iTunes won't reopen after I close it

If iTunes is apparently installed correctly try the following in turn until iTunes opens/closes/reopens/connects to the store/operates 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, 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 to 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 Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows in case security permissions are causing a problem.
• 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. Note that iTunes 12.6.4.3 is the minimum version required for devices running iOS 11.

tt2

That type of issue might have been fixed in the past by resetting the iTunesPrefs.xml file. iTunes 12.5.1.21 introduced a change with the way preferences are saved. It seems that what used to be stored in:

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunesPrefs.xml

is now stored in a number of files spread amongst these folders:

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\Cookies

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Preferences

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Preferences\ByHost

(There could be others I haven't found.)

Try deleting the three first two which will also delete the third. Type %appdata%<return> in Explorer's address bar to reach the Roaming folder without having to display hidden folders. You'll need to set up any preferences in iTunes again, reconnect to your library if it is on a non-standard path, set options for Keep... and Copy... etc.

tt2

I found a work-around for this bug:

• I modified the iTunes shortcut to run as Administrator. This idea was suggested by someone on the 'photos not syncing' thread. It didn't fix that problem for me but appears to have fixed this one.
• Now I can close the iT window and reopen it without logging out first.
• Hopefully this information will help the developers to fix the bug.

• Good News: While trying to fix the iTunes 12.7.4.76 photo sync bug, I think this issue got fixed for me.
• Following ErgoEdbo's method, I deleted the 'iPod Photo Cache' folder from the folder where iT looks for photos. In my case it's the Pictures folder.
• Then I tried to sync one of the photo folders to my iPad.
• During the sync, iTunes rebuilt the iPod Photo Cache folder.
• Since then the problem with iTunes not opening after being closed went away.
• Even with an iOS device connected via USB cable, iT can be opened and reopened without crashing.
• So both problems seem to be related to the photo sync bug.
• The photo sync is still broken in 12.7.4.76 but at least iT doesn't crash anymore when reopened.

Are you sure that iTunes is really closing when you ask it to close? Have you looked at the running processes? Is there any software on your computer that reads the iTunes library? If so is the iTunes Library.XML file enabled? If it isn't another process could be trying to keep iTunes open for communication.

tt2

Judging from other posts and the timing your problems should have started with 12.7.4.76, and rolling back to 12.7.3.46 will fix them. Have you double-checked which version you actually have installed? Either way the user tip I've written includes links to the last 35 builds of iTunes for Windows in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

tt2

Seems to be gone then. What about AMDS? It that is running does stopping it allow iTunes to restart?

tt2

Clearly something is going wrong for you, but it works for me, and it appears to work for Ricky in a different profile. Next time you run into it check to see if you have an iTunes icon in the notification area. It may have opened up minimised for some reason.

tt2

As noted:

In order to roll back to an older version of iTunes you may also need to restore the pre-upgrade library as described in Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.

tt2

• It's not minimized, it just launches a new iTunes.exe which is invisible. It's not on the taskbar or in the notification area. Every time I click on the iTunes shortcut, a new iTunes.exe is launched. Using TaskManager I can now see 5 iTunes.exe programs running! See screen shot:
• 
• Signing out and back in allows iTunes to launch again, but just the first time.
• This is the 64 bit version of iTunes running on the current Windows 10 (10.0.16299) with all updates installed on a Dell Precision T1700.
• Because of the photos sync bug, I did a clean install of iTunes 12.7.4, which didn't fix either problem.
• I also have the AirPort utility 5.6.1 installed which includes Bonjour service.

Rolling back iOS is not supported, perhaps you meant the last version of iTunes. The current one is 12.7.4.76, the previous is 12.7.3.46.

To roll back to iTunes 12.7.3.46 see the iTunes installers section of Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for direct download links and advice on reverting to a pre-upgrade copy of your library. You lose the changes made to the library since you installed 12.7.4.76.

tt2

Use Feedback - iTunes - Apple to let them know.

tt2

• Spoke too soon. Running as Administrator no longer fixes it.
• I updated the security permissions on my Pictures folder hoping that would fix the photos sync issue (which it didn't) but now the close/reopen issue is back, even as administrator.
• Update: I found what changed:
  • Running as Administrator works, but not when the iPhone is connected via USB cable.
  • Other people have reported issues with the iPhone not showing up in explorer when connected by USB cable so this may be related.