Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7, rollback, revert

Revert iTunes 10 Rollback itunes 11 downgrade

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Downgrade from iTunes 11?  I know, iTunes 11 has been out for a while and Apple even has an iTunes 12.

Most people seem to think those are great. You and I are different. We hated iTunes 11 and we have our reasons. We’ve read negative reviews about the iTunes 12 versions.

For people like us it is not really a downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7. It is really a rollback or a revert to iTunes 10.7.

My Story: Revert to iTunes 10.7

I was forced to update my stable OSX Mountain Lion to Mavericks because of a new Nikon D810 camera and Adobe CC 2015 software. Yes, I could have gone with Yosemite or even El Captain. However, Mavericks was the minimum needed and I wanted to test the waters.

Among other things, I was dreading the update to Mavericks because it automatically updates iTunes to 11. Fact is, anytime you install a major release of OSX— Like from Mountain Lion to Mavericks to Yosemite, etc..—you will get an updated iTunes.

My wife’s computer has the newest iTunes. We use it with our modern iOS devices etc.. On my computer, I prefer using iTunes 10.7 for my 3 terabyte music collection.

Don’t rollback to iTunes 10.7 the old way

The old revert methods developed for Mountain Lion will work. But, those old methods will break the Mac App Store’s (MAS) functionality. The MAS is Apple’s delivery mechanism for all its applications, system software and security updates.

A full install of iTunes 10.7 in Mavericks breaks Apple’s software update system because, with Mavericks, Apple made sure iTunes 11 and MAS share the use of several important frameworks and libraries.

Note: the loss of MAS functionality after using old methods for reverting to iTunes 10.7 will typically manifest itself after the first post-install reboot.

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

It took some research and some trial and error to piece this article together. I’m posting it here for reference.  I call it the Dot-Method.

This guide worked for me on Mavericks. Your mileage may vary. Follow this guide and experiment at your own risk.

The Dot-Method is slightly different on Yosemite.  That guide is coming.

The Dot-Method provides:

  • A working iTunes 10.7.
  • Normal update notices and working installs.
  • No error -42408.

You can:

  • Sync pre iSO 7 devices.
  • Sign in to the App store via iTunes.
  • Download apps in iTunes.
  • Sign in via App Store.app and get downloads, etc.

When to revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

The best time to revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7 is right after installing a new OSX and BEFORE you open the new iTunes.

Again, don’t open iTunes after installing a new OSX!  If you do, it’ll update your iTunes library files.  If your iTunes library gets updated for iTunes 11, you will need to restore your old ones from a backup after you revert to iTunes 10.7.

This guide assumes you will need to restore to your old iTunes library. In doing so you will need to redo any imports you made with iTunes 11, etc…

Things you need

  1. A backup of the iTunes 10.7 library or better yet a clone of your entire hard drive.
    • The default location for the iTunes Library.itl file is here: Your HD > Your User > Music  > iTunes.
    • If you moved it and can’t remember where it is:
      1. Go to finder, press: Command + Shift + G.
      2. In the dialog box paste: ~/Music/iTunes.
    • Some of you may have “iTunes Library” without the .itl extension.
  2. A copy of iTunes 10.7 (download directly from Apple).
  3. A copy of iTunes 11 (download directly from Apple).
  4. Pacifist 3.0.10 (use this specific version).
  5. Your user account password.
  6. Your Apple I.D. login info (for testing purposes).
  7. Know how to “Right Click” your trackpad or touch mouse.

Steps to rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Step 1: Prepare your Computer

  1. Disconnect all devices (iPods, iPhones, iPads, etc.….).
  2. Install the new release of OS X Mavericks if you have not already done so.
  3. Not necessary (but I did it): Clean your system using CleanMyMac or similar.
    1. Run maintenance.
    2. Deep clean the caches.
    3. Go into disk utility and verify/repair disk permissions.
    4. verify/repair disk, etc…

Step 2: Rename iTunes 11 with a dot

  1. Rename the newly installed iTunes 11 from iTunes.app to .iTunes.app.

Notice the period at the front? That makes the app invisible in the Finder, and prevents it from showing up in Spotlight searches.

The goal is to prevent you from accidentally launching iTunes 11. Once launched, iTunes 11 will permanently convert your library indexes and playlists to the version 11 format. The version 11 formats are unusable by iTunes 10.

If you ever decide to use iTunes 11 you simply remove the period.

Here is how to rename it:

  1. Enable root user.
    1. Go to System preferences > users and groups.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click the lock to make changes (if locked).

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Enter password if prompted.
    2. Click Login Options.
    3. Click Join…

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click Open Directory Utility.

