Itunes and Outlook/iPhone calendar/contacts sync deprecated

Trying to continue the original post/thread Posted on Apr 24, 2021 3:02 PM FROM

@Lucia555

sync calendar/contacts with iCloud versus… - Apple Community


AND another secondary post/thread Posted on Posted on Nov 22, 2024 1:18 PM FROM

@Just Trying To Jam

Itunes and Outlook/iPhone calendar/contac… - Apple Community


apparently even the last thread has been closed...... :(


Anyone out there still dealing with this itunes calendar/contacts being deprecated ?


What is the latest iOS + ITUNES + Outlook Version you have successfully used?


iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Jun 8, 2025 03:38 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 12, 2025 08:47 AM

Hey folks!

Somehow the forum is not sending me notifications ... but here I am ;-) along with all you other folks that can find this new revision of the topic/thread!


I am successfully sync-ing Outlook 2021 to my iPhone 13 Pro running iOS 18.5 via the iTunes 12.13.1.3 using Win10


My current conundrum is that I've just bought a new laptop with Win11 installed.

I was going to install my current LT license of Outlook 2021 on the new machine,

but 2021 edition will go end of support next year ...


So I might buy the 2024 edition now just to avoid having to upgrade it later on.


But then I have the "BIG" decision to make... How to keep sync-ing...


  1. Use stand-alone iTunes (which may be deprecated at some point)
  2. Use Microsoft Store iTunes (which ALSO may be deprecated at some point)
  3. Try apple devices which I think would require me to use iCloud for Windows and sync. my data to iCloud? I'm really NOT keen on that option....
  4. Maybe some 3rd-party tool?


I am open to any and all suggestions!


Jim

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 12, 2025 08:47 AM in response to Just Trying To Jam

Hey folks!

Somehow the forum is not sending me notifications ... but here I am ;-) along with all you other folks that can find this new revision of the topic/thread!


I am successfully sync-ing Outlook 2021 to my iPhone 13 Pro running iOS 18.5 via the iTunes 12.13.1.3 using Win10


My current conundrum is that I've just bought a new laptop with Win11 installed.

I was going to install my current LT license of Outlook 2021 on the new machine,

but 2021 edition will go end of support next year ...


So I might buy the 2024 edition now just to avoid having to upgrade it later on.


But then I have the "BIG" decision to make... How to keep sync-ing...


  1. Use stand-alone iTunes (which may be deprecated at some point)
  2. Use Microsoft Store iTunes (which ALSO may be deprecated at some point)
  3. Try apple devices which I think would require me to use iCloud for Windows and sync. my data to iCloud? I'm really NOT keen on that option....
  4. Maybe some 3rd-party tool?


I am open to any and all suggestions!


Jim

Jun 12, 2025 01:59 PM in response to jimbob5941

Hi Jim,


Installing Apple Devices (or Apple Music or Apple TV) breaks iTunes such that it can only be used to work with audiobooks and podcasts. Device management features are completely suppressed. I don't suppose Apple Devices has legacy support for Outlook either.


I'd probably recommend the standalone version of iTunes over the Microsoft Store. There is always a chance the Store version might auto-update to Apple Music for reasons.


tt2

Jun 18, 2025 10:17 AM in response to jimbob5941

Hi @jimbob5941




Thanks for the configuration update.




Here’s what I do currently to deal with all this deprecation

situation, it’s a pain in the butt, however that just goes to show how bad I am

NOT wanting to sync and backup to iCloud WE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO HANDLE

OUR OWN BACKUPS.




I use a VM (Virtual Machine) with Win 10 installed, Outlook

2013 (desktop app) (Installs with CD’s) and of course ITUNES with versions proven

NOT to break the sync function from feedback on these forums. I also use an

EXTERNAL HDD harddrive with which holds ALL DATA including ITUNES LIBRARY,

IPHONE BACKUPS, MUSIC, etc…….  This setup

allows me to keep things moving for now.



FYI-Since the beginning of ITUNES I have always kept a clean

cut folder structure that allows me to move it around (mobile), so going to a VM

world setup with an external HDD was not that hard, the most complex part was

to fake out the ITUNES default C: folder structure that holds the IPHONE backups

(which are LARGE is size), but I achieved this by using symbolic link “symlink”.

And the reason I had to do this was because of the size limitations of the VM

worlds, this way EVERYTHING is held on the EXTERNAL HDD.



Sorry for the long winded explanation, but I can guide you

if you decide on this route 😊

Jun 18, 2025 01:50 PM in response to Just Trying To Jam

@just trying to jam


Wow, that is a little complex. while it would likely not exceed my skill level, it might come close... ;-)

I agree we shouldn't have to use the cloud, I"m sure I've said before I have HIPAA data on my phone and can't expose it to the cloud, and I travel in the 3rd-world where "the cloud" is just a pipe dream.


I keep wondering how it will die/be deprecated?


I think the current version of the direct 64-bit download is V12.13.7.1 dated 3/31/25 and I think it still works?


If I install that on my new Win11 laptop and it does work I won't have to upgrade it unless I to do so.

I don't see Microsoft messing with the format of the PST file ...


Maybe some future updates to Win11 will break iTunes and the revised version

would have the sync-code pulled out?


Thoughts ... I intend to stumble along for as long as I can do so....


Thanks!

Jim


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Itunes and Outlook/iPhone calendar/contacts sync deprecated

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