Starting or closing iTunes slows down Windows 11 / gets laggy / slow to open

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Level 1

6 points

Starting or closing iTunes slows down Windows 11 / gets laggy / slow to open

I installed iTunes 12.12.7.1 (latest version) from a direct download on Apple's site, on a Windows 11 PC with a fast Samsung NVMe SSD drive, 64 GB DDR5, i7 processor. Everything is lightning fast, from Photoshop to movie editing, and opens virtually instantaneously...Except iTunes, which takes 30 seconds to load. Once open, everything works fine. But the big issue is that, when I close it, my *whole computer* gets slow: opening folders, right clicking on the desktop, opening Edge, etc. takes 10-15 seconds each. This lasts for 2 minutes, then everything is back to normal.

There's obviously something happening with iTunes, Windows 11, and something specific with some hardware/software conflicts, because I'm clearly not the only one with this issue based on a Google search. And uninstalling/installing from Apple's website or the Microsoft store hasn't worked (see below).

It's not happening on my other multiple Windows 10 PCs, only on my newer Windows 11 PCs. In 20+ years of troubleshooting/building computers, I've never seen that. My PC is fine, completely validated with memory & CPU extensive testing, and literally everything works perfectly fine and is the fastest PC I've ever had with the latest/best generation Intel processor, RAM, and SSD...except when I start or close iTunes. It's acting like...a virus?! Or, it's acting like Apple really, really, is trying to get me to move to a Mac for my iProducts — no, thanks, not with that level of QC, because clearly I'm not the only one with similar issues (below).

I looked at all the other threads. I've tried all of this, and nothing worked:

Uninstalling iTunes and all associated components (iTunes, Bonjour, etc), in the order specified in one thread. Cleaned up all remaining folders, even the registry.
Installed iTunes 12.12.7.1 directly from the Apple site, or Microsoft store. Same result.
Installed an older iTunes version, 12.10.11. Same result.
Installed iTunes when disconnected from internet, shutting down all antivirus, and installed as Admin; then launched iTunes also as administrator = same issues.
Also uninstalled my iPhone driver from device manager before iTunes install, or after. Same result.
To be clear, the issue occurs with the default library just after install, no music/photos/iPhone backup, not even with my own migrated library.

What I've found, is that when I close iTunes, it remains along with its associated apps, active in the task manager for ~2 minutes. Once it finally closes, my computer returns to normal. There is no high CPU, memory, or disk usage...so no idea why it is slowing down the entire PC. I've never had an app do that, on this PC or any other.

If I force-quit (terminate) iTunes from the task manager...then there is no issue, my PC is behaving normally! If I close it normally, then for 2 minutes, I can't do anything on the computer (from opening apps and even folders or clicking on icons on the desktop). So that is a big clue. But, what is happening?

Closest thread with same issue (no answers)

When starting or closing iTunes in Win11,… - Apple Community

Other threads:

And those two guides:

My hardware

Asus Z790-E motherboard with Intel i7-13700K; 64 GB DDR5
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe
RTX 3050 OC graphics card
Absolutely all drivers up to date, and ZERO issues on my PC besides iTunes

My software running/in memory while iTunes is open

Windows 11 22H2, 22621.1344
Asus Armoury Crate and GPU Tweak, Sonic studio
NVIDIA control panel
Standard Windows processes and Intel Management Engine, IRST, etc.

The following software running in memory, but which I have also on my multiple Windows 10 PCs and where iTunes is working fine:

Samsung Magician
WD Service
Logitech Setpoint
One Drive: but even when I stop it, the issue persists
Antivirus: tried Norton and Webroot, same. I stopped them when installing iTunes and opening/closing it, the issue persists, so it's not the AV the problem.

Thanks!

[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Mar 11, 2023 01:31 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LincolnCalifUser

Level 1

12 points

Dec 16, 2023 07:49 PM in response to CrankyWebDev

I have the problem of a slow startup (5 minutes), but my graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, 10 GB, LHR. It's a Dell Windows 11 machine. When I first installed iTunes on this machine it worked fine, then suddenly I got the five minute startup.

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Answer 2

Oct 9, 2023 08:54 AM in response to i_Nicolas

I don't know how I lucked out and found this one post in an ocean of "why is iTunes so slow to open and close", but I've had the same problem for actually years and it's absolutely because I've had ASUS cards with GPU Tweak III all this time. I closed GPU Tweak and iTunes instantly runs normally again. It's actually insane to me that it's been this the whole time, haha. I had to jump on and say thanks for posting the update. Lots of threads just die out, but I can actually use iTunes again now.

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Answer 3

i_Nicolas Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 11, 2023 02:46 PM in response to i_Nicolas

UPDATE:

Since the issue was so clear when closing iTunes, that the iTunes.exe process remained active in Task Manager while the computer was slow for 2 minutes, I decided to measure the time it takes for iTunes to close after killing one by one all the active processes. That took a while. But I found the issue: my graphics card software.

It's an ASUS card, which comes with GPU Tweak III and Monitor; they monitor GPU temps and fan. Terminating those two makes iTunes start/stop instantaneously and work without any issues. Now what on earth this has to do with iTunes, I don't know. Clearly, since everything else is working fine, iTunes is doing *something* that's causing a compatibility issue with that software. Again, I've never seen something like that...

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Answer 4

RJ Chi

Level 1

10 points

Jan 24, 2024 08:25 PM in response to i_Nicolas

Same problem here. iTunes is just the worst piece of software ever. seriously thinking about ditching apple music all together.

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Answer 5

Apr 30, 2023 06:50 PM in response to i_Nicolas

It's the bonjour process. If you disable it itunes loses it's mind.

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Answer 6

Apr 7, 2023 06:07 AM in response to i_Nicolas

Thanks i_Nicolas

Here is the same problem and the same solution!

The problem:

When I start iTunes it takes 30 secondes to load, when I close it slows down and freeze Windows 11 and all other apps opened.

The solution :

I have an ASUS graphic card.

When I stop the GPU tweak III and Monitor the problem is solved.

iTunes opens and closes instantaneously and works without any issue !

—————-

Graphic card : Asus GeForce 3070Ti

MB : Asus prime Z370

Proc : i8700K - OC 4.9Ghz

RAM : 2x16Go 3200 G.Skill

NVME Samsung 980 Pro 2TB

—————-

Windows 11

version : 22H2

OS build : 22621.1485

Windows Feature Experience Pack : 1000.22639.1000.0

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Answer 7

Apr 25, 2023 06:38 AM in response to i_Nicolas

I have a system much like yours. I had no problems with iTunes opening or closing or anything else, it ran fine.

That was until I purchased a subscription. At that point, the downloading started taking several minutes to even populate the Browse page.

Maybe your system is trying to do something online and cannot complete that process. Right now, I am keeping the resource monitor and the Task Manger active to see what is happening online.

Yesterday, the iTunes window stayed open, but transparent, when I started the mini-player. I had to use the Task Manager to shut it down.

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Answer 8

Feb 4, 2024 09:22 AM in response to i_Nicolas

+100 for the update comment. Indeed helpful! Cause:

I'm seeing the same issue. Unfortunately I'm not aware of any GPU tweak tool. The try and error method when it occurs is very time consuming and with > 100 open tasks/processes I'll probably never find out if or which some task is causing this issue like it did for you.

Would be great if you have just "one more thing" ääähhm idea for me / us :-)

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