The removal of the 'apps' tag in the new iTunes is one of the most unhelpful things Apple has ever done (and there have been many of late).. How am I now supposed to manage my iPhone and iPad effectively? It's a joke. I can no longer easily copy files such as pdf and epub books via my Mac!
1. use appzapper to delete itunes 12.7
2. from the previous libraries folder, copy over the last dated .itl file to where your current one is
3. move the current one for safe keeping somewhere else ( just in case things don`t work)
4. rename the one you copied to the location to be itunes library.itl ( or whatever the new one was )
5. Install 12.6 itunes
6. Open itunes and your`re done.
1. use appzapper to delete itunes 12.7
2. from the previous libraries folder, copy over the last dated .itl file to where your current one is
3. move the current one for safe keeping somewhere else ( just in case things don`t work)
4. rename the one you copied to the location to be itunes library.itl ( or whatever the new one was )
5. Install 12.6 itunes
6. Open itunes and your`re done.
Hi All
I have reverted back to 12.6 and recovered apps etc. Here is a simple way that I did it.
Step 1. Go to applications folder in finder and find itunes app
Step 2. Right click on itunes icon and select GET INFO
Step 3. Expand the sharing & permissions section so you can see the padlock. Click on the padlock and unlock (you need your password). Click on the privileges for everyone and change it to read and write. Close the get info window.
Step 4. Go back to finder and drag itunes to trash.
Step 5. Download itunes 12.6 here Download iTunes 12.6.2 for macOSand then turn off your wifi.
Step 6. Install itunes 12.6
Step 7. You will then see an error message saying "The file 'itunes library.itl' cannot be read becasue it was created with a newer version of itunes.
Step 8. Go to your itunes folder in finder. Look for username\music\itunes and locate the .itl file.
Step 9. Check the date and time of the file and then drag it somewhere like the desktop.
Step 10. Still in finder, look for the folder 'previous itunes libraries'
Step 11. locate the itl file in here which is just before the update and drag it into the itunes folder where you previously removed the newer file.
Step 12. Open itunes.... voila!
Step 13. Go to preferences in itunes and uncheck 'check for new software updates automatically'.
Step 14. Turn wifi back on...
Step 15. breathe eeeaaassyyyyyyyy...... lol
I wrote this earlier in the thread...
Hi All
I have reverted back to 12.6 and recovered apps etc. Here is a simple way that I did it.
Step 1. Go to applications folder in finder and find itunes app
Step 2. Right click on itunes icon and select GET INFO
Step 3. Expand the sharing & permissions section so you can see the padlock. Click on the padlock and unlock (you need your password). Click on the privileges for everyone and change it to read and write. Close the get info window.
Step 4. Go back to finder and drag itunes to trash.
Step 5. Download itunes 12.6 here Download iTunes 12.6.2 for macOSand then turn off your wifi.
Step 6. Install itunes 12.6
Step 7. You will then see an error message saying "The file 'itunes library.itl' cannot be read becasue it was created with a newer version of itunes.
Step 8. Go to your itunes folder in finder. Look for username\music\itunes and locate the .itl file.
Step 9. Check the date and time of the file and then drag it somewhere like the desktop.
Step 10. Still in finder, look for the folder 'previous itunes libraries'
Step 11. locate the itl file in here which is just before the update and drag it into the itunes folder where you previously removed the newer file.
Step 12. Open itunes.... voila!
Step 13. Go to preferences in itunes and uncheck 'check for new software updates automatically'.
Step 14. Turn wifi back on...
Step 15. breathe eeeaaassyyyyyyyy...... lol
You also need to turn updates off in App store settings....
Cheers
Go to Finder/Music/iTunes. It's all in there. Copy (duplicate) the last .itl file you have before September 13 into a new folder on your desktop. Preferably also copy all your content files as well. Then completely zap iTunes 12.7 using CleanmyMac or similar. Install 12.6 from the dmg, then delete the new itl library file and replace it with the one you saved. Took me a couple of hours' swearing for me to work it out, but I got there in the end.
Uninstall 12.7 and then download and Install v12.6.2.
After re-installing v12.6.2 a message is shown - "library file was created a new version of itunes" & then iTunes will close immediately.
To Fix this issues to go Music\iTunes
which is under C:\Users\YourUsername\Music\iTunesin this folder go to - Previous iTunes Libraries and rename the file "iTunes Library 2017-09-xx" to just "iTunes Library" and copy/replace this renamed file to C:\Users\YourUsername\Music\iTunes
And then iTunes will work with App Sync, Backup options as it was before.
