Level 1 (9 points)

iTunes update redirects to website; will it update or reset existing data?

Recently, I received a notice that there is an update for my iTunes (12.13.11) via the little popup window/dialogue. When I clicked on it to download (as I've done so many times before), instead of beginning to download the update, a new tab opened in my browser (Firefox) to the Apple website (apple.com/itunes) which told me to "Download the latest version from the Microsoft store"--something which I've *never* had to do before. When I'd click the "download" option from the popup window, the update began downloading.

When I got to the "download" page, there's nothing indicating that it will just *update* the existing software; it looks like a complete "reset" of the whole iTunes. Obviously, I do NOT want to do that but I don't understand why I can't just update from the dialogue/popup box as I've done every previous update. *IF* I click the "Download iTunes for Windows now" button, will it simply update the software to the new version or is it going to basically reset iTunes to the point where I have to go through and make changes to the songs' information--such as removing things like "(1934 recording)" or "(Duet with ____)"? I know this may sound confusing but, again, I don't understand why I get the popup box with the "New Version Available" but then have to go to "Download iTunes for Windows now" rather than just clicking "Download now" in the popup box.

Posted on Sep 22, 2026 11:08 AM

2 replies

Z-Salem

Level 2 (335 points)

Sep 22, 2026 2:38 PM in response to Josephfromal

I was very apprehensive of updating to the Microsoft Store version seeing it was going to start updating thru that only. I did so a couple of weeks ago. It seamlessly uninstalled the downloaded version and replaced it with the MS store version, and everything has worked as expected since then. The only difference is "check for updates" no longer exists in iTunes because Microsoft updates it automatically. It also uninstalls the Apple Software Updater application. Playing songs, syncing new/changed music to my iPhone (on iOS 26.6.2 and now 26.7) has had zero issues. In fact I wouldn't know anything has changed if I hadn't changed it myself.

I don't know if others have had the transition go as well as I did, but for a single data point my transition has gone just fine.

Why Apple took this route I have no idea. They've had the MS Store parallel to the downloadable version since 2016, and some people have had issue that seemed more specific to the MS Store version, so hopefully they've had enough time to iron those bugs out. Since the Apple Music/TV/Devices for Windows have only been available in the MS Store I guess they did this for consistency with those.

Josephfromal Author

Level 1 (9 points)

Sep 25, 2026 10:08 AM in response to Z-Salem

I want to thank Z-Salem for their reply. I got it several days ago but was a bit apprehensive in trying it for myself until today. And, everything seems to have gone fine (aside from a weird issue with the available balance displayed on the "Store" home page. Usually after I sign in, it resets to match the amount showing in my "Account Info" but it hasn't done that yet. But, that's completely irrelevant to this matter. My main reason, though, for actually doing this "update" was the "Store" access was apparently disabled. It was showing fine until I wanted to check for a new song I'd seen as a video on YT and when I entered the artist's name, absolutely nothing showed up. No albums, no songs, no nothing. Soon as I "updated" (to the MS "app"), everything was working fine.

So, again, to Z-Salem, thank you for your input. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who had feelings of apprehension on the issue. (When I went to download the app, the store also showed the "Apple Music" app and I had to check to see what the difference was. The iTunes app lets us keep the "pay and keep forever" while the "Apple Music" is "pay and keep until you cancel.")

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256362872