iTunes CPU Redux: lessen iTunes Windows resource use

iTunes CPU Redux is a free software program for Microsoft Windows devices to tame the resource usage of Apple's iTunes software on Windows.

Apple's iTunes software is quite the heavyweight on Windows systems. The program installs a lot of services on the system, and may run a number of processes at the same time.

Some of these, for syncing data to Apple devices for instance, may not be needed on some systems. If you don't connect Apple devices to the Windows machine, there is no reason for these services to run in the background.

Tip: You can remove extra iTunes components that get installed during the installation of the software program. Note that you may remove only some and not all of the components as iTunes won't work anymore if you remove some of the components.

iTunes CPU Redux

The iTunes CPU Redux software is a small program that is compatible with Windows 7 and newer versions of the windows operating system. It supports iTunes 10 or higher, and requires the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.

It needs to be installed on the Windows computer before you may run it. The program displays all options under Settings in its interface.

Two of the three remaining tabs highlight other products by the company that created iTunes CPU Redux. These are not included and commercial programs.

The application monitors Windows processes to find out if specific Apple processes are running. It scans the process list for "distnoted", "Sync Server", and for "MobileDeviceHelper". If it finds those running, it will close them automatically.

These processes may run even if iTunes does not. Some may require that you run iTunes on the system though.

You may change the behavior for the last two processes by adding a rule that blocks the termination of the process if iTunes is open.

If you need any of the processes, you may also exclude the process so that it won't be touched by the application.

Closing Words

The application itself uses some resources since it needs to run in the background to do the scanning and killing of iTunes processes. It offers more flexibility when it comes to the iTunes processes however than the "don't install in first place" solution. This is important if you require the functionality that they provide at times. If you don't, you are better off removing the components and using iTunes without them instead.

Now You: Which media player / manager do you use?