How to Completely Remove iTunes and Apple Mobile Device Support from Windows 11

You uninstalled iTunes, but Windows 11 still lists “Apple Mobile Device Support,” “Bonjour,” and other Apple programs under Installed apps. iTunes has historically installed each helper as its own separate program, so removing iTunes alone can leave the rest behind.

How to Remove iTunes from Windows 11 (Quick Answer)

Back up your library and iPhone backups first. Then uninstall iTunes and each Apple helper one at a time from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, and restart when you’re done. Use the table below to find the right tool for each situation.

Situation	What to use
Normal removal of iTunes and Apple helpers	Settings > Apps > Installed apps > More (…) > Uninstall
No Uninstall option in Settings	Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
Uninstall fails or throws an error	Advanced options > Repair, then Reset, then retry
Still blocked after Repair/Reset	Microsoft’s “Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed” guidance
iPhone driver entry still in Device Manager	Uninstall the device under Universal Serial Bus controllers
Want a modern replacement for device sync	Install Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store (pair it with Apple Music and Apple TV for your media library)

Apple Devices replaces iTunes for syncing, backing up, and restoring iPhones and iPads. According to Apple’s Apple Devices User Guide, it can sync music, movies, TV shows, and photos to your device. What it doesn’t do is manage the libraries themselves: Apple Music holds your music library and Apple TV holds your movies and TV shows, so you’ll generally want those apps installed too if you plan to sync media.

What Is iTunes for Windows, Really?

iTunes for Windows syncs music and video with iPhones and iPads, and backs up or restores those devices on a PC. The classic desktop installer from Apple’s website has historically added several supporting programs that Windows registers as separate apps. The exact set can vary by version, and if you installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store instead, you may see fewer separate entries:

• Apple Mobile Device Support: generally understood to supply the driver and service Windows uses to detect a connected iPhone or iPad; Apple doesn’t publicly detail its exact internal function.
• Apple Application Support: shared support files. It may appear as both a 32-bit and a 64-bit entry.
• Apple Software Update: checks for updates to Apple software.
• Bonjour: Apple’s network discovery service.

Because each helper is registered as its own entry, uninstalling iTunes doesn’t necessarily remove the others. Whether they stay behind depends on the installer version, what else on the PC still uses them, and how each uninstaller behaves.

Is it safe to delete Apple Mobile Device Support? Yes, if you no longer need iTunes or any other Apple sync app on this PC. Once it’s gone, Apple software on the PC will likely be unable to detect your iPhone over USB until you install Apple Devices (Apple’s current device-management app for Windows) or iTunes again; each installs the device components it needs. If you still use iCloud for Windows or another Apple app, check whether it needs these components before removing them.

Before You Begin

• An administrator account on the PC
• An external hard drive, portable SSD, or large USB flash drive for backups
• Your iPhone’s USB cable, if you plan to reinstall and resync afterward
• About 20–30 minutes, including restarts

Requirement	Details
Device	Windows PC with iTunes or Apple helper programs installed
OS version	Windows 11. On some Windows 10 builds, this page may appear as Apps & features instead of Installed apps (Microsoft Support, last reviewed 2026-10-31)
Account	Administrator rights

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Back up your iTunes library

Uninstalling iTunes typically doesn’t delete your media library, though this can vary by installation and version. The cleanup in Step 6, however, can delete files if you’re not careful, so back up your library first.

• Open iTunes.
• Go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced and note the folder listed under the iTunes Media folder location.
• Close iTunes.
• In File Explorer, open the parent iTunes folder that contains your media folder.
• Copy the entire iTunes folder to your external drive.

Expected result: A full copy of your iTunes folder on the external drive, with the same size as the original.

Tip: If iTunes won’t open, check your Music folder in File Explorer for a folder named iTunes and copy that instead.

Step 2: Back up your iPhone or iPad

If you’ve ever backed up an iPhone with iTunes, those backups live on this PC. Make a fresh backup now, or copy the existing ones before cleaning up. The steps below assume classic iTunes is still installed; if you already use Apple Devices, make the backup from its Back Up Now option instead, then continue with step 4. Our guide on how to back up your iPhone on Windows 11 without iCloud covers this in detail.

• Connect the iPhone with its USB cable.
• In iTunes, select the device icon.
• Click Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
• Press Win + R, type %USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup, and press Enter. If that folder doesn’t open, try %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup instead. These are the two PC locations listed on Apple’s Locate and manage backups support page.
• Copy the entire Backup folder, with its subfolders intact, to your external drive.

Expected result: A recent backup you can restore from later, stored off the PC.

Warning: Treat the copied folder as an archive only. Don’t rename, extract, or edit anything inside it. Apple’s own way to keep a backup from being replaced is to archive it from General > Manage Backups in the Apple Devices app; when you restore, let Apple Devices or iTunes find the backup in its normal location rather than restoring from a moved copy.