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click the lock to make changes (if locked).
    2. Enter password if prompted.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click the edit menu > Click Enable Root User.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Enter admin password/verify the admin password.
    2. Close all windows.
  1. Logout (you will now see another user to login as).
  2. login as the “Other User.”
    1. Enter “root” as name.
    2. Enter admin password.
    3. If asked, Do not sin in with Apple ID.  Click the Do not sign in Radial and continue.  Yes, you want to skip.
  3. Open terminal.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Copy/Paste the following line into Terminal:  mv /Applications/iTunes.app /Applications/.iTunes.app
    2. Hit return.
    3. Go to Applications folder.  Check to see if the iTunes.app disappeared or turned into a hidden file. If not, you did not copy/paste the correct line or you typed it wrong.
    4. Close all windows.
  1. Logout and login as yourself.
  2. Disable root user.
    1. Go to System preferences > users and groups.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click the lock to make changes (if locked).

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Enter password if prompted.
    2. Click Login Options.
    3. Click Join…

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click open Directory Utility.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click the lock to make changes (if locked).
    2. Enter password if prompted.

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Click the Edit menu > Click Disable Root User.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Lock and close all system preference windows.
    2. You are done renaming….
  1. Close all open apps and finder windows.

Step 3: Use Pacifist 3.0.10

  1. Install Pacifist (version 3.0.10) in your Applications folder. Newer versions will not work.
    1. Double click the Pacifist_3.0.10.dmg file.
    2. Drag/drop app to the Applications folder.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Open the Pacifist (version 3.0.10) app.
  2. If asked, do not allow Pacifist to check for auto updates AND do not install the plug-in.

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Drag/drop the iTunes 10.7.dmg file onto the main Pacifist window.

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Click the “Not Authorized” lock icon. Enter your user/admin password.

Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Type iTunes.app in the search field and hit return.

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Find the iTunes.app location and highlight, click extract to…

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Choose Applications for the location, etc…

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Check box “Use Administration Privileges” if asked and click Extract.
  2. Enter admin password if prompted.

Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. For all dialogs that pop up telling you a file already exist, check “Don’t ask again…” and click the “Replace” button.

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. When the install is complete.
    1. File > Close.

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Pacifist > Quit Pacifist.

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Step 4: Rename the 10.7 iTunes.app

Renaming the app makes it invisible to permissions repair. If you don’t change the name Disk Utility will assume the app is version 12. If you repair permissions, Disk Utility will mess up the permissions of iTunes 10.7 and it will not start.

If repair permissions ever messes it up, repeat Step 3 and Step 4.

  1. Open the Terminal
  2. Copy/Paste the following line into Terminal: sudo mv /Applications/iTunes.app /Applications/iTunes10.app
  3. Press return on the keyboard.
  4. If prompted, enter you Mac Password in Terminal. The curser will not move or show what is typed. Press return.
  5. Close Terminal

Step 5:  All about the coreFP.framework

  1. Use pacifist to extract coreFP.framework from 10.7 and 11.
    1. Make a folder for each one on the desktop. You will use the folders in the next step.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Use the Pacifist extraction method from previous instructions to search for and extract the CoreFP.framework from the iTunes10.7.dmg and from the iTunes11.x.dmg files.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Tip: close Pacifist windows, quit the application and re-launch after each extraction.

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Go to the “PrivateFrameworks” folder:  Your Hard Drive > System > Library > PrivateFrameworks.

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Delete CoreFP.framework.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Drag/drop or copy/paste the iTunes 11 CoreFP.framework into the “PrivateFramworks” folder. (the one you previously extracted with Pacifist).

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Once in the “PrivateFrameworks” folder, re-named it by simply adding a ‘2’ to the end of the file name (i.e. CoreFP.framework2). This turns the file into a folder.

      Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

      Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

      Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Drag/drop or copy/paste the iTunes 10 CoreFP.framework into the “PrivateFramworks” folder. (the one you previously extracted with Pacifist).

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Step 6: Replace the iTunes Library

  1. Replace the iTunes Library.
    1. Open your iTunes Music Folder.
    2. The default location is here: Your HD > Your User > Music  > iTunes.
    3. If you moved it and can’t remember where it is:
      1. Go to finder, press: Command + Shift + G.
      2. In the dialog box paste: ~/Music/iTunes.
    4. Find your iTunes Library file. It may or may not have the .itl extension.
      1. Delete “iTunes Library” file.
    5. Copy/paste your “iTunes Library.itl” from your pre-iTunes-11 backup.

Step 7: Restart

  1. Restart your computer.

Step 8: Test iTunes10.app

  1. Disable HandsOff or Little Snitch if you use them.  Why?  You might have inadvertently blocked a MAS function.
  2. Launch and test itunes10.app.
  3. Once open, immediately go to iTunes Preferences and uncheck Automatic Updates.
  4. If your music library is empty, don’t worry.
    1. Quit iTunes10.
    2. Go back to your iTunes folder.
    3. Add (or delete the) .itl extension on the iTunes Library file (depending on whether yours has the extension or not).
    4. Launch iTunes 10.7 again and your music should be back.
  5. Connect a pre iOS 7 iPod, etc…
    1. It should get recognized and be able to sync.
  6. Access iTunes store.
    1. Sign in, download an app or not. Works great.

