59 PM in response to Gibbon39

Same problem here, for the past maybe month or so. It opens in safe mode (control-shift and click the icon), but I don't see a run as administrator option when I click the icon in my task bar. I looked at that other link, but I don't have any iTunes plug-ins to uninstall (I checked - the plug-ins folder is empty). This is probably just an annoyance assuming I can remember the control-shift thing, but I'm mystified.

pezworld

Level 1

10 points

Jun 17, 2017 7:21 PM in response to turingtest2

I saw this elsewhere, thanks. #1 and #2 let me open iTunes (either administrator or safe mode), but when I close and try to reopen the normal way, it doesn't work.

I don't see an option to repair iTunes anywhere in the Apps (not Programs) and features control panel. I don't see a "programs and features" control panel at all.

I don't have other user profiles. I also don't have any iTunes plug ins so the Apple suggestions on the step where it suggests running in safe mode don't work for me.

So I guess I'm stuck.

turingtest2

Level 10

278,363 points

Jun 18, 2017 6:00 AM in response to pezworld

pezworld wrote:

I saw this elsewhere, thanks. #1 and #2 let me open iTunes (either administrator or safe mode), but when I close and try to reopen the normal way, it doesn't work.

See Run shortcut as administrator so you can use the shortcut normally.

I don't see an option to repair iTunes anywhere in the Apps (not Programs) and features control panel. I don't see a "programs and features" control panel at all.

See Repair or remove programs in Windows 10 to access the relevant control panel.

I don't have other user profiles. I also don't have any iTunes plug ins so the Apple suggestions on the step where it suggests running in safe mode don't work for me.

You can create an additional user account for testing.

So I guess I'm stuck.

If running as administrator works for you now then the first option in this post should be sufficient, but if not it seems you still have two or three options from my first post to explore.

tt2

pezworld

Level 1

10 points

Jun 18, 2017 7:37 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks! I tried the repair steps in your second link and it didn't change anything that I could see. So I followed the steps in your first link (including the compatibility part below it), and that seems to be an OK workaround. I just have to click "yes" every time I want to launch iTunes, but I can handle that. I appreciate your help.

Gibbon39

Level 1

4 points

Jun 18, 2017 2:39 PM in response to fullstop213

iTunes needs usually needs to run as administrator because some of the files or libraries it needs access to have been made read only or inaccessible. This can be caused by several things including other programs resetting permissions(Media Centre for example is a common one - itunes and media centre do not play well together) , user account changes and windows updates/recovery. Start by resetting the permissions on your music folder and any libraries used by iTunes and work from there (often worth also checking anything used by media centre if you are experiencing symptoms like non functioning music controls).

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itunes suddenly won't start in windows 10