Why is iTunes Slow?
iTunes was released twenty years ago, and it is currently one of the top ways to organize your library of songs, videos, and other content on your Apple device. While Apple's software is known for being reliable and well-performing, iTunes has been giving users problems regularly. The biggest complaint is about the performance of the software suite – many people are wondering about why is iTunes slow. There could be multiple causes of this problem:
- Is your library too large?
- Have you cleaned up the iTunes cache and log files?
- Does your system have enough hardware to satisfy iTunes' needs?
- Are you running too many apps in the background?
If you are also complaining that iTunes is slow, then we have some potential fixes and advice, which might help you resolve the issue.
Table of Contents
Update Your OS and iTunes
Lacking the latest updates for your operating system and iTunes may resolve in various performance issues. Regardless if you are using macOS or Windows, you should check for pending updates. Also, make sure to update iTunes to the latest version as well.
Transfer Some of iTunes’ Library to the Cloud
Storing your entire iTunes library on your computer may take a toll on performance. If you have downloaded too much content that you will not use soon, then you can right-click it and select Remove Download. This way, the file will still be in your Library, but it will not take hard drive space.
Clear the iTunes Cache
Every software you use maintains a folder with cached information. In the case of streaming platforms like iTunes, Netflix or Spotify, it could end up taking a lot of space. To clear the iTunes folder, go to Finder -> Go -> Go to Folder. Next, open the folder ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.itunes and then delete the folders fsCachedData and SubscriptionPlayCache.
Finally, head to iTunes -> Preferences -> Advanced and click on Reset Cache.
Close Background Apps
Running too many applications simultaneously is likely to cause performance issue not just with iTunes, but with other apps as well. The next time you are wondering why is iTunes slow, you should turn off software that you are not using. Use the Mac Activity Monitor (also known as the Mac Task Manager) to check what software is using too much resources. You can also learn how to speed up your Mac entirely by following our guide,
