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iTunes 8 - Hide Genre in browser/iTunes store links on Windows

iTunes 8 was released today (well yesterday, but who’s counting?) with new features like Genius sidebar/playlists, HD TV show and a new visualiser. (wow :rolleyes: )

However, they have removed two of the UI options I used, namely hiding the genre in the browser and links to the iTunes store. I don’t find browsing by genre useful; only a handful of my songs have genre tags. I’ve never thought to myself “Self, I really wish I could browse for a specific genre.” Add to that you are limited add one genre to a particular song and for me at least they are completely pointless (tags, on the other hand, would be awesome ;) )

Searching Google, there are solutions for both of these issues, but they are Mac only :hmm: . However, I’ve found the solution for Windows (which works for me anyway).

  1. Ensure iTunes is not open. Browse to the iTunes Application Data folder (C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes on XP, C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes on Vista, substituting the drive letter and the user profile name where necessary.
  2. Backup and open the iTunesPrefs.xml with a half decent text editor (ie not Notepad, my personal preference is Notepad++)
  3. Find the User Preferences key, and below the <dict> tag insert:
      <key>show-genre-when-browsing</key>
      <data>
      AA==
      </data>

    to disable the genre column in the browser, and:

      <key>show-store-arrow-links</key>
      <data>
      AA==
      </data>

    to disable the links to the store.

  4. Start iTunes.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 6:51 am and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

105 Responses to “iTunes 8 - Hide Genre in browser/iTunes store links on Windows”

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  1. Sam says:
    May 8, 2009 at 9:42 am

    Ahh what a relief!! Thanks so much!! :) Took a couple tried but I got it in the end & I feel like Ive just damned the man hahahaha

    Thanks!

  2. bithalver says:
    May 12, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    Worked great for both genre and arrows disable.
    Thanks a lot !

  3. Mark Leci says:
    May 26, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    Thanks! Why do Apple keep making their software less user friendly… it makes no sense to me.

  4. Mr Mojito says:
    May 28, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    Thank you! Worked like a charm. However, is there any way to make the arrows point to your own music (instead of the iTunes Store)? Not disable them, but change the way they work in other words… :)

  5. Erick says:
    June 14, 2009 at 10:45 am

    Thanks so much!!! I was getting frustrated trying to remove those damn arrows so I googled it and this came up. What a relief now I don’t have to look at those ugly ass arrows that I never use anyway.

    Thanks!!!!

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