3 Reasons Why You Can’t Download iTunes On Your MacBook Air
Have you ever tried downloading iTunes on your MacBook Air only for it to fail? Frustrating, right? This is a common issue that affects most MacBook Air owners.
Why Can’t I Download iTunes On My MacBook Air?
You won’t be able to download iTunes on your MacBook Air if your device is operating on an outdated version of macOS that’s incompatible with the latest versions of iTunes. Another issue could be that there’s not enough space on your MacBook Air to install iTunes or internet connectivity issues.
I previously owned a MacBook Air (M1 2020). From a personal experience, I realized that there were times when I couldn’t download iTunes on the device. So, I set out to research how to solve this issue. I scourged through various internet forums for MacBook Air users and contacted Apple Support to get to the bottom of this.
Why You Can’t Download iTunes On Your MacBook Air
There could be a few reasons why you can’t download your favorite music or movies on your MacBook Air. Let’s dig deeper.
Internet connectivity issues
Before going deeper and getting worried over the issue, the first step should be to check your internet connectivity.
If you have weak or unstable internet connectivity, chances are you won’t be able to purchase any Apple product on your MacBook Air.
This is because an unstable or weak internet connection will slow speed and interrupt the download or purchase process.
Again, other issues such as outdated DNS cache can interrupt connectivity and the download speeds, making it impossible to download iTunes on your MacBook Air.
How to troubleshoot your internet connectivity issues
There’s no doubt that having stable internet connectivity is of great importance if you want to download iTunes on your MacBook Air. Besides, having unstable internet connectivity is quite frustrating.
With that in mind, it’s important to ensure that the internet allows you to access the iTunes store or the music app.
If you’re using Wi-Fi, you can restart your Wi-Fi router by turning it off, waiting for a few seconds, and then turning it back on.
You can also clear your caches and cookies on your web browser’s settings. This can prevent you from accessing Apple’s website or even syncing your iPhone, iPad, and other Apple gadgets with your computer.
Firewalls and antivirus software can also affect your internet and prevent you from accessing Open iTunes on your MacBook Air.
You can temporarily disable firewalls and antivirus software and see if you are able to download iTunes on your MacBook Air.
You can as well try a different internet connection if you can’t download iTunes on your MacBook using your normal internet connection.
Compatibility issues
As you probably know, Apple is so strict when it comes to compatibility and the use of its operating system. This means that you’re unlikely to download iTunes on your MacBook Air if you’re using an outdated version of macOS.
In most cases, old versions of macOS aren’t compatible with the latest versions of iTunes.
That being said, iTunes will not run or even launch if you’re using an outdated version of macOS to download the latest versions of iTunes.
I did try this once just to test what could happen and I experienced unexpected crashes and freezes.
Using an outdated version of macOS is also likely to prevent you from accessing the iTunes store or new features in Apple music.
What versions of macOS are compatible with iTunes?
To make it a lot easier for you and to see whether or not you can download iTunes on your MacBook Air, below is a table that summarizes different versions of macOS and their compatibility with iTunes.
| macOS Version | iTunes Compatibility | iTunes Versions |
| OS X El Capitan (10.11) | Fully supported | Compatible with iTunes 12.3 versions of later |
| OS X Yosemite (10.10) | Fully supported | Compatible with iTunes 12.2 or later |
| macOS Mojave (10.14) | Limited features | Compatible with iTunes 12.7 |
| macOS High Sierra (10.13) | Fully supported | Compatible with iTunes 12.3 or later |
| macOS Monterey (10.15) | Not fully supported | Compatible with iTunes 12.9 or later |
| OS X Mavericks (10.9) | Fully supported | Compatibles with iTunes 11.1.5 or later |
| macOS Monterey (11.3) | Fully supported | Compatible with iTunes 12.11 or later |
| macOS Catalina (10.15) | Replaced by Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, and Apple TV apps | Compatible with iTunes 12.8 or later |
It’s vital to also keep in mind that iTunes is no longer updated after it was replaced by Apple Music. Each content is now organized into a specific library where you can subscribe specifically to what you want.
How to troubleshoot compatibility issue
As far as compatibility issue is concerned, you have no choice but to ensure that your MacBook Air model is compatible with the latest iTunes version.
More importantly, you have to update your MacBook operating system. In other words, make sure that your MacBook Air is operating on the latest version of macOS and that it’s compatible with the latest version of iTunes
Issues with storage space on your MacBook Air
You may also be unable to download iTunes on your MacBook Air if your laptop doesn’t have enough storage space.
Keep in mind that the space required on your MacBook Air to download iTunes depends on the iTunes that you want to download.
You can check if your MacBook Air has enough storage space for downloading iTunes by doing the following:
- Click the Apple logo on the menu bar
- Select “About this Mac”
- Click on the “Storage” tab
A graph displaying the amount of storage being used and the amount of storage available will appear on your screen.
How to troubleshoot storage space issue
You can choose to use other storage services to free up space on your Mac.
The table below shows the recommended storage space that you should have on your MacBook Air before attempting to download iTunes.
| MacBook Air Model | Storage Capacity | Recommended Storage Space for Apple Music |
| MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013 – Early 2014) | 128 GB | 4 GB |
| MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018-2019) | 128 GB | 4 GB |
| MacBook Air (M1 2020) | 256 GB | 4 GB |
| MacBook Air M1 with M1 Max (2021) | 256 GB | 4 GB |
Key Takeaways
- Your MacBook Air won’t download iTunes if it doesn’t have enough space.
- An unstable internet connection could also be an issue.
- An outdated version of macOS won’t download the latest versions of iTunes.
- You can contact Apple Support if you still can’t download iTunes on your MacBook Air.
