iTunes unexpected behavior when using search box

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Level 1

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iTunes unexpected behavior when using search box

When I use iTunes to search for songs using the search field, when I type the characters f, e, s, v, c, a or h 50% of the time rather than the character being typed in the search box it attempts to open one of the menu items (file, edit, song, view, controls, account, help) which is massively frustrating when trying to create a playlist of songs and trying to search your song list.

There was another post from 2013 about the same thing that I found, it wouldn't let me update that post so I created a new one, but the response from Apple was to uninstall and reinstall, I've done this and it still does it. I think it is a bug with iTunes?

I'm using iTunes 64 v12.7.3.46 on Windows 10.

iPhone 5s, Windows 10

Posted on Mar 13, 2018 9:41 AM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

272,743 points

Mar 13, 2018 2:34 PM in response to Super_DC

I don't recall anyone else presenting the same symptoms and I've been keeping an eye on iTunes issues for quite some time. In lieu of a recognized problem and solution it would probably be worth performing a full tear down and reinstall to make sure that you have removed any cruft from older installs. See the second box of Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for details.

tt2

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Answer 2

Super_DC Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 13, 2018 1:11 PM in response to turingtest2

Hi, although I appreciate your response greatly, this definitely isn’t the problem as I would be experiencing the issue in all programs that I use and I use the same computer in excess of 8 hours a day without any issues.

I also have a laptop that I used to use iTunes on that replicated the same problem and other people have also experienced the same issue in the past.

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

272,743 points

Mar 13, 2018 1:32 PM in response to Super_DC

Well if you actively press the Alt key and then one of those letters you will see that you get the same effect. Why iTunes might behave as if the alt key is pressed when other programs don't is a separate issue, but I have no trouble with it here.

tt2

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Answer 4

Super_DC Author

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8 points

Mar 13, 2018 1:53 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks, I’m aware that pressing alt allows you to use the shortcut keys, I would consider myself an advanced computer user and trust me this is either a bug in iTunes or maybe an incompatibility with another program, but it is an issue occurring in iTunes alone and no other program on my computer

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Answer 5

Super_DC Author

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8 points

Mar 13, 2018 2:47 PM in response to turingtest2

I’ve already uninstalled all apple products from my computer as per the other issue I found that was identical to this one that I found, it just wouldn’t let me comment on it, so it proves that someone else has had the same problem. The resolution of uninstalling iTunes, bonjour, and support applications in a specific order before reinstalling didn’t help.

I did already say that uninstalling and reinstalling didn’t help.

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Answer 6

turingtest2

Level 10

272,743 points

Mar 13, 2018 3:19 PM in response to Super_DC

A quick search turned up a couple of threads, including one I had responded to albeit with a less relevant suggestion. Still not a common issue among the 400,000 threads in iTunes for Windows. My user tip includes a couple of wrinkles that aren't in Apple's own advice on reinstalling. There are also links to many recent builds of iTunes if you want to revert to the last version that didn't give you this problem. All builds of iTunes 12.7 to date use the same version of the iTunes database so you don't have to roll back the library if you're switching between them.

tt2

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Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

272,743 points

Mar 13, 2018 12:57 PM in response to Super_DC

The hints at the fact that you might have a sticky Alt key. Try tapping the Alt and Alt Gr keys sharply a few times then try again.

tt2

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iTunes unexpected behavior when using search box

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