In ubuntu or other linux distributions iTunes still not available. There are several other audio player for Linux which can be taken as alternative for iTunes. If you are using iTunes for managing your Iphone, Ipod and Ipad there is a strong reason to install iTunes in Linux for you.

3 Answers

Short answer:

Longer answer:

You can follow the above steps, but it's a path that is fraught with pain and half-working features. iTunes simply isn't going to work well in Wine (and therefore Ubuntu). This is doubtful to ever change.

You may want to ask yourself why you're doing this. Are you looking for something to play music? If so, Ubuntu ships with Banshee and Rhythmbox, both of which can manage your collection and play most file formats. Are you trying to play back songs purchased in iTunes store? In which case if they're older protected songs you'll need to break the DRM and violate the DMCA. Are you trying to sync your iPhone or iTouch? Well, then you may be in some serious trouble. Even with a virtual machine it only kinda works. Are you trying to sync an iPod? In that case, Banshee and Rhythmbox both can do it for you.

The only thing you need iTunes for is the Itunes Music Store, and newer iPhones / iPods; older devices have been supported by Rhythmbox, Banshee, and gPodder.

ITMS...that's not going to work anywhere Apple doesn't want it to--and that includes Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is awesome; I run it exclusively at home--but I don't have any unrealistic expectations that everything will 'just work'. Everything will just work if everyone involved wants it to.

If you have a newer iPod/iPhone, the only thing you can really do is complain to Apple; they're the ones that encrypted the iTunesDB.

I've read that iTunes will work completely if you use a different approach: Don't install it inside WINE, but instead use VirtualBox in Linux. VirtualBox lets you run MS Windows inside a window on your Linux, and then you can install iTunes on that (virtual) Windows installation.

I'll dig up some details and reply.

Itunes For Linux Apple

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For owners of the iPhone and iPods, iTunes is the primary way to sync music, movies, and other data from their computers to their mobile devices. It's also a great way to buy music or stream tens of millions of songs with Apple Music. And that's great for users of the Mac OS and Windows, which both have versions of iTunes. But what about Linux? Is there iTunes for Linux?

The simplest answer is no. Apple doesn't make a version of iTunes that can run natively on Linux. But that doesn't mean that it's impossible to run iTunes on Linux. It just means that it's a little harder.

iTunes on Linux Option 1: WINE

Your best bet for running iTunes on Linux is WINE, a program that adds a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows programs on Linux. Here's what you need to do:

1. Install WINE. WINE is a free download available here.

2. Once WINE is installed, check to see if your version of Linux needs any extras installed to support iTunes or its files. One common tool that is used in this situation is PlayOnLinux.

3. With your environment configured correctly, next you'll start installing iTunes. To do that, download a 32-bit Windows version of iTunes from Apple and install it (NOT the 64-bit version for Windows). It will install in the same way as if you were installing it on Windows.

4. If the initial installation doesn't work properly, try an earlier version of iTunes. The only downside of this, of course, is that earlier versions may not have the latest features or support syncing with the latest iOS devices.

Either way, once you've completed the installation, you should be running iTunes on Linux.

Itunes Download For Linux Mint

This post at AskUbuntu.com has more extensive instructions on running iTunes in WINE.

This approach will work on some Linux distributions, but not all. I've seen the most people say they've had success on Ubuntu, but the differences between distributions mean your results may vary.

iTunes on Linux Option 2: VirtualBox

Download Itunes For Linux Ubuntu

The second means to get iTunes for Linux is a little bit of a cheat, but it should work, too.

This approach requires that you install VirtualBox on your Linux machine. VirtualBox is a free virtualization tool that imitates the physical hardware of a computer and lets you install operating systems and programs in it. It allows you to, for instance, run Windows from inside the Mac OS or, in this case, to run Windows from inside Linux.

To do this, you'll need a version of Windows to install in VirtualBox (this may require a Windows installation disc). If you've got that, follow these steps:

1. Download the correct version of VirtualBox for your Linux distribution

2. Install VirtualBox in Linux

3. Launch VirtualBox and follow the onscreen instructions for creating a virtual Windows computer. This may require the Windows install disc.

4. With Windows installed, launch your preferred Windows web browser and download iTunes from Apple.

5. Install iTunes in Windows and you should be good to go.

So, while this isn't truly running iTunes in Linux, it does give you access to iTunes and its features from a Linux computer.

And that, or running WINE, is probably the best you'll get until Apple releases a version of iTunes for Linux.

Will Apple Release iTunes for Linux?

Which leads to the question: Will Apple ever release a version of iTunes for Linux? Never say never, and of course, I don't work at Apple so I can't say for sure, but I'd be pretty surprised if Apple ever did this.

Generally speaking, Apple doesn't release versions of its flagship programs for Linux (not all of them even exist on Windows). Given the relatively small number of Linux users and the cost that would be required to port and support programs on Linux, I doubt we'll ever see iMovie or Photos or iTunes for Linux.