App Store will NOT accept username and password on ANY device

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Level 1

4 points

App Store will NOT accept username and password on ANY device

For a couple months now I have been having an absolutely insane issue where I am unable to log in to the app-store I can't update any of my apps, I can't get OSX updates on my Macs, I can't do ANYTHING. This is even causing problems where apps such as YouTube do not let me run them because they are not their most updated versions. I am unable to use several key functions of my devices now. I 100% am using the correct password, that username and password was just used to create my Community account here with NO issues. This is affecting a BRAND NEW iMac. I have even factory reset the iMac and still the problem persists. There are no Apps installed on the iMac that could be causing the issue where it's synced with a previous account password.

When I open the app store and attempt to sign in, I get "Your Apple ID or Password is incorrect" but funny enough, all my other iOS devices get pinged saying "You Apple ID is being used to sign in to a new device" so I am CERTAIN that I am entering the correct credentials, there is just no work-around to get it to accept my information into my App Store, and NO, it's not a matter of needing to press "allow" and entering the 6 digit code, I am NOT prompted to enter that code anywhere on the device attempting to sign in to the App Store. What about the App Store is causing my credentials to not work? I see this problem is not an issue with just myself, but the answers given on those forums do not help resolve my issue in any way and most of them are unresolved per the OP. I have changed my password and it still does not accept the new information.

I cannot create a new Apple ID I have too much purchased content over 10+ years to give up and that should never be a solution like I have seen mentioned on other forums.

iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021, 2 ports)

Posted on Aug 25, 2022 9:40 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Code-ER Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 9, 2022 12:50 PM in response to Code-ER

Well, I found a solution on a random forum. I cannot believe it even worked. Let it be known anybody who sees this solution, Apple and it's community did not provide the solution. Countless hours wasted on the phone and in chats.

The solution:

I am going to use a dummy account and password for the sake of formatting. Let's assume username is 'cody@email' and password is 'CodyPassword'

You need to attempt to log in to the App Store on the device.

For example:

Username: 'cody@email' Password: 'CodyPassword'

This will prompt you with the error "incorrect username and password"

Your other Apple devices will get pinged saying a device was attempting to sign in and you need to press "allow" and you will then be presented with a 6-digit code to approve the login. (let's assume I got code 123654)

Once again attempt to log in to the App Store on the device, but this time at the end of your password include the 6-digit code.

For example:

Username: 'cody@email' Password: 'CodyPassword123654'

This should allow the app store to authenticate your log-in attempt. At least it did in my case.

I cannot begin to tell you why this is the case, or how anybody discovered this solution, but it works for me. I'm thinking this may be my last Apple device I purchase given the critical failure on their part to correct this issue (lord knows this is far from my first or only issue, but wow was it a doozy), but if this can save even 1 person the headache I went through, I'll type it up and hopefully they will find it here.

Thanks for coming to my Code-ER Talk

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Answer 2

K_Wall44

Community Specialist

Aug 26, 2022 11:18 AM in response to Code-ER

Hello Code-ER,

You have done some great steps to isolate the issue. Let's try to sign into the App Store while in safe mode to see if it gives the same error. You can boot into safe mode by completing the steps below that are also listed here: How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

How to use safe mode

Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:

Apple silicon

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.

3. Select your startup disk, then press and hold the Shift key while clicking “Continue in Safe Mode.”

4. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

Intel processor

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.

2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac.

3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window.

If the issue still occurs in safe mode, then we'd recommend testing the issue in a new user account to see if the issue is isolated to the current user settings. You can create a new admin account by completing the steps below that are also listed here: Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac - Apple Support

Add a user

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups .

If the lock at the bottom left is locked , click it to unlock the preference pane.

2. Click the Add button below the list of users.

3. Click the New Account pop-up menu, then choose a type of user.

Administrator: An administrator can add and manage other users, install apps, and change settings. The new user you create when you first set up your Mac is an administrator. Your Mac can have multiple administrators. You can create new ones, and convert standard users to administrators. Don’t set up automatic login for an administrator. If you do, someone could simply restart your Mac and gain access with administrator privileges. To keep your Mac secure, don’t share administrator names and passwords.

Standard: Standard users are set up by an administrator. Standard users can install apps and change their own settings, but can’t add other users or change other users’ settings.

Sharing Only: Sharing-only users can access shared files remotely, but can’t log in to or change settings on the computer. To give the user permission to access your shared files or screen, you may need to change settings in the File Sharing, Screen Sharing, or Remote Management pane of Sharing preferences. See Set up file sharing and Share the screen of another Mac.

For more information about the options for each type of user, click the Help button in the lower-left corner of the dialog.

4. Enter a full name for the new user. An account name is generated automatically. To use a different account name, enter it now—you can’t change it later.

5. Enter a password for the user, then enter it again to verify. Enter a password hint to help the user remember their password.

6. Click Create User.

7. Depending on the type of user you create, you can also do any of the following:

For an administrator, select “Allow user to administer this computer.”

For an administrator, select “Allow user to reset a password using Apple ID.”

