Easy! How to Download iTunes on Chromebook to Use

Can You Install iTunes on Chromebook?

Chromebooks have gained popularity due to their affordability, simplicity, and integration with Google's ecosystem. However, users often face challenges when trying to use software designed for other operating systems, such as iTunes. Then, here comes the question: Can you download and install iTunes on  Chromebook?

The answer is, of course, Yes! Even though there is no version of iTunes available for ChromeOS, you can still install the Windows version in Chromebook's Linux environment.

While before going through the instructions, you should be awared the limitations when you use iTunes on Chromebook:
🙁 Even if you can download and install iTunes on Chromebook, you cannot use it to sync your iPhone or iPad with your Chromebook.
🙁 The latest Windows version of iTunes may fail to work properly on Chromebook, but the 32-bit version of iTunes 12 works on most Chromebooks.

In this detailed guide, we'll explore the step-by-step guide on how to download iTunes on a Chromebook. Besides, we also offer an iTunes alternative, enabling you to backup and transfer iOS data on Chromebook.

How to Download iTunes on Chromebook (Step-by-Step)

Downloading and installing iTunes on your Chromebook only takes a few minutes. Now, let's go through how to install iTunes on Chromebook.

Step 1. Enable Linux on Chromebook:
• Click the time in the bottom-right corner of your screen, and click Settings (the gear icon). Go to Advanced, and from the drop down choices, choose Developers.

• From the next window, click Turn on next to Linux development environment. Then, simply follow the onscreen instructions to finish the setup process.
💡 Please take note of your Linux username, which will be used later. 

Step 2. Install iTunes via Wine:
• After setting up Linux, a terminal window with a command prompt will open, type sudo apt-get update and press the Enter key to run the command to update all system packages.

• Type sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 and press Enter to enable 32-bit architecture.

• Type sudo apt update and press Enter to update your package libraries.

• Type sudo mkdir -pm755 /etc/apt/keyrings, then press Enter, and type sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key and press Enter to download and add the Wine repository key.

• Type sudo wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian/dists/bullseye/winehq-bullseye.sources, then press Enter, and type sudo apt update once installed to update your package information.

• Finally, type sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable wine32 fonts-wine libwine:i386 and press Enter to download and install Wine. 

Step 3. Download and install iTunes on Chromebook:
• Download the 32-bit version of iTunes for Windows from the official website of Apple. Please remember to choose the Linux files folder to save the downloads.

• Type or paste the following command, but before pressing Enter, replace username with your Linux username, and iTunesSetup.exe with the name of the iTunes file you downloaded earlier: WINEARCH=win32 WINEPREFIX=/home/username/.wine32/ wine iTunesSetup.exe

• Follow the onscreen instructions to finish the installation until you see Congratulations. As per your need, you can uncheck the checkmark from Open iTunes after the installer exists, and click Finish.

How to Backup/Sync iPhone on Chromebook via iTunes Alternative

It is complicated to download and install iTunes to Chromebook, isn't it? If you give up to use iTunes and look for other ways to manage your iOS data on Chromebook, why don't you try FoneTool, a professional iOS data management tool for iOS data backup, transfer, erase, etc.?

Try to download FoneTool by visiting the official website of FoneTool or simply clicking the icon below. If you fail,  try software like Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS to make sure FoneTool can be downloaded and running fine on your Chromebook.

Why do we say FonTool is an iTunes alternative? Let's see how convenient and fast FoneTool can backup and transfer iOS files.

👍 How to backup iPhone to Chromebook via FoneTool
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer with a compatible USB cable. You may need to tap Trust on iPhone.

Step 2. In the Home screen of FoneTool, click Phone Backup > Get to Selective Backup and click Get Started to begin. (You can also click Selective Backup to backup iPhone in an iTunes way)

Step 3. Make sure you have clicked each icon to select the files you want to backup to computer, then click OK.

Step 4. Choose a storage path as you like > Click Start Backup to make it.

👍 How to transfer iPhone data to Chromebook via FoneTool
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Chromebook with a stable USB cable. Your iPhone will be detected automatically. Then tap Trust This Computer on your iPhone.

Step 2. On the home screen, click Phone Transfer option. Go to iPhone to PC and click Start Transfer.

Step 3. Click the plus icon > Check the icons as per you want, we take Photos as an example > Preview and select the photos you want to transfer > Click OK to confirm.

Step 4. Select a destination from Transfer Settings to save the photos (Any local folders on computer, external hard drives, USB, etc. are allowed) > Click Start Transfer to start the process.

Download FoneTool to your Chromebook, and explore more functions to manage your iOS data seamlessly!

Conclusion

That's all for how to download iTunes on Chromebook. Indeed, it is kind of complicated. Besides, given the potential complexity and performance issues, using an alternative like FoneTool may be more practical. Hope you can effectively manage your iPhone data on your Chromebook.

FoneTool - All-in-one iPhone Data Manager

Transfer, backup and manage data on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch in an easy way.

• iOS 17 Compatible
• iPhone 15 Supported

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