Step 3: Close running Apple processes

Background Apple services can block an uninstall.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• On the Processes tab, look for anything named iTunes, iTunesHelper, or Apple.
• Select each one and click End task.

Expected result: No Apple processes running. Don’t worry about anything that restarts on its own. The uninstall will handle it.

Step 4: Uninstall iTunes and each Apple helper from Settings

• Press Win + I to open Settings.
• Go to Apps > Installed apps.
• Type Apple in the search box to list Apple entries, then search iTunes and Bonjour too.

• Click the More (…) button next to iTunes and select Uninstall.
• Click Uninstall again in the confirmation pop-up.

• Approve the User Account Control prompt and follow the uninstaller.
• Repeat steps 4–6 for each remaining Apple entry, one at a time.

What order should you use? Use this sequence: iTunes, Apple Software Update, Apple Mobile Device Support, Bonjour, then Apple Application Support (32-bit, then 64-bit) last.

This is the order Apple’s older iTunes removal article listed, and Apple Community threads still repeat it. The usual reasoning is that Apple Application Support provides shared files the other Apple programs may use, so removing it last avoids breaking their uninstallers, but Apple doesn’t document that dependency today. That Apple page is no longer available on Apple’s support site, and Apple’s current Windows guidance centers on the Apple Devices app, so treat the order as long-standing guidance for the classic desktop iTunes rather than a current Apple procedure.

Expected result: Searching Apple in Installed apps shows no iTunes components. Anything you deliberately kept, such as iCloud for Windows, can stay listed.

Tip: If you see iCloud for Windows and still use it, leave it alone. Note that it may rely on some of the same Apple components, so check it still works after the cleanup.

Step 5: Restart and check Device Manager

This step is optional and more invasive than a normal app uninstall. Only do it if you don’t plan to connect an iPhone or iPad to this PC with any Apple software again soon. Skip it if you’re moving to Apple Devices, since you’ll want your iPhone detected again right away.

• Restart your PC.
• Press Win + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• Look for an Apple Mobile Device USB driver entry. The exact label can vary, and it may only appear if an iPhone has been connected before.

• If it’s there, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
• If the dialog offers an option to remove the driver software, check it only if you’re sure no other Apple app on this PC needs it, then click Uninstall.
• Click View > Show hidden devices and check again for greyed-out Apple Mobile Device entries. Leave every non-Apple device alone.

Expected result: No Apple Mobile Device entries under Universal Serial Bus controllers.

Step 6: Check for leftover Apple folders

Warning: Only do this after every Apple uninstall in Step 4 has finished, and only if you don’t plan to keep any Apple software on this PC. Skip any folder still used by software you’re keeping, and never delete your iTunes media library or the MobileSync\Backup folder from Steps 1 and 2 — those hold your library and device backups, not leftover program files.

• Open File Explorer.
• Check Settings > Apps > Installed apps one last time and search Apple and iCloud. If anything Apple is still installed, such as iCloud for Windows, Apple Devices, Apple Music, or Apple TV, skip the two shared data folders in step 4 entirely, because you can’t easily tell which files inside them that software still uses.
• Check these program folders for subfolders named Apple, Apple Software Update, iTunes, Bonjour, or Mobile Device Support, and delete only the ones the Step 4 uninstalls left behind:
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple and C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple
  • C:\Program Files\iTunes and C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes
  • C:\Program Files\Bonjour and C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour
• Only if no Apple software remains installed, handle the shared data folders %ProgramData%\Apple Computer and %AppData%\Apple Computer. Don’t delete them outright. Rename %ProgramData%\Apple Computer by adding .old to the end (Apple Computer.old). Inside %AppData%\Apple Computer, leave the MobileSync folder exactly where it is and rename only the other subfolders the same way.
• Restart and use the PC normally for a few days. If nothing reports missing Apple files, delete the .old folders. If something breaks, rename the folder back to restore it.
• Remove any leftover iTunes shortcuts from the desktop, taskbar, or Start menu.

Expected result: No leftover iTunes program folders. Your iTunes media library, MobileSync backups, and the folders of any Apple software you chose to keep remain untouched, and the shared data folders are either renamed and recoverable or left alone.

Step 7: Reinstall iTunes or switch to Apple Devices

Option A: Apple Devices app (Microsoft Store)

• Open the Microsoft Store.
• Search for Apple Devices.
• Confirm the publisher is Apple, then click Get or Install.

Store listings can change, so double-check that the publisher is Apple and the app details match before installing. Apple Devices handles sync, backup, and restore, including syncing music, movies, and TV shows to your device. If you plan to sync media, install Apple Music and Apple TV as well, since those apps manage the libraries Apple Devices syncs from.

