Removing Ping from iTunes 10.0.1 (and 10.2.2)

If you're a fan of Apple's new Ping service, then you'll be happy to see the new Ping Sidebar and Ping buttons appear when you install the new 10.0.1 update of iTunes. However, some of us think it all worked perfectly well before Apple decided to hop on the Social bandwagon.

iTunes 10 iconUnfortunately, Apple have chosen to make these new features default and apparently mandatory in the new release. There's no user interface to disable Ping completely, and certainly no user interface to restore the old behaviour. It turns out that there are some hidden settings though.

Within five minutes of getting the software update, I was already hunting through the iTunes application code for some magic words to tap in to restore the status quo... and my sanity. I quickly found a number of candidates.

Now, to set these, you'll have to go under the hood, so to speak. If you're a techie, this shouldn't be a problem, but if you haven't done this kind of stuff before, I must stress that there's an slight element of risk here: one that's present whenever you open Terminal. If you're not comfortable with that risk, turn back now and learn to love the Ping. If you are willing to proceed, make sure you type exactly as I say, taking care to make sure capitalization, punctuation and spelling is correct.

To reiterate: DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Don't come whining if you break something.

Also, these instructions apply to Mac OS X only. I'm sure there are similar settings for the Windows version of iTunes, but I've got no clue how to apply them, and frankly no desire to either. If you know, please comment on this post for the benefit of others.

Update: thanks to commenter Nikola and the original Apple forums poster
David Wolf1, here are the equivalent instructions for Windows.

iTunes Ping buttons

Firstly, quit iTunes. I'm not sure if this is necessary, but it's a sensible move. You'll need to restart iTunes anyway before this stuff takes effect, and iTunes could undo your tweaks in the process. Secondly, start Terminal.app. This is an application that should be in the Utilities folder of your main Applications folder.

This should pop up a terminal window which looks something like this:

Mac OS X Terminal window

Now, type this into that window:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes disablePingSidebar 1

...and hit Enter. You shouldn't get a response, except for the command prompt repeated back to you (as below). If you get an error, I wouldn't recommending proceeding, but you can check and try again. The '1' at the end is a one, not a lowercase L.

Mac OS X Terminal window

That should disable the Ping sidebar. Now for the buttons.

defaults write com.apple.iTunes hide-ping-dropdown 1

That should remove the Ping buttons. However, the old-style arrow buttons need another setting to restore them:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes show-store-link-arrows 1

That one might sound familiar if you've done stuff like this to a previous version of iTunes... however, it's not exactly the same. The old setting was "show-store-arrow-links", and it defaulted to 1 (yes). The new "show-store-link-arrows" setting defaults to 0 (no), presumably to make way for the Ping buttons. I can only imagine they tweaked the wording just so the old setting didn't confuse the issue (!)

Finally, might I also suggest the following:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes invertStoreLinks 1

This setting switches the default behaviour of the arrow links. By default (well, by default in iTunes 10.0.0 and before) the arrows would send the user to the corresponding page in the iTunes Store, but you could also hold down Opt and click to be redirected to the corresponding list in your own library. In my opinion, this was an incredibly useful feature: you can navigate through your own library so quickly. The "invertStoreLinks" setting makes this the default, so you just click to navigate. Holding down Opt while clicking will take you to the store. I wholeheartedly believe that it was the UI designers' original plan, but Apple's synergistic greed hijacked the arrow for the purpose of hocking more media.

iTunes no Ping buttons

Anyway, I digress. Once you've set the settings you want, start iTunes, and all should be well. You can (and should) quit Terminal at this point.

Now, to reset it all to Apple's defaults... you can either do the same lines as above but replacing '1' with '0', or you can delete the settings by changing "write" to "delete" and removing the 1 from the end:

defaults delete com.apple.iTunes disablePingSidebar

defaults delete com.apple.iTunes hide-ping-dropdown

defaults delete com.apple.iTunes show-store-link-arrows

defaults delete com.apple.iTunes invertStoreLinks

(after quitting iTunes, of course)

That should get things back to "normal" and Ping will return in all its glory. Best of luck to you.

