5 Best Ways to Update iTunes on Windows 10

On Windows 10, iTunes is the program that never seems to change over time. It’s a bit slow and often doesn’t work properly. The Microsoft Store version of iTunes has improved things a bit. Still, it’s basically the same old iTunes served in a different package.

But regardless of iTunes and its various whims, you need to update the program regularly. The latest updates to iTunes often contain fixes for various bugs that appear to appear frequently.

So let’s see the best ways to update both the traditional desktop and versions of iTunes from the Microsoft Store.

Note: Updating iTunes is not a foolproof way to fix all of the program’s problems, but it’s better than running an outdated version on your computer.

Traditional desktop version

The traditional desktop version of iTunes has a lion’s share of bugs and problems. Therefore, updating it is very important, especially if you are having serious problems while using it. These three methods should help you update iTunes to the latest version.

1. Update via iTunes

If you can open iTunes without problems, updating the program is fairly easy. After opening iTunes, open the Help menu, then click Check for Updates.

This should initiate a scan for updates. If updates are available, follow the on-screen instructions to install them.

2. Update via Apple Software Update

If iTunes fails to launch, then you can use Apple Software Update to update the program. Apple Software Update is an add-on applet that comes with iTunes, so it should already be present on your computer.

Start by typing Apple software update in the Start menu. Then click on Open.

Wait for the program to check for available updates. If there are, install them.

Also, be sure to install updates (if listed in Apple Software Update) for all other Apple-related programs installed on your computer, such as iCloud.

3. Update via iTunes Installer

Sometimes the attempt to update iTunes using the above two methods may fail – iTunes or Apple Software Update may crash while downloading the update files.

If this happens, you can use the iTunes installer instead to update iTunes. Start by downloading the latest version of iTunes from the Apple website.

Download iTunes Installer

Note: The button above points you to a page that always lists the latest version of iTunes. Make sure to specify that you want to download the desktop version by scrolling down – otherwise you will be prompted to download the Microsoft Store version.

After downloading it, simply launch the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install iTunes. This should replace the existing version of iTunes with the latest version of the program.

Microsoft Store version

The Microsoft Store version of iTunes isn’t as problematic as the desktop version of iTunes. But you should always keep the program up to date to make sure you don’t run into strange problems in the worst case. These two methods should help you.

1. Activate automatic updates from Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store apps are updated automatically by default. But if automatic updates are turned off on your Windows 10 computer, here’s how to turn it back on for all apps in the Microsoft Store, including iTunes.

Open the Microsoft Store. Click the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of the screen, then click Settings.

On the Settings page that appears, turn on the switch next to Update apps automatically.

All Microsoft Store apps, including iTunes, will then be updated automatically whenever new updates are available.

2. Manually update the iTunes application

If you don’t want to turn on automatic updates for all apps in the Microsoft Store (or if automatic app updates don’t work), you can choose to update iTunes manually instead.

To do this, click the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of the Microsoft Store. In the menu that appears, click Downloads and Updates.

If an update for iTunes is listed, click the Update icon next to the list.

This should prompt the Microsoft Store to update iTunes to the latest version.

That’s not all

Running the latest version of iTunes on your PC is the best way to avoid bugs and major problems while using the program. But you don’t have to stop there – you also need to make sure to update Windows 10 itself regularly. This will allow you to experience fewer compatibility issues – mostly related to the driver – each time you connect an iPhone or iPad.

To update Windows 10, open the Start menu, type Windows Update, and then click Check for updates. If new updates are available, install them. Keep in mind that some Windows 10 updates can take a long time (and use a lot of bandwidth) to download and install.