Desktop Itunes needs work/upgrade

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Level 1

13 points

Desktop Itunes needs work/upgrade

I've never really enjoyed using Desktop itunes, it doesn't allow syncing anymore. So everything is done in itunes app. There are so many things that need improving:

1) Syncing with itunes app - no way to sync playlist or purchased songs

2) Purchased songs only download sample and not full song

3) user-unfriendliness - it's so hard to navigate and find anything. There is the itunes store and then there's streaming and once I unsub to streaming, I cant even download the full songs that I purchased and it doesn't even show them in the playlists I set up even as a partial playlist.

These things have regressed or never improved over the years. It's not like Apple doesn't have enough funds to invest in these fundamental improvements...?

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Oct 17, 2025 12:54 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

the fiend

Level 7

23,436 points

Oct 19, 2025 2:19 PM in response to Cinysta

Cinysta wrote:

I've never really enjoyed using Desktop itunes, it doesn't allow syncing anymore.

Assuming that you mean synchronising between iTunes and a device such as an iPhone or iPod etc, yes it does.

However, if you instal Apple Music (the app), Apple TV and Apple Devices, that will be the issue. Uninstall them and go back to the regular iTunes.

Syncing with itunes app - no way to sync playlist or purchased songs

Go back to using the regular iTunes, as mentioned above

Purchased songs only download sample and not full song

Seems unlikely. How are you downloading your purchases?

I'm inclined to agree with you about user-unfriendliness. iTunes has now become so complex that it is difficult to deal with it. Apple's attempts to separate the parts of iTunes for simplicity have so far, only made things more complex.

One point that I will pick up on is regarding your comment about streaming:

- if you purchase music, you download it, not stream it. So are you trying to "stream purchases" but in fact only playing the store sample?
- if you subscribe to Apple Music, which is different to the Apple Music app (- well done Apple on your clear and not-in-any-way confusing naming convention), that music is not purchased. You have access to it while your subscription remains active. Once you end your subscription, you lose access to that music.

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