Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

ech2002 Author

Level 1

26 points

Can't authorize songs under old Apple ID

I've run a search for this problem and found lots of other people having the same issue but I haven't seen a solution yet. I recently upgraded my eMac to OSX 10.5.6 and I'm now running the latest version of iTunes as well. However, the songs I purchased under a previous Apple ID won't play on my computer or transfer to my iPod or iPhone. It tells me to authorize the computer but since my old Apple ID doesn't exist anymore I can't authorize it for that ID. It's already been authorized for the current Apple ID. There's over 100 songs that are affected, and that's a lot of money. Is there any way I can get those songs back? Do I need to create a new account? If so, how will it recognize the new account belongs to those songs?

Thanks in advance.

eMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Nov 5, 2009 12:54 PM

84 replies

mainsys

Level 1

13 points

May 12, 2016 9:16 PM in response to BlindJohn

I accidentally discovered many songs in my 12000 song collection wouldn't play. They looked normal but when selected I was asked to register the computer, a dead end, already registered etc. Contacted Apple Support, they established the problem was an old account I held in another country and as it related to an email address that was no longer in existence, it was a dead end. I asked how I could identify which songs these were in a 12000 song collection: silence. I was asked for the password I would have used back then, impossible to recall. I was then asked a security question which somehow I answered correctly even though it related to an account some 10 years ago, Question 2: Name the last four numbers on the credit card I had used back then to purchase the songs in question! Are you kidding? Impossible, I used a number of cards, but anyway went through all my bank accounts, old records, nothing lined up with what Apple has on my records. So now as I was not able to clarify my "identity" back then, I have possibly hundreds of iTunes purchased songs that remain unusable, although they sit in my computer looking fine, they will not play as they were purchased on an old account with an old credit card. A reasonable investment, but impossible to use. Thanks Apple.

Jul 12, 2016 5:59 AM in response to katypea

indeed this works! voila indeed!

Sep 1, 2016 12:36 PM in response to browser44

tried that! DID NOT WORK! I think you may have been lucky there was a bug or something! odd no help clicks you will note!

Sep 3, 2016 1:57 AM in response to ech2002

I think I have figured this out. When the pop-up box appears, an old email address is pre-filled in already. This is most likely the WRONG email address! Mine popped up with @hotmail.com and @hotmail.co.uk - both previous email addresses of mine. Changing it to my current @me.com address didn't work, BUT changing it to my previous @googlemail.com WORKED!!! Try it, you might just love me for it x

Sep 3, 2016 2:34 AM in response to Bruce Pietsch

If you go to Finder, iTunes Media, Music and navigate to the unauthorised song - right click and "Open in iTunes" the correct Apple ID through which the song was originally purchased should show. I've only ever had 4 passwords in my life so I knew that at least one of my password attempts should have been correct... Worth a try!

mjbinoki

Level 1

4 points

Nov 29, 2016 9:15 AM in response to sandrift

I realize this is very old, but this worked for me! Thanks!

javaz

Level 1

9 points

Jun 9, 2017 11:34 PM in response to kincaminsilverlake

Re being prompted for old Apple ID/Password, try signing in to your old Apple ID/Password with your current password. Worked for me.

Jul 7, 2017 1:59 PM in response to LiQuiD_FuSioN

No joy...

Sep 3, 2017 8:12 AM in response to katypea

Worked for me

Can't authorize songs under old Apple ID