Removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows Vista or Windows 7

  • Last Modified: October 22, 2009
  • Article: HT1923
  • Old Article: 305409

Summary

Learn how to cleanly uninstall iTunes, QuickTime, and other essential software components from your Windows Vista or Windows 7 PC; (for a Windows XP or Windows 2000 PC, refer to Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP).

Products Affected

QuickTime for Windows, iTunes 7 for Windows, iTunes 9 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Windows, Windows, Windows Vista, Windows 7

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In some rare instances, it may be necessary to remove all traces of iTunes, QuickTime, and related software components from your computer before reinstalling iTunes. 

Use the Control Panel to uninstall iTunes and related software components in the following order:

  1. iTunes
  2. QuickTime
  3. Apple Software Update
  4. Apple Mobile Device Support
  5. Bonjour 
  6. Apple Application Support (iTunes 9 or later)

Important: You may see various alert messages if you uninstall these applications in a different order or only uninstall certain components.

For detailed steps on removing and reinstalling iTunes and related components on Windows Vista or Windows 7, refer to the following steps:

Removing iTunes

Note: iTunes Store purchases or songs imported from CDs are saved in your My Music folder by default and are not deleted by removing iTunes.

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features Control Panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  4. Select iTunes from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  5. When asked if you would like to remove iTunes, click Yes.
  6. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart your computer if you are prompted to.
  7. If other program entries were listed for iTunes in Programs and Features remove those as well.
  8. In Programs and Features, also remove any iPod Updater applications that are listed in the same fashion as you removed iTunes.

Removing QuickTime

  1. Quit QuickTime Player.
  2. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  4. Select QuickTime from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  5. When asked if you would like to remove QuickTime, click Yes.
  6. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart your computer if you are prompted to.
  7. If other program entries were listed for QuickTime Programs and Features remove those as well.

Removing Apple Software Update

  1. Quit Apple Software Update.
  2. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  4. Select Apple Software Update from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  5. When asked if you would like to remove Apple Software Update, click Yes.
  6. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart your computer if you are prompted to.
  7. If other program entries were listed for Apple Software Update in Programs and Features remove those as well.

Removing Apple Mobile Device Support

  1. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  3. Select Apple Mobile Device Support from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  4. When asked if you would like to remove Apple Mobile Device Support, click Yes.
  5. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart your computer if you are prompted to.

Note: Do not manually delete the Mobile Device Support folder located at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple. Use Programs and Features as described in the steps above.

Removing Apple Application Support (iTunes 9 or later)

  1. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  3. Select Apple Application Support from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  4. When asked if you would like to remove Apple Application Support, click Yes. 

Verify iTunes and related components are completely uninstalled

  1. Restart your computer.
  2. After the computer restarts, open Local Disk (C:) located in Computer or whichever hard disk your programs are installed on.
  3. Open the Program Files folder.
  4. Right-click the iTunes folder, choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Note: This folder may have already been deleted if iTunes was successfully removed in steps 1-7.
  5. Right-click the iPod folder, choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  6. Right-click the QuickTime folder (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  7. Right-click the Bonjour folder (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  8. Open the Common Files folder.
  9. Right-click the Apple folder (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  10. Open Local Disk (C:) located in Computer or whichever hard disk your operating system is installed on.
  11. Open the Windows folder.
  12. Open the System32 folder.
  13. Right-click the QuickTime file (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  14. Right-click the QuickTimeVR file (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  15. Right-click the Recycle Bin and choose Empty Recycle Bin. 

Reinstalling iTunes and related components

After verifying that iTunes is completely uninstalled, you should download and install the latest version of iTunes.

Additional Information

iPodService.exe Alert

Follow these steps if the message "Cannot delete iPodService.exe: It is being used by another person or program" appears when you try to delete the iPod folder.

  1. Make sure that iTunes and the iPod Updater utility are not open.
  2. Press and hold Control-Alt-Delete. Select Start Task Manager.
  3. Click the Processes tab.
  4. Locate the iPodService.exe in the list.
  5. Click "iPodService.exe" and choose End Process.
  6. Quit the Task Manager.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

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