6 Ways to Fix iTunes Update Not Working on Windows

If you are trying to update iTunes on your Windows PC but the iTunes update is not working, you will remain on the old version of the app and will not be able to use new features. Here we show how to fix that issue and to successfully update iTunes on your computer.

Author Avatar Joy Taylor Last Updated: Jun. 26, 2024

iTunes often receives new updates from Apple and these updates add new features and fix existing bugs in the app. It is fairly easy to update iTunes on Windows as you have the Apple update utility installed on your machine. Sometimes, though, you may find that iTunes will not update to the latest version no matter what you do.

There are several reasons why the iTunes update is not working on your Windows computer. The following guide lists out the possible reasons for the issue and tells you what you can do to fix the issue and update the app.

Part 1. The Reason Why iTunes Update Not Working

You may want to find out why the iTunes update is not working on your PC and this section tells you about some of the causes of the iTunes issue. Technically speaking, iTunes issues depend on the computer system and the app itself. The following 4 scenarios are the most common reasons for iTunes not working.

Reason 1. Updater Does Not Have Admin Privileges

One of the possible reasons why you cannot update iTunes is that you do not have admin privileges on your computer. When you run the updater utility, it needs to install some files to the system directories which only an admin user can do.

Reason 2. You are Running an Old Windows Version

Another reason iTunes will not update on your PC is that you are running a really old version of the operating system. Some versions of iTunes are not compatible with old Windows versions.

Reason 3. Another Software is Causing a Conflict

It may be that an app or software installed on your computer is interfering with the iTunes update process. That may be why iTunes is not updating on your computer.

Reason 4. An issue with the iTunes App

Lastly, there could be an issue with the iTunes app itself. It may be the app has corrupted files or has lost some of its core files.

Part 2. How to Fix iTunes Update Not Working

You should now be well aware of the reasons why the iTunes update is not working on your PC. Let us check out what you can do to fix the issue with iTunes.

Fix 1. Run the Update Utility as an Admin

If the issue is caused due to insufficient privileges, running the updater utility as an admin should resolve that for you. You can do that as follows.

Step 1. Open Start Menu, search for Apple Software Update, and click on Run as administrator.

Run the Update As An Admin

Run the Update As An Admin

Step 2. Select an available update in the list and click on Install at the bottom.

Fix 2. Update Your Windows Version

If you are running an old version of the Windows OS, the following shows how you can update it to the latest version available.

Step 1. Launch the Settings app on your PC and click on Update & Security.

Step 2. Click on Windows Update in the left sidebar and you will be able to install the available updates.

Update the Windows Version

Update the Windows Version

Fix 3. Repair iTunes on Your Windows PC

If there is an issue with the core files of iTunes, you can repair it using the iTunes installer.

Step 1. Open Control Panel and click on Uninstall a program.

Fix the iTunes

Fix the iTunes

Step 2. Select iTunes from the list and click on Repair at the top.

Fix 4. Disable Your Antivirus Software

Some antivirus programs can cause interference with other apps on your computer. One way to deal with the iTunes update issue is to pause or disable your antivirus when you update the iTunes app.

You can open your antivirus program and click on the Stop or a similar button to pause it for a while. When iTunes is updated, you can resume your antivirus software.

Fix 5. Get iTunes from the Microsoft Store Instead

If you are using an iTunes version that has been obtained from the Apple website, you can now try a different version from the Microsoft Store.

Step 1. Launch Microsoft Store, search for iTunes, and click on it.

Download iTunes from the Microsoft Store

Download iTunes from the Microsoft Store

Step 2. Install the app on your computer.

Fix 6. The Easiest Way to Get out of iTunes Not Working Issue on Windows

If all these methods listed above are not working on the typical problem, we do recommend AnyFix to help you to get rid of this issue. AnyFix, as a professional repair tool, supports to fix over 130 system problems and more than 200 iTunes issues. Any of iTunes problems can be fixed via AnyFix just in a few clicks. The following detailed steps will lead you to a clear tutorial to solve the problem.

Step 1. Download AnyFix and run it on your computer > chose iTunes repair on the right side.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Tap on iTunes Repair from Homepage

Tap on iTunes Repair from Homepage

Step 2. iTunes not working on the Windows issue is belonging to an installation problem. So you can click on the iTunes Installation/Download/Update Error and tap on Fix Now to go on.

Choose iTunes Installation/Download/Update Errors to Fix

Choose iTunes Installation/Download/Update Errors to Fix

Step 3. AnyFix will analyze the components on iTunes to check out the detailed problems. Once it finished the analysis, you should authorize the administrator rights to AnyFix. Click on the yes and OK button to start the repair journey.

Authorize AnyFix the Permission to Repair iTunes Issues

Authorize AnyFix the Permission to Repair iTunes Issues

Step 4. Now you have to do is waiting for the successfully repaired message on the following screenshot.

Complete iTunesIssues Repair

Complete iTunes Issues Repair

Conclusion

If iTunes will not update to the latest version for some reason, there are many ways to fix that issue on your Windows PC as shown above. We hope you get the issue resolved so you can then enjoy newer features of iTunes on your PC. As AnyFix provides the most easy and efficient way to get you out of this issue, why not give it a try?

Author Avatar
Joy Taylor Twitter Share Facebook Share

Senior writer of the iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android-related issues.

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