Q: Security code is invalid. iTunes for iTouch.

I have the same password and ID and Credit card for all my accounts and all my software is up to date.

Here is my problem:

Originally for my iTunes account I used an ID which was a simple log in "mpruddy"

From my computer I could buy from the iTunes store and the Apple store and my iPod without a problem. One day when attempting to buy an app on the iPod it required me to use an email ID. Since my ID was not an email I suddenly could not buy from my iPod. So I went in and changed my ID in iTunes to my email as requested. After the change iTunes and the Apple Store allow me to purchase without a problem but the iPod keeps saying "cannot connect to the iTunes store" this is not true because I can connect to the iTunes store on the iPod and play the song preview but I simply cannot buy the song it will ask me to login which I do and then it appears to accept the login. When I attempt to purchase the song it asks for the password again in an endless circle or indicates "cannot connect to the iTunes store.The same is true of Apps. When I buy Apps or songs on my computer they are downloaded to the iPod with no problem. But I want to be able to buy from the iPod. As long as this glitch is there I can't.

What I have noticed on this forum is that 136,000 hits over a two year period have been made which indicates there is a problem and the great majority of responses to the problem indicate no solution has been found. There are several other forums on Apple and on the web all with this same problem brought up over and over again. A fix or a clear statement that the problem is unsolvable from Apple would solve a lot of these good people's problems. If I am incorrect in my assumption concerning the security code, then perhaps it might be in order for someone from Apple who actually understands the software to acknownledge this forum's frustration and clarify it for all of us. I note there are forums that show the iPad also has the same problem. It would seem a good marketing strategy to solve the problem.

Apple seems to be like the fellow in the Geico commerical who can't understand why it is so hard for us guinea pigs to say "row"..... such a simple word -- but not if you are the guinea pig.

Mike

Log out of the iTunes store then log back in.

Settings > Store then tap the account name, Sign out then sign back in.

Chris

The sequence you just had me perform solved all the issues which I had mentioned above, for which kudos and a million thanks!!

Ergo: I was wrong and the security code had nothing to do with the problems, for it still remains blank as before.

It would be really great if I understood what it was that this sequence accomplished and/or why it worked and, although perhaps it might be a little more difficult, tell me how I got myself into the problem in the first place.

In any case, I am indebted to you for this fix which now freed my iPod to use the iCloud.

Mike

I am beginning to wonder why I ever switched from Android to this garbage!! Apple u need to figure this out ASAP!!! I am trying to spend my hard earned dollar on YOUR products... it should not be this hard to give u my money!!

I HAVE A SOLUTION!!!

using your credit or debit card that you use in iTunes set up a PayPal account. after you do this, set the PayPal as you method of payment in iTunes Store (under the Store menu go to Manage Account then choose to Edit you payment method).

I have been having this problem and have tried loads of suggestions and decided that since I already have a PayPal (from eBay purchases) to just use it for my method of payment.

If your having trouble go to your settings and go to Store then it will say "Automatic Downloads". If its off you need to turn it to on because when I switched it was ok and I could download more stuff. Hope I helped!

I just checked with my CC carrier. The issue is a result of a merchant reporting that a series of cards was compromised. The result is that the card still works for in-person purchases (Gas, Grocery, etc...) but online purchases may be denied by an online vendor. APPLE is one such vendor that denies purchases if there is a report of a compromise. There is nothing that you can do with the current card except wait for a replacement. Mine is on its way. My understanding is its not necessarily a local store that was compromised but the actual bank that issued your card. So, in my case, its BOA. ... and they're sending another. In the meantime I can still use this card to get gas etc... just no love at iTunes.

First, once again my gratitude to Chris CA, who, in his post above, in fact, did supply a fix to my problem which was that I was not able to buy songs from my iPod. Although it appeared to me initially that it was a Credit Card Security code issue, in the end it turned out to be an idiosyncracy of the iTunes and iOS iPod Touch software interlock, probably a security subroutine of some sort to prevent someone from purchasing something unless they are the true owner of the ID/password combination. I must mention that my problem became more complex in that I had 4 computers and 2 iPod Touch devices interconnected to the iTunes store.