Use Sharing preferences to specify whether the user can share your files and share your screen.

For information about Apple’s privacy policy, see the Apple Privacy Policy website.

If your Mac or Magic Keyboard has Touch ID, a new user can add a fingerprint after logging in to the Mac.

Best regards

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Answer 3

Aug 26, 2022 1:36 PM in response to Code-ER

Hi Code-ER,

Do you have any keychain entries for the App Store? Here's how to check: Manage passwords using keychains on Mac If so, you may want to delete it and then try logging in again.

Also, are you able to login on this website? Manage your Apple ID This can help us know everything is working properly with your account.

Once you're logged in, check to see if the Mac is associated with your account. Here's how: Check your Apple ID device list to see where you're signed in

Regards.

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Answer 4

Code-ER Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 26, 2022 3:16 PM in response to barberlives123

Hello, thanks for the reply. I do have keychain entries, I'll be honest I have never accessed this program before and it's quite confusing looking. On this side panel I see "Default keychains 'login' 'local items'" I am assuming I need to delete all the entries in login, is this correct? Or should I delete all entries in all fields? I do not mind doing so as my passwords are backed up to a password manager also.

I AM able to login to the "Manage your Apple ID" link you provided, I am able to log in to all Apple services using the same username and password except for App Store. It is only App Store that is affected.

When I check my device list, the new iMac is not part of my devices list. (this makes sense since I am never fully logging in to the account).

I know that I could log in to the iCloud section of the iMac and then it would show up on this list, however that still does not help me as even once I am logged into the iCloud in the iMac settings, the App Store still asks for my password and will not accept my password nor let me continue updating apps or my system.

Take for example my iPad Pro 12.9". That device shows up on my device list. I am logged into my iCloud and my photos are syncing with my iPhone and Macbook just fine, however my YouTube app is out of date and will not launch. I can see that I am logged into my Apple account on this iPad, but I cannot update the apps because my App Store simply refuses to accept my known good credentials. Every time I attempt to update the YouTube app it forces me to enter the password to my account. Even when I logged out of my iCloud account completely and turned off FMI on my iPad, I attempted to update the app and re-login from scratch using the App Store, it would not accept my information. I immediately went back to my settings and signed into my iCloud account at the top of the settings and it logged me in no problems. Even after re-logging in my App Store still asks for my password and does not accept it. This has caused me to be unable to use my iPad for YouTube for ~2 months now and I fear other apps will soon become outdated.

I can't tell you specifically when this issue started, all I know is ~2 months ago YouTube needed an update and I was unable to do so, now my iMac will not update it's iOS or allow me to access the app store and I have now tested it across several other devices and ALL of them refuse to take my credentials in the App Store.

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Answer 5

bryanr14

Community Specialist

Aug 26, 2022 4:12 PM in response to Code-ER

Code-ER,

Thanks for verifying that information for us. Since you're able to sign in successfully with no issues through the Apple ID account page, but not in the App Store, we suggest to contact Apple Support. They have the ability to investigate this further for you and provide you a resolution.

You can contact them by using this link here: Apple Support

Kind regards.

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Answer 6

Code-ER Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 26, 2022 12:55 PM in response to K_Wall44

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately neither option did prove to be successful.

I think the fact that this is happening across several different devices, spanning different OS (OSX and iOS) and only related to the App Store should mean this is something internally wrong on Apple's end. It appears that the way they are attempting to validate my account in the App Store is causing the issue. Remember, my other devices get pinged saying "someone is trying to log-in" and yet the machine I am attempting to log in to delivers "wrong username or password". There is no reason my other devices would get pinged if the information was incorrect (I tested this by inputting the wrong password intentionally, my iOS devices did NOT get pinged to notify me of the login attempt like when I use the correct password) Even when in safe mode, and even when I create a new test user account (again, I have completely factory reset the iMac and set up a brand new user account per my OP) the issue remains.

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Answer 7

Code-ER Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 30, 2022 3:57 PM in response to bryanr14

So what can I do when Apple Support does not have an answer for me? I have contacted Apple Support about this topic before, I have called them, I have spoken to a rep in store, and they are all no help. They just force me to retry the same steps I have tried over and over again. For what it's worth, deleting the App Store entry in my keychain did not fix the issue. Deleting all of the data entries from Keychain did not fix the issue. How can I get through to somebody that actually knows how to correct this issue? I don't have time to continue wasting going over the same repeated "solutions" over and over. I genuinely appreciate anybody who has tried to help me resolve this issue, and I appreciate you taking the time to comment, but telling me to go to Apple Support, something I have tried multiple times before making this thread, does not help me.

They do not investigate further and they do not provide solutions.

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Answer 8

aycajr

Level 1

8 points

Sep 10, 2022 8:55 AM in response to Code-ER

Call Support. They will "help you" after a few hours and after having you clean up/format your Mac and reinstall macOS only to not fix the issue. They may also tell you to do the same to your iPad and your iPhone while you're at it. In some cases, this whole ordeal may take 2 weeks or more, and you'll never get your devices configured the way they were before. What a joke.

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App Store will NOT accept username and password on ANY device

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