Not Able to Play All Downloads Anymore / Alternatives to iTunes?

Keithiepoo wrote:

That's just it. Those email / password combos are old and forgotten.

As noted see How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support to regain control of any account where you've forgotten the password.

I have backups of everything on two external HDs. But, why would iTunes play those? Do they not still have the digital markers that prevent copying to my phone or playing back on my computer?

You need to authorize a computer to play protected media, or sync it to a device. Other purchases will play and sync without issue.

tt2

See Authorization vs. association - Apple Community for some general background on authorization and download limitations. See How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support to regain control of any account where you've forgotten the password. You should be able to authorize your computer for each account that you've had so that your music will play. Redownloading past purchases from multiple accounts is complicated by association, but it can be done over time if necessary.

The software you mention will not help, and indeed mentioning it here is a breach of the terms of use (B.8.ii). We can discuss legitimate approaches to upgrading protected music assuming this thread remains in place.

tt2

I should add that if you've changed the email address associated with an Apple ID then you may want to redownload the past purchases for that account so that your copies are associated with the current ID.

tt2

The email address and password combination will continue to authorise a computer for an Apple ID, even if you can no longer receive email at that address. You should download and make backups of all purchases. The ability to redownload is dependent on the items remaining in the store. Rights holders can and do remove content from time to time. Prior to 2010 music was sold on a one successful download basis. If you have protected music purchases then you can burn to audio CD and rip back for a perhaps imperceptible loss of quality. A subscription to iTunes Match should also let you match past purchases, remove the downloads, and replace with 256K AAC copies that are no longer tied to your ID. I suspect however that this only works with content from the current ID, so you'd likely need to stick to the burn & rip approach for anything else.

tt2

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2