Safari can't log into Apple websites (discussion forums, developer forums, itunes connect) High Sierra

Question

Level 3

569 points

Safari can't log into Apple websites (discussion forums, developer forums, itunes connect) High Sierra

For a while now from Safari I have not been able to log into Apple websites that require a login. These forums for example, or iTunes Connect, or developer.apple.com. It says that Safari cannot open the page because it can't establish a secure connection to the server "idmsa.apple.com".

I've spent three hours on the phone with Apple Support over this. Ran through every suggestion in their books, even reinstalled the OS. Nothing fixes it. They basically said the only solution was to update the OS to Mojave. Which might not fix it, but it might.

So really, High Sierra doesn't work with Apple's own sites? That cannot be true. There would be some mention of it online, I would think? I can't upgrade to Catalina. I might do Mojave, but at this point I just want to leave this computer running High Sierra to maintain the highest software compatibility. I plan to get a new computer soon, so this one is a legacy computer.

I can use Firefox to access this developer forum and the other sites, but I find it super ironic that Apple themselves cannot help me to access their own sites from their own computer using their own OS which is only 3 years old.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this problem without updating the OS?

Anyone have High Sierra and able to access these forums, iTunes Connect, or developer.apple.com?

Thanks!

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Mar 3, 2020 7:15 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,111 points

Mar 6, 2020 12:50 PM in response to mpoinar

Your post is the first post I have seen where there is a problem in Mojave. In the Mojave computer/partition, are you running any anti - virus programs? Using a VPN?

Try setting up another admin user account in System Preferences/Users & Groups to see if the same problem continues. Please post back on whether or not this worked. Also try the Safe Mode. Please post back on whether or not this worked.

Isolating an issue by using another user account https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204443

Safe Mode - About. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply. After pasting the report in a PasteBin page, go to the top of the page, and copy the address in the URL bar. Paste that in a new reply. Pastebin. https://pastebin.com/

Etrecheck – System Information. https://apps.apple.com/app/etrecheck/id1423715984?ls=1&mt=12

Web site version if required. https://etrecheck.com

Reply

Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,180 points

Mar 7, 2020 2:10 PM in response to mpoinar

You might try running the Mojave 10.14.6 Combo Update:

Download macOS Mojave 10.14.6 Combo Update

The Combo Update is a fuller install, as opposed to an incremental "delta" update, so it should overwrite any files that are damaged or missing. (Or hopefully updated) It does not matter if you have applied it before. It should preserve all your data and settings but that said you should always have a backup.

Reply

Answer 3

dominic23

Level 10

83,916 points

Mar 3, 2020 8:33 AM in response to Bob Sabiston

Deselect Proxies, if selected.

System Preference > Network > Advanced > Proxies Tab

Unlock the lock if you have to.

Under "Select a protocol....", uncheck any box if check-marked.

Click "OK”, then "Apply”.

Reply

Answer 4

Bob Sabiston Author

Level 3

569 points

Mar 3, 2020 7:52 AM in response to macjack

Well, not *just* 13.0.5 apparently, since the first thing Apple had me do to try and fix the problem was update to 13.0.5. I didn’t have that originally.

But I’m glad to know they know about it. Wish they would let the Support team know about that, because after three escalations they were still stumped.

Thanks for the reply!

Reply

Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,111 points

Mar 6, 2020 5:41 PM in response to mpoinar

It may not help, but try/running posting the Etrecheck report while booted into your normal user account. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply. After pasting the report in a PasteBin page, go to the top of

the page, and copy the address in the URL bar. Paste that in a new

reply. Pastebin. https://pastebin.com/

Reply

Answer 6

mpoinar

Level 1

33 points

Mar 7, 2020 1:42 PM in response to Eric Root

Eric Root, I don't think that is my problem. I just noticed that the person using High Sierra and could not log in and was using Safari 12.1.2. My year old iMac came with Mojave software but Safari is only version 12.0.2. I wonder why Mojave would have such an old version of Safari?

Reply

Answer 7

mpoinar

Level 1

33 points

Mar 7, 2020 6:03 PM in response to macjack

I was able to log into this forum once about an hour ago on my computer using Mojave, but now I can't.

I "am" able right now to log into here using High Sierra!

So I am confused and don't know what is happening.

Reply

Answer 8

mpoinar

Level 1

33 points

Mar 14, 2020 9:35 AM in response to Bob Sabiston

Has anyone found that they can now log into the apple discussion forum or other apple websites where they couldn't before? I can log in using High Sierra but not Mojave. Using firefox and Mojave, I can log in with no problems. Any updates on when this problem will be resolved?

Thanks, Martha

Reply

Answer 9

mpoinar

Level 1

33 points

Mar 7, 2020 1:54 PM in response to Eric Root

First I checked the updates in my system preferences and found no Safari updates. Then I checked the APP store and found nothing there either.

Reply

Answer 10

Eric Root

Level 10

684,111 points

Mar 8, 2020 9:39 AM in response to mpoinar

Your screen shot from above. Trying clicking on updates instead of using the search box.

Reply

Answer 11

macjack

Level 10

111,180 points

Mar 3, 2020 7:20 AM in response to Bob Sabiston

It's a known issue and Apple engineers are working on it. It seems only High Sierra with Safari 13.0.5 is affected.

Reply

Answer 12

macjack

Level 10

111,180 points

Mar 3, 2020 8:01 AM in response to Bob Sabiston

Yes, I don't understand why the support team didn't know about it and had you jumping through hoops. It's been going on for several weeks now.

Reply

Answer 13

Eric Root

Level 10

684,111 points

Mar 3, 2020 8:16 AM in response to Bob Sabiston

High Sierra and Safari 12.1.2 won't sign into the Support community, iCloud.com or the web page where you manage your Apple ID. It seems to be a High Sierra problem instead of a Safari problem.

Reply