Windows previews of Apple’s TV and Music apps are now available to download from the Microsoft Store, plus a preview of a new syncing app dubbed Apple Devices.
- What’s happening? Apple’s TV and Music apps launched in preview on the Microsoft Store. A third preview of a new app for syncing is also available.
- Why care? Native apps will provide a much better experience for Windows users than the old iTunes app and the web interface for Apple TV+ ever could.
- What to do? Back up your Windows PC before installing the previews.
Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Devices previews now available on the Microsoft Store
In October 2022, the software giant Microsoft announced that the first Windows 11 versions of Apple’s Music and TV apps would be released sometime in 2023.
On January 12, 2023, The Verifier spotted previews of the Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Devices apps on the Microsoft Store. The apps were designed to provide a seamless experience to Windows users invested in the Apple ecosystem.
How to download Music, TV and Devices previews
You can download the apps using the following Microsoft Store download links:
- Download Apple Music Preview for Windows from the Microsoft Store
- Download Apple TV Preview for Windows from the Microsoft Store
- Download Apple Devices Preview for Windows from the Microsoft Store
Installing any of the previews requires Windows 11 version 22621.0 or higher.
Should I use Music, TV and Devices Windows previews?
The Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Devices apps are currently available as previews. As a rule of thumb, you should avoid installing any prerelease software on the computer you use every day. I would strongly recommend that you back up your Windows PC before you’re able to install these previews.
Installing the previews will break iTunes, which Windows users currently depend on for synchronizing their iPhone, iPad and iPod devices.
Once the Apple Music Preview is installed on your computer, Apple notes, “iTunes will no longer open and audiobooks or podcasts on this device will be inaccessible until a compatible version of iTunes is available.”
The Cupertino company notes in the apps’ Microsoft Store descriptions that not all features may work as expected. If you experience problems preventing you from streaming music or TV shows from Apple or syncing your devices, you can reinstate iTunes functionality anytime by uninstalling the previews.
Apple TV Preview: Native is much better than a web player
With the Apple TV app, Windows users no longer need to visit tv.apple.com in their browser to stream shows. The Apple TV Preview looks quite similar to the Mac version except that the tabs at the top are replaced with a sidebar.
The Apple TV Preview includes the ability to stream shows and movies on Apple TV+ and subscribe to third-party channels such as Paramount+, AMC+, Showtime and Starz with subscription sharing available with Apple’s Family Sharing feature.
You can also buy or rent videos via an embedded iTunes Store, access your Watch Now queue, browse the Library section with your purchased shows and films and access a dedicated Kids space with editorially handpicked shows and movies for kids of all ages. Read: How to monitor text messages on your child’s iPhone
Apple Music Preview: Just like its macOS counterpart
The Apple Music Preview replaces the outdated iTunes for Windows software. Installing will also import your settings and music from iTunes. The app is similar to its macOS counterpart and lets you browse and buy music from the iTunes Store.
Apple Devices Preview: Sync your iPhones, iPads and iPods
Because iTunes provided syncing features for Apple devices, Apple has also created a dedicated syncing software for Windows, aptly christened Apple Devices.
With it, you can sync not only your iPhones, iPads and iPods like in iTunes for Windows or the Finder on macOS but also back up, update or restore your device as well as sync music, movies and TV shows from a Windows PC to your Apple device.