As we reported earlier, many iPhone users have encountered problems with the iTunes 9 and iPhone 3.1 firmware upgrade. Until Apple comes out with fixes for these bugs, the solution may be a downgrade to earlier software versions.
To downgrade from iTunes 9 to version 8 or 7.7 you can try the following on a Mac (Windows instructions follow):
- First acquire the correct software package. Select iTunes 8.0.2 or iTunes 7.7.1:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/iTunes_8_0_2_for_Mac
http://support.apple.com/downloads/iTunes_7_7_1
- Uninstall iTunes 9:
Open the Applications folder and move iTunes into the Trash
Restart the Mac and empty the Trash.
- Open your Music directory and open the iTunes folder
- Copy "iTunes Library.itl" and "iTunes Music Library.xml" to your desktop
- Copy "iTunes Library Extras" and "iTunes Library Genius" to your desktop
- DO NOT DELETE this music library iTunes folder
- Install the older version of iTunes
- Run iTunes and select "File" -> "Import"
- Choose the file "iTunes Music Library.xml" from the Desktop
- Your library and playlists will be rebuilt in the older version of iTunes
To downgrade from iTunes 9 to version 8 you can try the following in Windows:
- First acquire the correct software package. Select iTunes 8 from the following site:
http://www.oldversion.com/iTunes.html
- Navigate to your iTunes music library (normally in Music/iTunes)
- Copy "iTunes Library.itl" and "iTunes Music Library.xml" to your desktop
- Copy "iTunes Library Extras" and "iTunes Library Genius" to your desktop
- DO NOT DELETE this music library iTunes folder
- Uninstall all iTunes Software
- Use Control Panel uninstall to remove all of the following:
Apple Mobile Device Support, Apple Software Update, Bonjour, iPod for Windows, iTunes, QuickTime
- Under the folder c:\Program Files delete the following folders:
Apple Software Update, Bonjour, iPod, iTunes, QuickTime
- Search for any hidden folders named "Apple Computer" or "Apple"
- These may appear under AppData or Local/AppData
- Delete these folders
- Restart your Windows machine
- Install the older version of iTunes
- Run iTunes
- DO NOT SELECT options to automatically add media files
- Select "File" -> "Import"
- Choose the file "iTunes Music Library.xml" from the Desktop
- Your library and playlists will be rebuilt in the older version of iTunes
To downgrade your iPhone to firmware 3.0.1 see instructions here.
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You are an absolute lifesaver! It worked perfectly and all my settings an media I hadn't uploaded to my computer were still there. I have a number of ill relatives who live far away so being without my phone could have been disastrous.
excellent hint. I just downgraded from iTunes 9, back to Version 8.0.2 that works properly & safe.
Thanks for that.
regards
This does not seem to work for me. I followed it step by step, but when I go to start iTunes it says that it wont recognize iTunes Library.itl because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Any suggestions?
Some additional information:
After it installed it said it could use my iTunes library file because it was created with a newer version. So I re-created my library by following these steps: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451
Also, for the newest version of iTunes 8 go here: http://www.oldapps.com/itunes.php
Hi, great info.
Instead of COPY the file "iTunes Music Library.xml" to Desktop I instead MOVED it to Desktop.
After starting the old iTunes 8.02 I selected File-Library-Import.... and then selected iTunes Music Library.xml on the Dekstop.
/rob
Also, my iphone apps not make it but see them in user/music/itunes/mobile apps/
I may just drag them into the app window in itunes before I sync.
Thank you so much, I have my radio stations back and am so happy!!!!!
(If you have iphone you need to install 8.2, I first installed 8.0 and would not work with my phone). This was very easy.
It works gooooood. Now its time to downgrade my iphone 3GS 3.1 to 3.0.1 to get back my tethering.
Dont forget the extra hint that its on the comments which save me from going crazy.
Yeah baby!!!!!!!!!!!
these instructions were perfect, and worked for me -- except that my mobile apps didn't seem to make it back onto my iphone afterwards.
also, for anyone who also is having a restore issue too: after opening itunes 8, be sure to go through the restore process before importing the music file.
To import my old library back in, I couldn't do the ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library, unless I wanted to do it one song at a time (eek)
So I got into my time machine backup:backup/user/date selected/mac hd/users/selected user/music
then I took the iTunes folder and dragged it into the iTunes you opened. It all come back in. Just need find way import playlists.