Short answer: No, not officially. Apple’s installer will specifically block it.
Long answer: Yes, via hacky workarounds (Retroactive app). But here is why you should NOT do it.
The existence of "iTunes 1.1.7" on macOS Big Sur is a testament to the complexity of software deprecation. While the brand "iTunes" remains attached to the App Store wrapper application, the software itself has fundamentally changed. For the user searching for the classic media management experience on Big Sur, the answer lies not in iTunes 1.1.7, but in the Apple Music app for media and Finder for device management.
The versioning 1.1.7 represents the final state of the "store-only" iTunes concept before further integration into the macOS ecosystem. Understanding this distinction is vital for IT administrators and users attempting to manage media libraries or legacy devices on modern macOS architectures.
It looks like there’s a bit of a mix-up with the versions! iTunes actually doesn't exist on macOS Big Sur (11.7).
Apple retired the iTunes app starting with macOS Catalina (10.15) and replaced it with three separate apps: Apple Music Apple Podcasts
. If you're looking to manage your iPhone or iPad, that now happens directly in
Since I can't review a version of iTunes that doesn't run on that OS, could you clarify what you're looking for? Are you interested in: A review of the Apple Music app on Big Sur 11.7? A review of macOS Big Sur 11.7 sync your devices now that iTunes is gone?
Let me know which one you're after, and I'll be happy to help!
Can I download iTunes on macOS Big Sur? - Apple Support Community
Official support for iTunes ended with the release of macOS Catalina (10.15), meaning iTunes is not natively compatible with macOS Big Sur 11.7. On Big Sur, the functionality previously found in iTunes has been split into several dedicated applications: itunes macos big sur 117
Music: Manages your local music library, playlists, and provides access to the iTunes Store and Apple Music streaming.
TV: Replaces the movie and TV show management portion of iTunes.
Podcasts: Dedicated to browsing and listening to podcast episodes.
Finder: Used for syncing, backing up, or restoring your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Using Your Old iTunes Library
If you are moving from an older version of macOS to Big Sur 11.7, your existing iTunes media will automatically transition to these new apps. To switch between or find specific libraries: Quit the Music app. Hold the Option key while reopening Music.
Click Choose Library to select your old iTunes library file. Workarounds for Installing iTunes How to Install iTunes on macOS
The Great "iTunes" Hunt: Life on macOS Big Sur 11.7 If you’ve recently updated to or are still running macOS Big Sur 11.7
, you might have noticed a glaring omission in your Applications folder: iTunes is gone
While it feels like losing an old friend, Apple didn't just delete it—they "subsumed" it into a new family of apps. If you're looking for that familiar icon, here is where those features live now and how to get them back. Where Did Everything Go?
Starting with macOS Catalina and continuing through Big Sur 11.7, the "all-in-one" iTunes was split into four dedicated apps: : Your entire song library, playlists, and the iTunes Store : All your movies, TV shows, and video rentals. : Your subscribed shows and new episodes. : Audiobooks and PDFs. How to Sync Your iPhone/iPad Short answer: No, not officially
The most common "Where is iTunes?" panic happens when you plug in your phone. Since iTunes no longer exists to manage devices, has taken over this job.
Can I download iTunes on 11.4 Big Sur? - Apple Support Community
With the macOS loaded, you already have the iTunes app loaded. iTunes was broken into several apps a few generations of macOS ago. Apple Support Community How do I install iTunes on my Mac OS BiG Sur 11.5.2
macOS Big Sur 11.7 , the standalone app is no longer a built-in feature. Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple transitioned its core media and device management features into four dedicated areas: Apple Support Community Apple Music App
: Handles your entire music library, including personal files, purchases, and streaming through the Apple Music Apple TV App
: The central hub for all movies and TV shows, including your iTunes purchases and Apple TV+ content. Apple Podcasts App : Manages your podcast subscriptions and listening history. : Used for device management
. When you connect an iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your Mac, it appears in the Finder sidebar for syncing, backing up, and restoring. Apple Support Community How to use "iTunes" Features on Big Sur 11.7 New Location Music & CDs Syncing Devices Open a window in and select your device from the sidebar iTunes Store Found within the sidebar of the Music and TV apps Located under the "General" tab in the Finder device menu Unofficial Workarounds
If you specifically need the old iTunes interface (e.g., for legacy app management or a preferred UI), third-party developers have created tools like Retroactive
, which can install older versions of iTunes on macOS Big Sur. Note that these are not officially supported by Apple and may require disabling certain system security features. using Finder? How to Install iTunes on macOS
iTunes is not natively available or supported on macOS Big Sur (version 11.7). Starting with macOS Catalina (10.15) in 2019, Apple discontinued the monolithic iTunes app and replaced it with dedicated applications. 🛠️ Where iTunes Went in macOS 11.7 But here is why you should NOT do it
Your media and device management tasks are now split across several built-in apps:
Music: Manages your music library, playlists, and the Apple Music streaming service.
Apple TV: Houses all your movies, TV shows, and video purchases. Apple Podcasts: Used for discovering and playing podcasts.
Finder: Used to sync, back up, or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. 📂 How to Manage Devices and Media
To Sync Devices: Connect your device to your Mac and open a Finder window. Your device will appear in the sidebar under "Locations".
To Find Old Purchases: Open the Apple Music or Apple TV app. Your existing library will automatically migrate to these apps upon upgrading.
Device Backups: You now perform local backups and software restores through the General tab in the device's Finder menu. ⚠️ Unofficial Workarounds
If you strictly require the original iTunes interface (e.g., for specific legacy workflows or DJ software compatibility), some users use third-party tools:
Retroactive: A popular open-source utility that allows you to install iTunes on newer macOS versions like Big Sur.
Virtual Machines: Running an older macOS version (like Mojave) in software such as Parallels or VMware to access a native iTunes environment. 🔒 macOS 11.7 Security Update Note macOS Big Sur - App Store - Apple
In iTunes, ringtones were in "Tones." In Big Sur 11.7: