Several users who are dissatisfied with the new iTunes interface or other enhancements, or are experiencing problems with third-party add-ons or other issues may seek to downgrade to iTunes 9.2.1. Here’s the procedure:
Mac: If you have a Time Machine backup, simply use it to restore your iTunes 9.2.1. Otherwise, follow these instructions:
First, delete the following files
- The iTunes application in /Applications
- com.apple.iTunes.plist, which is located in ~/Library/Preferences (this is the library folder inside your user folder)
- iTunes.pkg, which is located in /Library/Receipts (this is the library folder at the root level of your startup drive)
- iTunesX.pkg, which is located in /Library/Receipts
Next, download iTunes 9.2.1 for Mac OS X and run the installer.
You may then need to recreate your iTunes library.
Windows
- Go to C:\My Documents\My Music. Backup the entire “iTunes” folder to a safe location.
- Using the Control Panel to uninstall the following: Apple Application Support, iPhone Configuration, iTunes 10, Apple Mobile Device Support, Apple Software Update and QuickTime.
- Reboot your computer
- Go back to C:My Documents\My Music\iTunes
- Rename the file iTunes Library.itl to something like iTunes Library.itl.backup.
- In the same folder, open “Previous iTunes Libraries” and find the most recent library backup, which should be named something like “iTunes Library 2010-09-1.itl” Copy this file, then paste it in C:My Documents\My Music\iTunes and rename it iTunes Library.itl
- Download either iTunes 9.2.1 for 32-bit or iTunes 9.2.1 for 64-bit (depending on your system configuration) and install the software.
- You may then need to recreate your iTunes library.
December 18, 2011 at 4:06 PM
this method does not work with OSX LION. 1: can’t delete iTunes (system won’t let me), 2: there is no .plist file or package to remove. iTunes 10 appears to be completely integrated into Lion.
i just wanted my drop down menu back (the one next to the song title). in previous versions, one could modify it from pointing to ping or the iTunes store to point directly to the library. it made it easy for me to go from a single out of order track in the recently aded playlist to the full album in the regular library list. i miss this feature greatly
December 11, 2012 at 9:43 AM
1. change the permissions of the itunes app
2. try again. it is over there.
3. thanks for this ! i just did it on my mac and it worked perfectly.
I had to recreate the library its a pretty simple process.. but i loss the “date added” attribute from my library.
December 29, 2012 at 3:53 PM
on Lion do in terminal:
sudo rm -rf /Applications/iTunes.app
and install any itunes version
March 3, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Recreate the iTunes library? Are you kidding? I have 1,000 songs. (unless I’m misinterpreting that instruction.)
April 22, 2012 at 5:49 PM
I think he meant you might need to import your library again. From ~/Music/iTunes/
Deleting iTunes does not destroy your library
December 11, 2012 at 9:44 AM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451
April 27, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Didnt work, it says it cant read “iTunes Library.itl” cause it was created by an older version of itunes
April 27, 2012 at 2:27 PM
What else would the iTunes.pkg be called/named?
*I realize most people have done this awhile ago. I just haven’t figured this thing out yet. Don’t want to make mistake and lose music or redo work that took months. Thank you for any advice.
June 12, 2012 at 7:31 PM
Thank You so much for the step by step directions!!! It worked perfect for me!
August 27, 2012 at 5:16 PM
I spent a lot of money for an Airport Express and it does not work with my MacBook Pro. Seems like this is something the Apple store sales person might have thought to mention…. The reinstall did not work. I did not try downgrading–a solution that might require me to recreate the iTunes library seemed pretty bogus.
January 24, 2013 at 10:41 PM
Whom ever decided to upgrade Itunes to a newer version I could beat you I hate this new version can’t copy new Playlist to my I phone and boy and I upset!!