I was forced, by a new requirement, to change ID's and Password's on my iPod Touch to be an email address and provide a password that contained a capital letter. [It is curious that the iTunes Windows software still does not have this limitation] Upon changing my iPod ID and password to match the new requirements I seems that I had apparently produced a new Apple account applying only to my iPod Touch and when I tried to buy a song a message appeared on my iPod that I could no longer connect to the iTunes Store. My son on his iPod Touch had also changed to the new requirements and our accounts were mulitplying like rabbits.  Apple recommends [and I agree] that one should have only one Apple ID and Password. After going through a series of steps to establish one ID and password in the iTunes store, it then became necessary on both the iPod Touch devices to sign out and sign in again as stipulated above in Chirs CA's fix in order to reachieve a lock with our new Apple account which then allowed us to once again purchase on iTunes from my iPod Touch. I cannot over emphasize the importance of every login point on all your Apple devices being reset by a sign out and sign in after any such account change. On the touch there are several locations which require sign out and sign in process as seen in the Chris CA fix above. So, while I am sure that the many credit card security issues mentioned above can also cause a problems, I advise anyone with a "Cannot connect to the iTunes store" warning on their iPod touch to try the method Chis CA mentions above in this thread before acquiring new credit cards or opting for Paypal. I wish also to commend the iTunes support tech Romarico who followed up several times with me to verify I had actually achieved a relock with my account. A more intuitive process for establishing passwords with a few more caveats stipulated in the troubleshooting sequences published as "Help" by Apple might prevent some of this dialog, but, in my case, the net result was that the forum, in conjunction with the Apple supprt group, functioned to solve my problem which makes my iPod touch a pleasure to use again.

Mike in TN

I am having the same issue with the CC Security Code.. I am a new iPhone user and im not enjoying my iphone at all.. I am unable to download any apps and its kind of a bummer that I cant play with my new phone

I tried to enter a ctredit card today and kept getting warnings about the security code.  Reentering it had no effect. Finally I noticed that I had entered the wrong card expiration month (mouse slipped to the month below the actual month).  This caused the problems with security code invalid. As soon as I correxcted the date, the problem was solved.

I have a new iPhone from Verizon. Every now and then when I try to download an app whether it's free or not I get a sign saying security code is invalid and that's not true. Usually when that happens I reboot my phone and it fixes it well last night I got it and I tried doing it and it wouldn't help. It keeps saying security code is invalid and I am putting the right onw in. I have no idea what to do. It keeps saying security code is invalid and then few hours later it will say credit card processing is temporarly unavailable. Please help

Just a heads up for everyone having this security code problem, I was using one of those visa prepaid credit cards and i made a iTunes purchase for 1.99 and I did not know this at the time but I only had 1.84 left on the card, however for some reason the transaction went through and when I got on my computer and went to iTunes I signed out then signed back in and it poped up and said "there was a problem with a previous purchase go to purchase history and correct the problem" I go to purchase history and it tells me I owe them the extra few cents that wasn't on my card for the 1.99 purchase and that's why I'm getting this security number issue along with the inability to download anything. But my question is if I didn't have enough money on the card then why the **** did the purchase go through? Anyways I'm assuming tomorrow I should be able to go get a iTunes gift card and put it on my account to pay for that transaction and it clear everything up....we will see

OMG same crap!  Oh and it doesn't help to freaking call apple because you either have to pay 30 or 80 for a freaking answer.  Really not cool!!!! I'm so mad right now!!!

It is happening the same problem to me right now. I do not know what elso to do. I know the security code its correct, but I'm just very confused and frustrated... this has to be solve.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of having all the various login areas with the same ID on your iPod.

The most important step is to determine your ID and Password and the Credit card you want to use. The ONLY place to maintain this information is at the webpage at "Apple.com" under "account" THIS is the ONLY place which stores your security code. Although your "account login" at "iTunes" may show a blank for the security code you cannot enter the number at that location. Nor can you enter it in any logins on your iPod although the blank may be there it will not register the code. You should be able to purchase [assuming you have set up your Apple Account properly on their website] by simply entering the ID and password from the Apple website account. If you open the account page in iTunes to edit your account there will be a blank for the security code but although you can enter the number it does not capture it. ONLY your Apple website account page will register the security code. It is on that webpage you must be sure that you have the correct code entered and it will show three stars to verify the entry after an edit.

iPod recently changed its requirement for and Apple ID on the iPod it has to be a legitimate email account. If you have an old account and the ID is not your email account go to the Apple website and change the account. Note that you should CHANGE the account ID -- NOT initiate a new one. THERE IS NO WAY to merge accounts so all iTunes bought with a specific account will remain with that account. If you chose to set up a new one then, unless you hook everything up with the iCloud, you will have to sign into the old iTunes account to play the music bought through that account. One thing that is important is to log out and on again once any changes are made to your Apple account.

The following logins need to have the proper information in your Apple webpage Account in order function or buy music:

iCloud: Vefiy you Apple account ID NOTE once again there is a security code blank but you CAN NOT change the code on the iPod.

Store: Verify that your Apple ID from the Apple website Account is shown.

iTunes: Verify that your Apple ID from the Apple website is shown if not

  There may be others and they all will need to be identical.

I left a couple of messages above which document my journey through this maze and the help I got to unscramble login process. Wouldn't hurt to read those messages.

The steps above will only solve the complexity of the log in process. If there is a security code issue with your card obviously that can't be solved internally to the Apple process.

Mike