iTunes store is unable to process purchases

Hello 777Raim,

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities! We understand that you're encountering an error when attempting to update or download apps in the App Store on your iPad. You've come to the right place for help.

Let's start by ruling out any potential billing related issues that could be causing this message by following the steps here:

If your payment method is declined in the App Store or iTunes Store

If you still encounter the error after following those steps, here's what to do next:

If you can't connect to the App Store, iTunes Store, or other Apple services

Take care.

I was having the same problems - found it was because I would not use two factor authentication that caused the problems, once enabled, payment methods updated, store logged out of and back in to, updates finally worked.

Why updates (as opposed to purchases) require payment methods I do not know and surely that is less secure.

BTW enabling two factor authentication - expect lots of text messages - think I was 5 total between enabling it, authenticating it, relogging in, iStore deciding my cookie was too old and so logging me out again, setting my community name - twice, and then for logging on to the iPad as well ...

Hi 777Raim,

Thanks for getting back to us with the additional details. Are you still encountering the message indicating that "The iTunes Store is unable to process purchases at this time. Please try again later" when you update apps or is something else happening?

You may also want to try the suggestions outlined in the following resource:

If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or other Apple device - Apple Support

Let us know what you find.

Cheers.

SirReindeer wrote:

In the evening, I turned on auto-update and rebooted the ipad. In the morning, the applications were updated.

This has worked for me, as well, on my wife's and my own iPad 2 and 3 models, but I am still getting this message on my older iMac runnng two older Mac OS, either Mac OS X 10.9.5 Mavericks or 10.11.6 El Capitán.

So, I decided to try this work around on my late 2009 iMac and I set my Mac App Store for automatic updates and automatic downloads and this has not worked from my old iMac, as yet.

Turning on auto update worked for me. Thank you!!!

Hi 777Raim,

Could you try deleting one of the apps you're encountering the error with, then downloading it again as opposed to updating it? If you get the same error when you attempt to redownload the app, we'd like to have you contact Apple Support next:

Get Support

Take care.

I am experiencing this same issue, also.

All of my older iOS 9/10 devices have been encountering this exact same iTunes/App Store cannot process your payment at this time, try again later issue since, I am going to state, about a week ago, or so, from today!

This message ONLY pops up on my iOS 9 /10 devices.

My newer iOS 12 and iOS/iPadOS 14 devices are all just working fine in all of the Apple app stores.

In the evening, I turned on auto-update and rebooted the ipad. In the morning, the applications were updated.

I had the same issue so I rebooted and went into my purchases tab and downloaded from there and it worked

That old FindMyPhone app update, for old iPads, has never been able to update for me for the past two years, or so.

So, I just gave up trying on that one any longer.

That appears to be an Apple issue.

Go into the Settings app and under the iTunes store settings, and temporary toggle ON both auto updates for apps and updates.

Go back to the iOS App Store and then try redownloading all of your app updates one at a time.

They all should download and install now.

Go back and toggle OFF auto updates, after you are done, if you do not wish your app to just auto download and install in the future.

If you run into this issue, again, in the future, you can always go back and toggle that setting back on the download new app updates.

Best of Luck to You!

I'm having the same issue, mine is on an iPod touch. iOS version 9.3.5, this is the highest I can update it to. I think Apple have stopped signing on this version which means there is little support. But the messaging doesn't explain the solution well. If the apps in question can't be updated it should state that. One of the apps is an apple one, Find My Phone.

Today I turned on auto-update in Settings, went to App store and was able to update at least one app manually from the Updates tab. Not sure if auto-update had anything to do with being able to update manually or whether something had been fixed with the services, but in any case updating worked at least today with one app.

Also ios 9.3.5, ipad2

This problem appeared about a week ago. I can download new apps, but I can't update.

The old payment method is working. I added a new one, but that didn't solve the problem.

After update i see message "The itunes Store is unable to process purchases at this time. Please try again later".

As I understand it, there is no solution?