UPDATE for 10.2.2: After prompting from a commenter, I've re-ran the commands on 10.2.2 and it still seems to work. Oh well.

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Comments

  1. Thanks infinitely for getting the inverted store links back to iTunes 10.0.1 !
    Could not really survive without them...

  2. Haha, let's compare, what time did you make your post?

    :P

    Made mine (http://baumdesign.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/itunes-10-how-to-disable-ping-drop-down-menu-next-to-songs/) at around 11:45 GMT, you?

  3. You beat me to it, but I think I was first to get "disablePingSidebar" and "show-store-link-arrows"! Not that it's a race, though. :-)

    Has anyone written up how to do this on Windows yet, or are all the Windows users still trying to work out how to stop their OSes crashing?

    [EDIT: just noticed my original tweet with the setting was at 11.31GMT (12.31 UK time)... as I said, not that it's a race, though! :-)

  4. THX

  5. I'm glad someone else doesn't want Ping all in their face, thanks for the solution. Nice choice of screenshot by the way, Tim Minchin, brilliant.

    Do you know if there's a way to remove the Ping link from the left hand side bar (under Store)? It's annoying that you can't even hide that section like you can for Genius or playlists.

  6. Thanks :) I didn't see anything about hiding that Ping link, but I'll take another look.

  7. Brilliant! Thanks for getting this up so fast.

    Apple's annoying about this kind of stuff. Always trying to force these new features and changes on people.

    I'd love to get the Ping stuff out of the contextual menu as well, where there are four lines of Ping commands that I have to move my cursor past to get to the things I'll actually use. Probably not doable, though.

  8. Nope, I can't see anything yet, unfortunately. The only option I can see is to disable the iTunes Store completely, which I'd say is overkill.

    Oooh, I did spot this, though:

    defaults write com.apple.iTunes high-contrast-mode-enable 1

  9. Any idea how to do the same in Windows? If so, would you mind emailing me? Thanks.

  10. Fantastic Post. I had almost given up hope that it's possible to restore arrow behavior and had resorted to clicking twice to get the old functionality (i.e. getting to the albums) using the ping button.

    If you find some way to get that ping link under "store" killed that would be fantastic too.

    Secondly, have you looked into restoring the genius sidebar that was overtaken by the cruel ping sidebar? That's basically the last missing piece in getting everything back to normal.

    Cheers!

  11. Hey Ben,

    I looked into both issues: removing the Ping link in the STORE section of the sidebar, and also restoring the Genius Sidebar. I can't find anything on the Ping link in the code after going through all strings in the iTunes binary by hand, so no luck there.

    As mentioned above, I did find "disableGeniusSidebar" and tried to get it working, but I don't think it does anything anymore: as far as I can tell, the sidebar code and resources might still be there, but I think they've been forcibly disabled to make way for the Ping code. :-(

    So, I think this is a dead end, unfortunately.

  12. Oh well, thanks anyway. At least the arrow feature is back :)

    (BTW: I mostly use it because iTunes is still not able to sort by "Date Added" while keeping the correct track order. Something that's been bugging me for five years now.)

  13. Thank you thank you thank you for posting this! You saved me from going insane!

  14. Thanks for this! (and to google for bringing me here)

    Unfortunately, it seems Apple didn't think to also disable the Ping items in the contextual menu too with the same pref ...

  15. Thanks so much! I assume no one knows how to keep your library in "album list" view? (it resets to song list view when you click the arrows)

  16. I've tried disablePingSidebar as both a String (=1) and Boolean (checked), since Boolean matches the other disable entries in the prefs (disableMusicStore, disablePodcasts, disableRadio, disableSharedMusic all are Boolean settings); but I've had no luck in making Ping go away.

