Itunes Macos Big Sur 117 [top] [2026]
Once selected, you will see a layout that mirrors the old iTunes interface. Tab options include:
: All your songs, albums, and playlists now live in the Apple Music app . Your existing library automatically migrates to this app when you upgrade.
It allows you to run iTunes 12.9.5 or 12.6.5 on macOS Big Sur.
Solution: Open the Apple Music app. Look at the left sidebar under the Playlists section. If they are missing, you can manually import your old library database by holding down the while opening the Music app, clicking Choose Library , and navigating to your old iTunes Library.itl file (usually located in User > Music > iTunes ). Final Thoughts itunes macos big sur 117
: Used for watching movies and TV shows, including your past purchases.
Understanding how Apple handled this transition is essential for keeping your media organized and your devices backed up. The Death of iTunes on macOS Big Sur 11.7
: Managed entirely in the Apple Music App , where your existing local iTunes library and custom playlists are automatically imported. Once selected, you will see a layout that
With the introduction of macOS Catalina in 2019, Apple began to phase out iTunes in favor of separate apps for music, TV, and podcasts. This move was met with mixed reactions from users, some of whom appreciated the streamlined approach, while others lamented the loss of a single, unified interface.
You can still purchase music, movies, and TV shows. The iTunes Store still exists within the Music app and the TV app on Big Sur. How to Sync Devices (iPhone/iPad) in macOS Big Sur
The moment the app launched, her Mac’s fans spun up like a jet engine. Big Sur 11.7 was supposed to be the polished pinnacle of the Intel era, but this felt like a ghost in the machine. Her meticulously curated Smart Playlists—the ones that sorted tapes by bitrate, BPM, and recording year—were frozen. The “Songs” view was a laggy blur. It allows you to run iTunes 12
The short answer is , not officially. Apple’s installers for iTunes are built for older versions of macOS (Mojave and earlier) and will not run on Big Sur because the underlying system architecture has changed. Why you don't need it: Performance: The separate apps are faster and use less RAM.
Your iTunes library hasn't been lost — it's been thoughtfully migrated to apps designed specifically for each media type. Device management through the Finder is intuitive and mirrors the iTunes experience closely. And for those who absolutely need the original iTunes experience, third-party workarounds exist, though they come with trade-offs.
Officially, no. Apple does not support running iTunes on macOS Big Sur. While third-party tools like Retroactive exist, they come with risks and aren't guaranteed to work after macOS updates. The recommended approach is to adapt to the new apps, which offer the same core functionality with a cleaner interface.