newitunes122logoFollowing a slew of new product announcements early this morning, Apple today released iTunes 12.6, the next major update for the iTunes app on Mac devices.

iTunes 12.6 introduces a "Rent once, watch anywhere" feature that lets iTunes users watch iTunes movie rentals across all devices with iOS 10.3 or tvOS 10.2.

Prior to this update, an iTunes movie was only available on a single device at a time. When a movie rented on a Mac was transferred to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod using USB, the movie became unavailable from an iTunes library until returned to the Mac.

A movie rented on an iOS device or an Apple TV was not previously watchable on other devices and could not be transferred between devices.

The wording of the release notes seems to suggest we're going to see iOS 10.3 and tvOS 10.2 released in the very near future, as the new iTunes update pertains specifically to those releases. We could see new software as soon as tomorrow.

According to Apple's release notes, the update also includes minor app and performance improvements.

The new iTunes 12.6 update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free.

Tag: iTunes
Related Forum: Mac Apps

Top Rated Comments

Apple_Robert Avatar
110 months ago
And so, the Windows installer went from 177 MB to 257 MB of more crap from Apple.
NO, thank you!
Oh, the horror of it all.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
110 months ago
Abou time, Apple. Should have been a standard feature years ago, in my opinion.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mlrollin91 Avatar
110 months ago
You mean 'ONE', and I use that loosely, new product launched today...

And you mean to tell me that you haven't been able to rent a film on one of Apples ecosystem platforms and watch it on its other platforms????? Wow!! Welcome to 2016 Apple.... a bit late, like a few years late, but better late then never!

I seriously thought you could do this with Apple..

But let's not worry as they launched some new case colours today, and did they launch new Watch bands too?. I'm sure they will soon..
I mean you could rent with one device and watch on another. But you could only watch on that one device. You couldn't pause and pick up where you left off on another device without syncing first. This pretty much just moves it to the cloud.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolfactor Avatar
110 months ago
I truly hope this fixes the iTunes backup connection issue. It's been months.
Bugs that last for months are nothing to Apple. I've had bugs that have been around for years now, and Apple does not seem to care because they are more focused on new stuff rather than fixing what's currently in use.

What a weird day for updates. I kind of expected something a bit more exciting. I was looking at Mac mini's today online and can't believe they are still selling 3-year old computers at full price. That's either a testament to the quality of the products, or an insult to consumers. I'm not willing to invest my hard-earned money into a device that is that outdated. 1 or 2 years, maybe, but 3 years at full price? No thanks.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
110 months ago
This is good news. Having the ability to cross-platform is a feature I have long awaited. Much more seamless this way.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolfactor Avatar
110 months ago
There's a new MiniPlayer and it's infuriating. WHY would they make it bigger? The whole point is that I want iTunes minimized while still being able to control it. What a dumb move.
Not sure that it's new, looks the same as before. Be sure to drag the edges to resize it. The preview window disappears when you reach a certain threshold.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...