  17. thanks for the instructions. but in my opinion, if iTunes placed that Ping link and left the arrows too, that would have been the better solution for apple.

  18. [...] Eliminando Ping de iTunes 10.0.1 La última actualización de iTunes no solo corrige los típicos errores si no que también nos añade botones y accesos directos a Ping en prácticamente cualquier sitio. Gracias a dios esto se puede corregir con unos comandos en el Terminal. [...]

  19. Hmmm, some things would be left to remove: Disable the Pink-Icon on the sidebar an the entrys in the contextual menu. Any ideas how?

  20. here is the Windows version:

    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2593347&tstart=0

  21. You can blank out the Ping icon in the source pane but you cannot reclaim the space:
    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=11124292&highlight=#post11124292

  22. OMG!!! Thank you!

    I did the update to the latest (broken) version and was furious that they screwed with this crap.

    Thank you so much.

  23. thanks! this is excellent. there is only so much social network i can handle!

  24. Any hope for those of us using windows?

  25. Many thanks for this reprieve, friend. I'm simply disgusted by the social networking glut, and a bit pissed that Jobs is trying to force this rubbish down our throats. Long live what Apple may yet be...

  26. thanks for this post! do you have a line of code to disable ping when you right click a song. In the sub-menu there's the like, post..., show artist profile i'd like to get rid of. Thanks again!

  27. Thanks man. I got very scared to loose the great arrow link to my library...

    Cheers,
    Gam.

  28. Thanks man!! Works perfectly + I love the new arrow button function.

  29. Thanks for the post!

    This all worked for me on OSX except that the intra-library links only take me to the entire Library playlist, not a list of the artist's songs (like before). Any one else see this or have a fix?

    Thanks!

  30. What a godsend!

    Not only did I eliminate the Ping button and restore the library link arrows, but I got the arrows to point to my own library without having to hold down the option key! And without sending me to the iTunes Store!

    Thanks much!!

  31. Sorry if this sounds dense, but after working through all your steps and successfully removing most evidence of the darn Ping thing, it is still listed under my 'STORE' (left hand sidebar). Is that right? Or have I missed something?
    Thanks.

  32. Superb - thanks!

  33. Kimberly: no-one's worked out a way to get rid of all of it yet. Sorry! :-(

  34. HI
    Thanks 4 this, Apple has gotten worse + worse with each new iTunes update. The fact that they took away option to make album covers as big as one chose is a big FOUL. anyway pleased to see people helping people out here in the nebula.
    Cheers

  35. Apple started to use Microsoft business tactics. You are obligated to use a limited controlling software. What happen to "Think Different"?

    Thank you so much for this steps. It helped me a lot.

    I do not think I will install the next iTunes version, unless this useless "Ping" can be remove completely.

  36. To be fair, using Ping isn't mandatory. I did sign up to Ping on Day One, but then disabled the account about ten minutes later. The only thing that's bugged me since then is that without the hacks above, the buttons are less convenient for me. Now, the only significant problem is the removal of the Genius Sidebar.

    However, if they made signing up to Ping a prerequisite for using an iPhone or an iPod, then I'd be singing a different tune. I'm already slightly concerned that realistically, an Apple ID is almost a prerequisite for using iPhone.

  37. Thanks! I just had restarted the new version of iTunes and was pretty annoyed by all the Ping stuff right away. Luckily it can be disabled. I hope this will also be the case in future versions…

  38. Stupid Apple not putting these settings in preferences. You'd think that for millions of users using iTunes they'd make it more customizable friendly without having to resort to terminal if you're a Mac user. Oh, the irony of being a so called 'simple' Mac user.

  39. This is great help, thank you!!!

    I like being able to click on the arrow next to a song and go to a list of music in my library instead of iTunes. But after I do this, how do I make iTunes show my entire library again, without having to scroll all the way up to "All" under the artists column?

