I can no longer leave an app review in the iTunes store

It seems to be happening less to me, although the error did pop up again yesterday. I usually find it's possible to leave a review on one device or another (e.g. iPad if iPhone doesn't work, or vice versa), or on iTunes via a computer. I've only ever found one app that refused reviews on everything I tried. It's still really annoying though and misses the whole point of the rating system, which should be easy and quick. I wonder if it's a problem with Apple or with the app developers themselves?

I too am unable to rate an app or write a review. I always receive the error message:

"To rate this app, you must have purchased it from the App Store"...... and I have!

There has been no change to my Apple ID and I always do these reveiews from my iMac.... so whatever the problem I am reasonably confident it is no on my end.

Very frustrating when you receive a great app and what to give the developer some cudos. I hope it gets fixed soon.

I just had the same problem. I had just purchased an app, and wanted to wrtie a review for it, but it wouldn't let me.

After reading about something similar in another thread, I tried turning off Ping from within iTunes -> App Store -> View Account. After turning off Ping, I was able to write a review.

Ahah! This may have fixed the problem (I've just managed to leave a review I was unable to previously). But the instructions in the previous post aren't particularly clear. This is what I've just done:

1. Go to iTunes on your PC.

2. Click on Store in the top (horizontal) menu.

3. Click on View my Account.

4. Log in with your usual details.

5. Scroll down to the Settings section. Where it says "Recommendations & Ping Posting" click Manage.

6. Uncheck the box that says "Ping Posting & Recommendations".

7. Click Save Changes.

I already had Ping itself disabled, because I don't use it anyway.

As I say, that seems to have worked.... interesting to hear if it works for others?

Annnnddddd maybe not.

I just tried another app and I still couldn't write a review for it. So, it did work for one but not the other. It might have improved things. Still interested to know if it helps others? I think there might be different settings developers can choose with regards to reviews, and whether you can leave one or not might depend on what they selected.

I tried unchecking the Ping settings but it didn't make any difference on my account. I find that I can leave comments on some purchases but not all. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to it either.

+1. 2011 MacBook Pro 13" with Lion.

Same here. Downloaded an app which was free (OrbiContacts), synced with iTunes, etc. Both on my MBP and on IP4 I cannot write a review or give any stars. Apple you need to fix this please.

Hmm, I downloaded OrbiContacts onto my iPhone, and like you, I can't write a review. I wonder if it depends on the app – because there are apps for which I can write reviews, others not.

Has anybody else tried to write a review for OrbiContacts? (it's a free app anyway)

Maybe one of you guys could write some (free) apps for which you were not able to write a review, so others can try it as well.

I just downloaded the game "Tap the frog" (1st part for iPhone, which is free). I CAN write reviews. Can anybody check this out please? And OrbiContacts?

Just purchased BusinessPlan, from the Mac Apps Store, and wanted to leave a rating (1 star) and a review (basically a warning), but I too am getting the imfamous '...bought from the....blah,blah,blah' message.

Well, I bought the bloody program from the Mac Apps Store and I want to rate the bloody software and write a bloody review. Until I know that anyone who has purcahsed apps from the Store can rate and review them, I am boycotting the Store. In some cases, its just too expensive to try out an app that hasn't been rated or reviewed, especially when that app is junk.

I should mention that this problem is occuring on my iMac.

I agree this is a terrible bug for both customers and developers. I have the opposite situation: I purchased a very nice app, for which I would give at least four stars, however I cannot write a review or give stars. Unfortunately, on the MacAppStore there is just one very bad 1-star review for the app – probably this will stick to the app for a very long time.

I still wonder if it depends on the app – can anyone try to leave a review for OrbiContacts (iPhone, free) or for Tap the Frog (iPhone, free)? For me the review function for Orbi Contacts doesn't work, for Tap the Frog it works.

Probably we should inform developers if they are treated unfairly. If Apple doesn't listen to us, maybe they'll listen to their developers. Well on the other hand, these days, Apple probably would only act if there'd be some bad press about it…

lemon-kun,

I downloaded OrbiContacts to my iPad. When I tried to rate the app, I was told that I did not own it, even though I had downloaded the app.

The market is broken and they need to fix it. This problem is going to cost developers revenue and, as a future developer myself, I have a vested interest in having this problem resolved asap.

Guess I'll just hold my breath till I turn blue. Maybe that will work. 🙂

I gots the same problem. Tried the recommendation several posts above but it didnt help.

Perhaps this is done deliberately to either shut users out who have multiple accounts or to reduce the number of reviews on the iTunes store bcuz I cant think of any other reason why this issue is still present and not fixed.

Ditto as per everyone else. I have never been successful in leaving a review how annoying. Maybe the developer of each app reads them first

What's also annoying is that some reviews are there for 5 minutes, perhaps a day and then no longer there. There is nothing against the TOS to warrant removal. I do believe there is some deliberate censoring going on. How it's decided is anyone's guess but Apple's.