iTunes – download and media library for Windows and Apple devices
Download iTunes for Windows – or use Apple’s newer music apps
iTunes is still widely used on Windows, while on Mac, iPhone, and iPad Apple has moved music, podcasts, and syncing into newer apps.
iTunes is Apple’s classic multimedia player and media library, still used by millions of people — especially on Windows. The app lets you access music, movies, podcasts, audiobooks, and back up your iPhone and iPad in one place. Although Apple has retired iTunes on newer Mac computers, you can still download and use iTunes for free on Windows.
We tested iTunes on a Windows 11 PC, where installation was quick, and syncing with an iPhone worked reliably without issues.
What is iTunes used for today?
Today, iTunes primarily serves as:
- A media library for music and video
- A backup and sync tool for iPhone and iPad
- Access to Apple Music, podcasts, and audiobooks
- CD ripping and local music organization
Especially if you use Windows and have an iPhone, iTunes remains the key tool for local backup and file transfers.
iTunes features and capabilities
With iTunes, you can:
- Play music and video in high quality
- Import CDs and digital music files
- Create and manage playlists
- Sync content with iPhone, iPad, and iPod
- Listen to thousands of internet radio stations
- Manage podcasts and audiobooks
- Take full local backups of iOS devices
The app is easy to get started with, even for new users.
Save your CDs and music digitally with iTunes
If you’ve got old CDs, iTunes can digitize them quickly. The music is imported straight into your library, where you can organize by artist, album, and genre. You can then transfer the music to your iPhone or use it alongside Apple Music.
That makes iTunes a great archive for your personal music library — even if you stream day to day.
Apple Music and iTunes – how do they work together?
Apple Music is Apple’s streaming service and works directly with iTunes on Windows. Here you can combine your own music library with streaming millions of songs, albums, and playlists.
Unlike Spotify, Apple Music is tightly integrated with your local music library, which many people still prefer.
Podcasts, books, and video in one place
Beyond music, you can use iTunes to:
- Listen to Apple Podcasts
- Manage audiobooks
- Watch movies and TV shows purchased from Apple
On Windows, iTunes is still the single place where everything is handled.
iTunes on Windows, Mac, and iPhone
- Windows: iTunes can be downloaded for free and used fully
- Mac: In newer macOS, iTunes is split into Music, TV, and Podcasts
- iPhone/iPad: Features are integrated into Apple Music and Settings
Download iTunes for Windows – or use Apple’s newer music apps
iTunes is still widely used on Windows, while on Mac, iPhone, and iPad Apple has moved music, podcasts, and syncing into newer apps.
Top 5 iTunes tips
Top 5 iTunes tips
iTunes is still handy on Windows, especially if you want to manage your music library, Apple Music, CD importing, and local iPhone or iPad backups.
How do you get better sound quality in iTunes?
Open Playback settings and choose the highest audio quality that fits your library and connection. If you use Apple Music in iTunes on Windows, also check the streaming and download quality so your music doesn’t sound flatter than it has to.
How do you organize your music library in iTunes?
Use consistent album art, artist names, genres, and album titles to make the library easier to navigate. Adding artwork makes the collection clearer, especially if you’ve imported lots of CDs or older music files over the years.
How do you create smart playlists in iTunes?
Smart Playlists can auto‑update based on genre, rating, last played, or play count. Handy if you want iTunes to assemble music for workouts, work, relaxation, or old favorites without manual upkeep.
Can you use iTunes to back up iPhone?
Yes—iTunes lets you create local backups of iPhone and iPad on Windows. It’s useful if you want a copy stored on your PC instead of only in iCloud, or when switching phones and you want to keep data, settings, and content.
Which keyboard shortcuts are useful in iTunes?
Keyboard shortcuts save time when skipping tracks, searching the library, controlling playback, or adjusting volume—especially when iTunes runs in the background on Windows while you work, game, or tidy up your library.