  40. Nice!!! This is great!! It's the little things that matter. Thank you very much!!!

  41. Thank you!

  42. GREAT !!! Worked like a charm!
    THANK YOU!!

    If I wanted my machine taken over on a regular
    basis, I would have stayed with Windows.

  43. Thumbs up on having Tim Minchin in your iTunes library!!!! :D

  44. By the way, if anyone else is seeing intra-library links only take you to the entire Library playlist (and not a list of the artist's songs), make sure that your Column Browser is on top, not on the left side.

  45. Great post, thanks for all the info!

  46. Thanks so much! It's a shame they're bastards and hide this stuff huh? I'm a big apple fan, I have their products and their stock... too bad they're getting evil. =(

  47. Thanks so much! I was so angry when I saw that Ping had puked all over the latest iTunes. Very disappointing, Apple!

  48. I really can't stand social networking sites, everyone is talking about how great facebook, twitter and whatever else is the new trend to join. They just freaking get on my nerves and I don't have time to respond to comments or whatever people send to me(pokes are so lame on facebook). If they want to talk to me can't they just email me or call? Even Google has joined the bandwagon of Social networking, sadly.

    Anyway, forget the rant, you are a saviour for this <3
    You wouldn't happen to have a solution to remove Genius, I don't use it at all? most of the mixes or song suggestions suck.

    Thanks :D

  49. this is exactly what i was looking for, but for me there is one other difference that no one has mentioned… i would prefer for the link arrows to be right justified like they’ve been for almost ever.
    does anyone know how to do that???

    @ben:
    concerning the scrolling needed to get back to ‘All’…
    while the appropriate column is active, you can just hit escape to get back to All.

    or, if, like me, you have a mouse that uses macros (i use the completely awesome razor naga) then you can create a macro that types…
    cmnd-optn-F; tab; esc; tab; esc; tab; esc.
    command-option-F takes you to the find textbox, which is immediately before the columns in tab order. then do tab-escape three times for the three different columns (or however many you have shown).

  50. Thank you - the useless ping pulldown menu button was driving me nuts !

  51. Thank you so much! This was very helpful.

  52. Thanks - worked perfectly!

  53. thank you

    it's people like you who create civic society for lazy fuckers like me

  54. Hi - this looked to me to be a godsend, but when I try and put in the commands, I get the following:

    2010-10-10 12:44:45.535 defaults[421:903] Could not write domain com.apple.iTunes; exiting

    Am using new mac mini, and this is the first time I have had such a message in terminal. I have repaired permissions, looked at permissions for itunes and for terminal, still no luck. Any tips much appreciated.

  55. @Alan: weird... I would check the permissions on /Users//Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.plist and also on the Preferences directory itself.

    If not, prefix those commands with "sudo", ie. "sudo defaults write ..." which will run the command as root. It's not ideal.

    Alternatively, delete the file, which will wipe your iTunes preferences. Make sure iTunes isn't running though.

    If none of that works, then I think there's something more fundamental that's wrong with your system. Sorry!

  56. Thanks ever so much for posting this. Quick and easy, and it's good to know that I'm not alone in being quite infuriated by Apple trying to force new features on me without even giving me a way of saying no.

  57. Thanks for this. It works perfectly. Easy to follow instructions. I love the internet and people who post useful things.

  58. Thank you for this incredibly useful post!!

    Used to be that Apple was the one to that was
    so different than MS. Now they are fast
    becoming the same Evil Empire they
    rebelled against.

    Hail to the resistance!
    (thanks)

  59. dude! awesome post. thanks much for the hacks. it finally got the last of me, so i decided to google "removing the ping links". i I dont mind ping, but I hate seeing the ugly button every time i look at my music.

  60. if you also want to change your iTunes icon to a better design, visit: http://livearevolution.com/itunes-10-revised-a-better-icon

    the new icon reminds me of windows media player...

  61. Hi Tom - it was the plist preferences - and it's worked a treat. Freedom from ping! Hurrah! You are a hero. Thank you so much.

