When you install iTunes, you may receive the following error message: “Apple application support was not found. Apple application support is required to run iTunes. Please uninstall iTunes, then reinstall iTunes. If you don't know how to fix this problem then this article may help you..
Solution 1. What is Apple Application Support and where to download it?
Apple Application Support is one of the software components required for iTunes to function properly on Windows. In general it can be supplied in two versions: 32 bit and 64 bit. You cannot use iTunes without Apple application support. If you remove this program then you will need to reinstall it in order to be able to run iTunes. However, it is not possible to download Apple application support separately. To download Apple Application Support, you need to uninstall iTunes and then reinstall iTunes.
Solution 2. Resolve "Apple application support was not found" error (Recommended by Apple)
Apple recommends using the following steps to troubleshoot issues when iTunes cannot be installed or updated. These steps can also be applied to resolve iTunes error 2 (Apple application support not found) on Windows 10, 8, 7..
Step 1. Log on to the computer as an administrator
Make sure you have an administrator account on your Windows PC. If you don't have one, create one, and then log into your computer using the administrator account.
Step 2. Make sure you are using the latest version of Windows
iTunes for Windows requires Windows 7 or later with the latest Service Pack installed on the computer. If you are using a computer running Windows XP or Vista, update Windows..
Step 3. Download the latest version of iTunes
Download the iTunes installer from the Apple website. If you're using Windows 10, you can get the latest version of iTunes from the Microsoft Store.
Step 4. Repair iTunes
If you downloaded the iTunes installer from the Apple website, right-click on the iTunes installer (the file named iTunesSetup or iTunes64Setup) that you downloaded and choose the option " Execute as administrator ". If you already have iTunes installed on your computer, the installer will prompt you to repair the software. After the repair is complete, restart your computer and try launching iTunes to see if iTunes still displays the "Apple Application Support was not found" error.
Step 5. Remove the components left by the previous installation
If iTunes fails to install and still shows iTunes error 2 on Windows, then it is probably necessary to remove the components left over from the previous installation of iTunes and then reinstall them.
To remove iTunes and all associated software components, go to "Control Panel" and uninstall the following applications in this specific order:
- itunes
- Apple Software Update
- Apple Mobile Device Support
- Hello
- Apple Application Support 32-bit
- Apple Application Support 64-bit
Note: Do not uninstall these components in a different order. Likewise, do not choose to uninstall only some of these components, as this will affect how iTunes works on your computer.
If, after the above steps, you still cannot install iTunes and you receive the error “Apple application media was not found”, there may be residue from files left behind. Follow the next steps to locate and remove Apple app support.
- Open the "Program Files" folder.
- You can press Windows and R keys to open the "Run" window. Then enter "% programfiles%".
- The Program Files folder will be opened. If you see any of the following folders: iTunes, Bonjour, or iPod, delete them.
- Open the “Common Files” → “Apple folder” folder, and delete the following folders if they exist: Mobile Device Support, Apple Application Support, and CoreFP.
Then you can empty your computer's recycle bin. If you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, continue with the following steps.
- Open the “Program Files (x86)” folder and delete the following folders: iTunes, Bonjour, iPod.
- Open the “Common Files” → “Apple folder” and delete the following folders then empty the recycle bin: Mobile Device Support, Apple Application Support, CoreFP.
Step 6. Disable Conflicting Software
Some background processes can cause issues by preventing apps like iTunes from installing. If you have installed security software and are having problems installing iTunes on Windows, you will need to disable or uninstall the security software to resolve the issues.
Step 7. Restart the computer
After Windows restarts, try installing iTunes again.
Solution 3. Resolve "Apple application support was not found" error (Proven)
Method 1:
Some users reported that the steps recommended by Apple did not allow them to repair iTunes and resolve the "Apple application support was not found" error. However they managed to fix the problem by following the following steps:
Step 1. Make a copy of the installation file
Download and save a copy of the iTunesSetup.exe installation file to your hard drive from the following site: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
Step 2. Perform the extraction
With WinRAR installed on your PC, right-click on iTunesSetup.exe, then select the “Extract to iTunesSetup” option. WinRAR will extract the contents of the file to a folder named "iTunesSetup".
Step 3. Do a stand-alone installation
Go to the folder and double click on "AppleApplicationSupport.msi" to perform a standalone AAS installation.
Method 2:
There is also another trick to resolve the "Apple application support was not found" error that may work for some users.
Step 1. Download iTunes
Download the iTunes installer (iTunesSetup.exe or iTunesSetup64.exe) from the Apple website.
Step 2. Prepare for repair
Unzip the iTunesSetup.exe file with WinRAR and open the iTunesSetup folder. Double-click on the “AppleApplicationSupport.msi” or “AppleApplicationSupport64.msi” file.
Step 3. Fix the problem
Click on “Repair”.
Solution 4. iTunes Alternative: Transfer Photos from PC to iPhone without iTunes
If you still cannot install iTunes but need to transfer data between your iPhone and PC or from your iPhone to another iPhone / iPad / iPod, then you can use FonePaw DoTrans (opens new window) .
- FonePaw DoTrans can transfer data directly from iPhone to PC or from PC to iPhone without syncing. Usually, iPhone users need to be careful during the transfer process, as there may be some pictures existing on their iPhone getting erased. FonePaw DoTrans can directly transfer your data between your iPhone and PC without erasing the contents of your iPhone.
- FonePaw DoTrans allows you to transfer your files between multiple Apple devices. For example, you can transfer files from your old iPhone to your new iPhone XS / XS Max.
- Apart from data transfer, FonePaw DoTrans also offers three other built-in tools: ringtone maker, HEIC converter, and duplicate contact removal.
We will show you how you can transfer data between iPhone and PC with DoTrans in the following example.
Transfer photos from your PC to your iPhone without iTunes
Step 1. Download and launch DoTrans
Download and run the program on your computer. Then connect your iPhone to the computer using the USB cable that came with your iPhone. After that, you will be able to see your device in the main pop-up window.
Step 2. Select files to transfer
Go to Photos, Music, Videos, Contacts and Messages in the left column and select the files you want to transfer. Then click “Import” to select the files you want to transfer to iPhone.
Step 3. Complete the transfer
Please do not unplug your iPhone until the transfer is complete. You can see the percentage of the transfer process in the progress bar.
Solution 5. iTunes Alternative: Restore or Update iPhone without iTunes
Sometimes you have to use iTunes to restore your iPhone or iPad when you want to fix some problem. Since iTunes cannot be used on your computer due to "Apple application support was not found" error, you can use FonePaw - iOS System Restore (opens new window) to resolve system issues of your iOS devices.
Following scenarios can be fixed with this smart iOS system recovery tool: iPhone stuck on black / blue / red screen (opens new window) , device stuck in recovery mode (opens new window) , DFU mode (opens new window) , etc. Thanks to FonePaw - iOS System Restore, you can update your iPhone or restore it to its original state without going through iTunes.