Option B: Classic iTunes

• Download the current iTunes installer from Apple’s official site.
• Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator.
• Let it install its helper components alongside iTunes.

For either option:

• Restart Windows.
• Unlock your iPhone or iPad and connect it with a working USB cable.
• If prompted, tap Trust on the device and enter your passcode.

Expected result: The device appears in Apple Devices or iTunes, sometimes after a short delay while Windows finishes installing the device components. If it doesn’t show up within a few minutes, unplug and reconnect it, confirm you tapped Trust, and then see Fix #4.

Configuration: Which App Should You Use Afterward?

• Apple Devices is Apple’s own app, available through the Microsoft Store, for syncing, backing up, and restoring iPhones and iPads on Windows. It replaces iTunes for device management, and it can sync music, movies, and TV shows to your device.

Apple now splits iTunes’s old Windows functions across three separate apps: Apple Devices handles device sync and backup, Apple Music manages your music library, and Apple TV manages movies and TV shows. Install Apple Music and Apple TV too if you want to sync media to your device, because Apple Devices syncs from those libraries rather than managing them itself.

• Classic iTunes comes from Apple’s own installer and has historically brought back separate helper programs similar to those covered above, though the exact components can vary by version. It’s still the simplest choice if you manage a large local music library, or if you rely on podcasts or audiobooks, since those aren’t fully covered by Apple Music or Apple TV on Windows.
• iCloud for Windows is a lighter option if you only need photo and file sync, not media library management.
• Pick one for device sync. This is troubleshooting advice, not a rule: Apple’s documentation doesn’t say running Apple Devices and iTunes side by side is unsupported. Still, when only one app manages your iPhone, it’s much easier to tell which one is causing a sync or detection problem.

Store vs. installer: iTunes from Apple’s website has historically registered each helper as its own entry in Installed apps. Apple Devices is installed and updated through the Microsoft Store instead, so you manage it like any other Store app.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Fix #1: Use Control Panel when Uninstall is missing in Settings

Microsoft notes that some programs can’t be uninstalled from the Settings app (Microsoft Support, retrieved 2026-10-31).

• Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
• Right-click the Apple program.
• Select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change, then follow the prompts.

Fix #2: Repair, then Reset, before retrying

A corrupted install can block removal. For more on this, see our guide on how to repair or reset a stuck Windows app instead of reinstalling.

• In Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click More (…) next to the app.
• Select Advanced options. Not every app offers this.
• Click Repair and wait for it to finish.
• If uninstalling still fails, click Reset.
• Restart and try Uninstall again.

For desktop programs without Advanced options, the Uninstall/Change button in Control Panel may offer a Repair choice instead.

Fix #3: Follow Microsoft’s guidance for blocked uninstalls

If an uninstall complains about a missing installer file or simply won’t finish, follow Microsoft’s Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed page (retrieved 2026-10-31). It covers general problems that block Windows programs from being removed, which can include stuck Apple entries, though it isn’t specific to Apple software and may not fix every case.

Fix #4: iPhone isn’t recognized after cleanup

This is expected once Apple Mobile Device Support is gone. If you’re switching to Apple Devices, install it from the Microsoft Store; if you’re staying with classic iTunes, reinstall it from Apple’s website. Either app installs the device components it needs.

If the phone still isn’t detected, try a different USB port or a known-good cable, then see our guide on fixing “Windows can’t recognize your iPhone” errors.

Tip: Choosing Unpin from Start only removes the tile from Start. It doesn’t uninstall anything.

Wrapping Up

Removing every Apple entry in Installed apps, generally saving Apple Application Support for last, is the cleanest way to start over with a stubborn iTunes install, and Control Panel can catch entries Settings won’t touch. If something still won’t uninstall, work through the fixes above.

For most people who just need to sync or back up an iPhone, Apple Devices is the simpler choice, since it’s Apple’s current device app and is installed and updated through the Microsoft Store. If you also want to sync music, movies, or TV shows, install Apple Music and Apple TV alongside it to manage those libraries. Classic iTunes is still the simplest option if you rely on podcasts or audiobooks.

If a fresh install still can’t see your iPhone on any port or cable, suspect the cable or the phone’s port. If Apple processes keep reappearing after a clean removal, run a malware scan.

Step	Action	Applies To
1–2	Back up library and device backups	Everyone
3–4	End processes, uninstall each Apple entry	Everyone
5	Clear Apple driver in Device Manager	PCs that connected an iPhone
6	Verify and remove leftover folders	Full clean slate
7	Install Apple Devices or iTunes	Anyone still syncing devices

Resources

• Uninstall or remove apps and programs in Windows (Microsoft Support)
• Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed (Microsoft Support)
• Locate and manage backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (Apple Support)