Now, You might be wondering in the back of your head as you read this, why can’t you just download the software and install iTunes on Chromebook like what you would do on any other Laptop and PC?

Well, This ain’t Windows, Honeybun!

Chrome OS is made of sterner stuff, but don’t fret, because we have found a way to bypass that problem by using a Linux Container, Wine, to mimic the Windows ecosystem, so we can run the Apps just fine.

So without further ado, Let’s get on to installing Itunes in your Chromebook with simple and easy steps.

To install iTunes on your Chromebook, first, you need to install Wine. Here’s how you can do that:

How to Install Wine on Chromebook?

1. Fire up the Linux Terminal. 

2. Start with updating your system. To do that, type in: 

<code> sudo apt-get update </code>

The system will ask for your root password input it and hit enter. The system should start updating.

3. After the update is finished, type in:

 <code> sudo apt-get install wine </code>

NOTE: Linux terminal is case-sensitive so, make sure to input all commands in lowercase otherwise you can run into errors

Now you are done with the installation of Wine. Let’s get into how you can install iTunes on Chromebook.

P.S.- If you are wondering what “sudo” “apt-get” means well here’s a quick explanation:

Sudo or Superuser-do command is used to run a command or software with root privileges or in Layman, we can say, highest privileges of the system.

Apt or Advanced Packaging Tool is the Linux package manager which maintains and updates your Linux system and application files.

Apt-Get is the inbuilt Linux tool that we are using to communicate with the APT package manager and install the wine application.

Install Itunes On Chromebook

1. Firstly, make sure you have enabled  Linux and then set up the Wine Application on your Chromebook. This will help you with the installation process.

2. Go to your Browser and download iTunes for Chromebook. Don’t forget, the 64-bit version gets a little cranky for your Chromebook, with it going haywire and displaying a blank window from time to time. So save yourself from some trouble, and download that specific 32-bit version of iTunes.

3. Next, go easy on renaming the file, like “itunes.exe”, so it’s easier to find, then move it to the Linux Section.

4. Now, open up the Terminal and execute the below command to change the Wine architecture to 32-bit from the 64 bit. Remember to change your username to the actual username assigned to your Chromebook. When the  Wine window opens up,  click on the “Ok” button.

WINEARCH=win32 WINEPREFIX=/home/yourusername/.wine32 winecfg

5. When you are done with that, run the below command to install the 32-bit version of iTunes on Chromebook. Again, make sure to change your username. . Click  “Next” on the Installation window and proceed with the setup.

WINEARCH=win32 WINEPREFIX=/home/yourusername/.wine32/ wine itunes.exe 

6. After installation, click on “Finish” and voila, there you have it,  iTunes successfully running on your Chromebook.

 Way to go, Boy!

Trivia: Did you know you can actually install and run Windows games on Chrome OS with Wine!

Shortcut for iTunes on Chrome OS

Although you have successfully installed iTunes on Chromebook and a shortcut is already present in the App Drawer, the shortcut does not open iTunes due to an incorrect file path. So, follow these steps carefully if you want to fix this issue.

1. Open up the native File Explorer and move over to the Linux section. Click on the menu and enable “Show Hidden Files”

2. Now, follow this path through the menu-  .local -> share -> applications -> wine -> Program Files -> iTunes. Here, you will find iTunes.desktop file which is the shortcut that we need to edit. So, right-click on it and select “Open With”. Once you are in, choose the Text app to open the file.

3. Having done that, copy what is below and paste it just after Exec=. Don’t forget, again, to change your username to the actual one.

env WINEPREFIX=”/home/yourusername/.wine32″ wine “/home/yourusername/.wine32/drive_c/Program Files/iTunes/iTunes.exe”

4. As the final step of this series of shortcut-making, save the file and close the Text app. 

Now, open iTunes from the App Drawer and this time, it should launch perfectly fine. 

Pin it on the Chrome Shelf as well, and you are good to go.

You can finally pat yourself on the back on doing a good job if you have followed these steps to the dot!

Hope you have found this useful to implement and enjoyable to read. Read the rest of the articles, Here