Step 9: Test App Store.app

  1. Test MAS (App Store.app).
    1. Disable HandsOff and Little Snitch if you have them.
      1. Why? You might have inadvertently blocked a MAS function.
    2. Search “app store” in spotlight.
    3. Click on App Store to launch it.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Took under a minute for the “features” page to load.
    2. You will be able to sign in.
    3. You will be able to update and download.

Issues when downgrading from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

I ran the Dot-Method on two computers with success.  However, one system developed problems with downloads from the stand alone App Store.app (MAS).

The exact trigger event that caused the issues is unknown. It happened after I tested a different method using AppZapper and/or I cleaned too deep with CleanMyMac.

  1. Error Example:
    1. El Captain failed to download.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. Directed me to try on the purchases page.
    2. Failed on purchase page too.

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Repeating the Dot-Method steps did not fix it.  And, everything still works fine on my other computer.

My conclusion is that a fresh install of the operating system would properly set me back to ground zero. I don’t have time to test it.

Not to worry.  It is easy to restore lost functionality of the App Store (MAS) and back again.

Restoring lost functionality

This is the pain you sometimes get for hacking Apple. It is not that bad though.

Option 1:

Use a second computer with a more recent version of iTunes. This enables you to handle the newest iOS devices and downloads like El Captain. Use a flash drive to transfer over the new install apps like Yosemite or El Captain to your computer running iTunes 10.7.

Option 2:

Create a virtual OSX with the newest iTunes to compensate for lost functionality.

Option 3:

This is the one I use. Since iTunes 10.7 CoreFP.framework causes the problem with the MAS, just replace it with an iTunes 11 CoreFP.framework. Then, restart the computer and use MAS. When finished add the iTunes 10.7 CoreFP.framwork back.

Important: Prepare two folders:

  1. Folder 1 contains a copy of the iTunes 10.7 CoreFP.framework.
  2. Folder 2 contains a copy of the iTunes 11.x CoreFP.framework.

(If needed, use Pacifist to extract the CoreFP.framework from each .dmg file).

Steps to restore MAS functionality:

  1. Go to: HD > System > Library > PrivateFrameworks.

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Delete CoreFP.framework and CorFP.framework2.

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Click Authenticate to allow action.

Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Enter admin password if prompted.

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Drag/Drop iTunes 11 CoreFP.framework from your “folder 2” to PrivateFrameworks.

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Drag/Drop CoreFP.framework from PrivateFrameworks back to folder 2.

Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

(It will copy it, leaving the original in the PrivateFrameworks folder. Now you’ll have a copy for the next time you need MAS).

  1. Restart your computer.

Now that you have MAS functioning properly it is time to get your El Captain or what ever it was that gave you the purchase error.

  1. Disable HandsOff and Little Snitch if you use those.
    1. Why? You might have inadvertently blocked a MAS function.
  2. Open App Store.
  3. Go to Purchase tab.
  4. Click Download.

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Go to Launchpad, the OS icon should be there.
  2. Press and hold option key.
  3. The X symbol appears on the upper left of the icon.
  4. Press the X and accept the delete.

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Close and Restart app store and start the download from the beginning.

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. When download is complete (Yosemite for example) you can continue to install or close it like i did.

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. I make a copy of the Install OS X Yosemite.app and keep in a safe place for later.

Steps to restore the iTunes 10.7 hack

  1. Go to: HD > System > Library > PrivateFrameworks.
  2. Select CoreFP.framework in PrivateFrameworks.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. hit return on keyboard to edit name.
    2. add a 2 at the very end and hit return.

    Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

    1. It changes to a folder.

    Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Drag/Drop CoreFP.framework from “folder 1” to PrivateFrameworks.

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Rollback from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Drag/Drop CoreFP.framework from PrivateFrameworks back to “folder 1” (It will copy it. Now you have it for net time you need MAS).

Revert from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7

  1. Restart.
  2. Don’t forget to enable HandsOff or Little Snitch if you use those.

Disable Automatic Updates from App Store.  Go to  System Preferences > App Store and un-tick all check boxes.  This will stop Apple from trying sneak in a fresh new iTunes.app to replace the .iTunes.app that is hidden.

Let Apple know why you rolled back to iTunes 10.7. Go to the Apple iTunes Feedback Page and leave feedback.

2 thoughts on “Downgrade from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7, rollback, revert

  1. Chris,

    Thanks for posting this detailed article. I have done something similar on El Capitan. I have found a few simplifications to work around SIP (System Integrity Protection) that was introduced in El Capitan, but the general idea is the same.

    Have you tried your downgrade procedure with Mojave? I don’t have a machine with Mojave where I can try this. It would be nice to test this out before taking the plunge.

    Thanks,

    Martin

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