iTunes keeps asking for authorization. Over and over. Can't listen to my iTunes music.

Question

Level 1

38 points

iTunes keeps asking for authorization. Over and over. Can't listen to my iTunes music.

Just in the last day or so, whenever I plug in the new iPod Touch, I get a message saying I need to authorize the computer. The computer I have been using for years. So I "authorize" the account. A friendly window pops up saying this computer is already authorized. (It is the 3 out of the available 5.)

Hit the okay button and 5 seconds later, the same thing happens. Over and over. It's really getting annoying. I can't access the music I PAID FOR nor can I put any of my 70-80 audiobooks onto my iPod. This really blows.

APPLE, ONE WOULD ALMOST THINK YOU ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO NOT BUY MUSIC FROM YOU.

Anyway....

Looking through my account info on iTunes, they think I have 3 computers authorized. The one odd thing is that the Apple ID name they keep offering is a very old AOL account name from 5 or 6 years ago. Don't know why they keep thinking this is the correct one.

Also, whenever I try to update my apps, they say I have to fix my credit card information. Sounds....sketchy.

Anyway, all words of wisdom greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Brian

20 " 2.16 GHz iMac 250 GB HD/ 800 MHz eMac, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on May 8, 2011 5:22 PM

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Answer 1

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

May 8, 2011 11:49 PM in response to brian hardy1

have a look at this support article.

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Answer 2

May 8, 2011 11:52 PM in response to brian hardy1

And here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1420

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Answer 3

brian hardy1 Author

Level 1

38 points

May 9, 2011 6:40 PM in response to Jolly Giant

Uh..Jolly Giant, this didn't work.

Though I appreciate the effort.

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Answer 4

brian hardy1 Author

Level 1

38 points

May 9, 2011 7:02 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Carolyn,

This sort of worked. I did an info check on one of my purchased songs and saw that my Account Name was from 6 or 7 years ago. An old AOL account I am sad to say. (Oh, the embarrassment!) It's annoying because iTunes/Apple should know me by my current email address. Everything else Apple says looks like they see me from my current email address.

In fact, I just checked my most recent iTunes purchase from about a month ago and they have me at my current address. It seems that between March 31, 2008 and April 3, 20008, my account name went from old AOL email to current one. This sure is odd. Will this be a problem? (That is, a further problem?) Is there anyway to get everything under my current email?

But that is not the annoying thing. I changed my password to match my ancient Account Name and was able to authorize the computer. However, Apple now considers this the 4th computer that I have authorized. (It should be the 3rd. This iMac has two authorizations on it. WTH?!?)

Now I buy computers very rarely. My current is 4 years old and I don't see plunking down any new cash for near future. But is the 5 computer authorizations lifetime or just at one time? Our next computer will probably for the wife and so that would be #5. De-auth'ing her eMac won't be a problem but will that fill up my last slot or is it a take one/give one situation?

De-auth'ing my in-laws' ancient PowerMac won't be a problem. I put iTunes on there so I could **** around while visiting them. They don't actually know they have it or even what iTunes is.

Well, thank you all for your assistance so far. You have been generous with your time and expertise.

Brian

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

May 9, 2011 10:01 PM in response to brian hardy1

Deauthorize all works once per year.

After you do it, simply authorize the computers you want.

You can have 5 computers authorized at any one time, not only 5 forever.

And deauthorizing all will not keep them from playing. If you purchase something from the store, it will then tell you it is deauthorized and then require authorization.

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Answer 6

brian hardy1 Author

Level 1

38 points

May 15, 2011 5:09 AM in response to Chris CA

Got it!

Thanks.

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