That's what I did. Copied the entire iTunes folder from a pre-Sep 13 Time Machine backup. Then ran 'Clean My Mac' to get rid of 12.7, checked that auto updates were disabled in App Store, rebooted, then re-installed iTunes 12.6.2 and copied the entire iTunes folder back into 'Music' and rebooted again. Bingo. Working as before, even with iOS11.
Noggin the Nomad wrote:
My phone on iOS11 is working fine with iTunes 12.6. I
My 6S does everything I ever did with it with iTunes
12.6.2 with iOS 11 on it!
Two things you may consider:
1. Create a virtual machine, install Sierra on it with iTunes 12.6.2.
(Virtual Box is free, VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop are very good but
cost money)
2. If you have the space, partition your drive to create a small Sierra/old iTunes
boot volume and reboot to it when you want to work with your devices. If you
have a machine wit USB3, may even want to set up Sierra on an external drive.
So, until, if or when Apple decides to turn off the App Store on older
versions of iTunes, you would still be good.
PS. Taking a look at the virtual machine approach first, as I already happen to
VMware for running Windows. If that won't work, I'll just set up a small
Sierra partition.
The Management of Apps is now confined to the iOS devices that use them. You can Manage Apps from the App Store's Purchased section on each device.
Devices can still be backed up and managed effectively just fine. What you won{t be able to do is simply browse the App store directly within iTunes or sync Apps to a device.
Apps can still be downloaded directly onto the device from the App Store on each device.
Beyond that, the option of transferring files to Apps on the device was not removed. You can still use iTunes File sharing normally to do this like you could before.
What you need to do is locate the latest 'itf' library file prior to September 13, in 'Music/iTunes/Previous Libraries'. Copy that to your desktop or whatever before you zap iTunes 12.7. Once you have disabled automatic updates and reinstalled 12.6, go to the same folder and replace the current .itf file (the one in the iTunes folder, not 'previous libraries' with the one you saved. All should then revert correctly when you restart iTunes 12.6.rked for me.
Worked for me.
Hi Sabusa, I downgraded my iTunes app to 12.6 after the dreadful update, and my apps are on my computer. They are showing in the iTunes app,
And in the Mobile Media folder:
I was advised that there were a couple of other items that needed to be restored other than the library: Library extras and the library genisis files, and something else that I couldn't find, so after I installed 12.6 I restored the entire iTunes folder that was in music. Everything seems to be working as it was. backup and all.
franzkaiser wrote:
Apple has released 12.6.3 for those who want to revert. Go here: Deploy apps in a business environment with iTunes - Apple Support
FWIW, if you want items to download from iTunes to your device,
make sure wireless data and WiFi are turned off (if it even matters).
I downloaded 5 updates to iTunes connected my iPhone to "sync",
and when it was done, watched all 5 apps download their installation
over my wireless connection!!!!
12.6.3 is doing zero different than 12.6.2 was with iOS 11 except enable
connecting iPhone 8, 8+ and X. It is only giving the "illusion" that the apps
are being downloaded!
I finally decided to go forward with the 12.7 release (with much bile and angst), but to also purchase and download the competing application 'AnyTrans,' to replace the iTunes functionality that has been lost -- most specifically, the ability manage all my content on all my devices from ONE application on ONE device.
I had indeed been SORELY tempted to revert to the latest 12.6.3, because I too am deeply unhappy with the removal of the App support from iTunes. DEEPLY unhappy. I, for one, always appreciated the ability to manage all my devices from a single source, with the level of control it gave me for each device.
However, I am also committed to always updating to the latest version of applications in order to ensure having the most up-to-date security protocols, and to avoid falling too far behind the curve as subsequent changes progress.
Such a conundrum.
This is hardly my ideal solution (I would SO prefer to see Apps support back in iTunes), and I hate needing to spend the cash and learn the new, replacement AnyTrans interface, but by all accounts it offers a cleaner GUI anyway, and will allow me to (I hope) have the best of both worlds. I seriously believe Apple has made a serious mis-step in this choice they've made. It has already driven me to their competition.
I restored the entire iTunes folder from my Time Machine back up after reinstalling 12.6. Everything's there. I coulda kissed the screen when I saw that app window with the little boxes beside each app! 🙂
You might try downgrading to iTunes 12.6.2. I was able to do it using the method found at
http://www.noteburner.com/faqs/how-to-revert-to-itunes-12.5.html
I will not upgrade until Apple fixes this mess.
Well, after 33 years on Macs and applying every update, I am finally getting off the software train. I downgraded from iTunes 12.7 back to 12.6 and got back the functionality that I -- NOT Apple -- needs. As long as Sierra and iOS 10 continue to work, I am not updating anything until Apple comes to its senses and realize that our computers and devices should be for us, not for Apple's techs.
Anyone else reverting to the previous version of iTunes? 12.7 is a disaster.
