Apple’s music and TV apps for Windows have appeared, with preview versions of the apps spotted in the Microsoft Store by The verifier (through MacRumors). Last October, Microsoft announced they were coming to the platform, finally allowing users to ditch the legacy iTunes app and Apple TV web player for native software that’s closer to the experience embedded in macOS.
There’s also a third preview of an app called Apple Devices, which lets you manage and sync things like iPods and iPads – functionality currently handled by iTunes on Windows and Finder on the Mac. It also shines contains some references to Reality OS and xrOStwo codenames reportedly associated with Apple’s virtual reality headset.
The TV app is similar to the version on macOS, although you access different sections via a list on the side rather than tabs at the top. Using it allowed me to watch Apple TV Plus shows as well as movies purchased on iTunes; it even had a miniplayer mode. The Music app is similar to the macOS version, although the iTunes Store is a little more difficult to access.
Two Forget employees with Windows 11 could install and run the apps using The verifier‘s links. You can download them yourself here: Apple Music, AppleTV, Apple devices.
When you first open the apps, they warn that iTunes will stop working if you use them and you have to delete the previews to get it back. It looks like the Music app has taken over my music and settings from iTunes, but if you absolutely must sync an iPod, it might be worth trying these apps out until the Apple Devices app is no longer available. MacRumors also points out which you may want to postpone if you use iTunes for Windows to manage or listen to podcasts and audiobooks.
So far, the previews seem to be mostly stable with much of the basic functionality I’d expect, though the apps do say “not all features work as expected”.