  62. Thanks for this code, I appreciate it.

  63. Thank you very much. You're a hero.

  64. thanks!

  65. I don't even know what Ping is.. geez, but I don't want to mess with iTunes. *sigh* I wish all these things "now with facebook/twitter/accelerators/whatever" would vanish. -_-

  66. Champion sir!

  67. I could kiss you!!!!

    Thanks for writing the instructions so clearly because I have no idea what I'm doing in Terminal.

  68. I'm forever in your debt. Such a hero and inverted links, YOU BEAUTY!

  69. ita a gud thing......ping....xxx

  70. Hi and thanks for your help with removing an unwanted "improvement" to iTunes. Each time there is an upgrade, I become so aggravated with Apple. I'm not in favour of all this social connection garbage it not good for the future of our society.

    I sent a note to Apple complaining that when they add feature, it should be an option and not mandatory. However, there was no reply.

    Further to the mods that you have provided, is there one to remove Ping from the sidebar on the left, under STORE?

    Thanks again.

  71. Your solution is overkill. You can just turn it off in your preferences; ghost ping button, sidebar and all. Also you can opt out of ping by logging into your iTunes account and turning it off. Changing the defaults to bring back the store link is useful though.

    G

  72. Found easy way to disable PING for those of us who tend to be somewhat leery messing with commands. Opened iTunes. Clicked on Edit. Clicked on Preferences. Unchecked PING. And viola, PING was gone. I'm sure it is still in the system lurking around waiting for me to mess up somehow, but it is gone for now. Why can't software/hardware makers just leave well-enough-alone? APPLE, quit messing with things. Haven't you ever heard of the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?"

  73. just copied your code and Ping, i mean bingo...it worked with no bugs. thank you for your hard work...messing with code is a mess; i started with COBOL/Fortran...i know and that was with punch cards. great work....

  74. I've got 10.1.1. and tried the show store link arrows but it hasn't worked. Is a restart required? I'm assuming these are the same arrows that appeared next to a podcast title and took you straight to the place in the apple store. Or is that different??? Other than that tried the suggestions by Geo and Ken, thanks.

  75. thanks for providing the scripts for redirecting the shortcut to show a particular in our library instead of the iTunes store...
    i used your script and tweaked it to make it work for Windows
    "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt invertStoreLinks 1
    and it worked!
    thank you so much!

  76. Now, is there a way to make Ping go away when you buy a song? I love the "do not show this to me again" checkbox Apple gives you that has absolutely no effect whatsoever.....

  77. Thanks for this! Worked like a breeze.
    And double thanks for making it accessible to us non "techies"

  78. sadly, this doesn't seem to work with iTunes 10.2.2. any chance you would be willing to update this for the latest release?

    many thanks!

  79. fivecats: I just re-ran the following commands on 10.2.2, and it seems to do what I want it to do: the dropdown arrows are gone and are replaced by right-arrows that cross-reference within the iTunes Library (rather than the store).

    defaults write com.apple.iTunes disablePing 1

    defaults write com.apple.iTunes hide-ping-dropdown 1

    defaults write com.apple.iTunes show-store-link-arrows 1

    defaults write com.apple.iTunes invertStoreLinks 1

    Hope that's enough.

  80. Why not just disable ping via parental controls in the preference pane?

  81. Sax: disabling Ping via Parental Controls doesn't restore the original behaviour, ie. cross-referencing with your library. These fixes (almost) restore it.

  82. Tom,

    Just tried those four commands in Terminal, using iTunes 10.4.1 and they still work like a charm. Thanks!

    Michael

  83. For Windows...found on:

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/16856071

    1st: "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt show-store-link-arrows 1"
    2nd: "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt invertStoreLinks 1"

    64-bit
    "C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt show-store-link-arrows 1"
    "C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt invertStoreLinks 1"

  84. I have tried this on iTunes 10.5.2, and it doesn't work. :(

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