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What to do when your iPad keeps asking for the iTunes Store Password

I was using my iPad last night when it just started asking for my iTunes store password and I was browsing the web in safari. I just entered it and scratched my head. Later I was playing a game - the same prompt interrupted the game.

http://skitch.com/mbrad/dru2p/full-screen

It happened about five times before I finally went to the settings app and signed out of the app store. I don't think it's related to any one app since the prompt was happening at seemingly random intervals no matter what I was doing (even on the home screen with no app "running")

Signing out seems to have corrected the problem. Apps still run and I will try signing in again later once I need to download anything. I haven't done much other than update 5 apps earlier in the day.

Does anyone else have experience on what caused this?

Here's what it's not:
1) Time - I checked the date/time on the iPad - they were within seconds of my mac which sets time automatically on the internet.
2) Password wrong - I downloaded a free app from the store app on the device after entering the password - so the password was fine for a purchase/download after the prompt. (Yet the prompt came back again within 30 minutes)

Thanks,
Mike

Posted on May 21, 2010 7:27 AM

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Posted on May 21, 2010 7:56 AM

I've only ever had this issue when a download times out for some reason. Since you downloaded a free app successfully it's probably not the issue. Try rebooting the device? To do this hold down the sleep and home buttons until the apple logo shows up.
13 replies

May 21, 2010 8:23 AM in response to DMangus

Thanks for the suggestion! I did have two downloads for free songs I got from a card at Starbucks. They started but never came on my iPad (and that was 4 days ago). The store error is happening only yesterday - possible but a long time after the "failed download". I just got those songs after your suggestion on my mac by checking for available downloads. Maybe that was the root cause?

Add rebooting to "here's what it's not" - I forgot to write that down. Also - I was not interested in restoring the iPad - like taking a firehose to water a flower, that certainly would fix it at cost of overkill. (and maybe only until the backup was restored if the file causing the issue is something that would be backed up).

The problem seems to be that the device either doesn't save the password or something is causing it to be periodically marked as bad. Both ideas have me scratching my head. Rebooting didn't resolve the issue - only signing out from the store.

May 21, 2010 9:13 AM in response to Michael Bradshaw

Something is messed up on your iPad. What I would try next is:
1. Go into Settings: Store
2. Click on Sign out.
3. Leave Settings and go back to the home screen.
4. Shut down the iPad. Hold the off button down for five seconds or so and then swipe the screen as requested.
5. Wait 20 seconds or so, then start up the iPad. To start up, hold the shutdown key for five seconds or so, or until you see the Apple on the screen.
6. Go back to settings: Store and sign in.


Thanks
http://www.thinkappleipad.com/

May 21, 2010 1:50 PM in response to Michael Bradshaw

I had this happen for a few days. Then I noticed that there was an app that was Paused on my iPad. Must have been a bad or partial download. I ended up re-downloading it and the problem was fixed.

May 21, 2010 10:29 PM in response to Michael Bradshaw

I had the same issue when downloading many app updates when my wifi signal was low. My thought was that the request was a result of the network connection timing out to the iTunes store and since I was running a different app while the iPad downloaded in the background, that the cached user/pw for the iTunes store app was no longer memory resident so your asked to re-enter them. Bottom line I make sure I have a good wifi signal when I start my downloads and keep the iPad stationary and I no longer have this issue. I would assume 3G users would see this more than wifi users.

Jun 14, 2010 10:27 PM in response to Michael Bradshaw

I have the same problem with my iPad 3G. I tried the following but I still get the iTunes password field whenever in start the App store, itunes store, iBook store and some games on my iPad:
1) signed out, rebooted and signed back in
2) switched to a different account and country in the store and switched back again
3) Synced with all updated apps on iTunes on my Mac.

Any ideas what else I could try?

Jun 14, 2010 11:29 PM in response to Daniel Drogies

Ok I think I solved my problem. It was the iBook store. The Pooh ebook from the German iBook edition didn't complete it's download, though funny enough i read it weeks before. So I let it redownload, quit iBook, started again and now everything is fine and so far no more password pop ups any more.
So many stores to keep up and watch out for 😉

Feb 16, 2011 1:24 PM in response to Michael Bradshaw

Over time this finally went away. What it wasn't was iBooks, or an app download (I finally verified nothing changed there)

My best guess was the store was still trying to download the two songs from the gift cards - something about the gift card and not a normal purchase gave the iPad fits. The only workaround was to sign out of the store. I haven't had any issues since so I'll mark this answered / unresolved.

What to do when your iPad keeps asking for the iTunes Store Password

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