why is itunes asking for my password each time?

@ Ckuan - no. I don't even have the option checked to share the library on the local network.

And my iTunes library is located on the internal hard drive of the iMac on which I'm opening iTunes, in what I think is the default location in my home directory - /Users/(my name)/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music.

@ karenfromsoulsbyville - unfortunately I am still getting the problem and the latest upgrade didn't make a bit of difference for me. I am now on iTunes 10.5.2 (11).

This all started when I upgraded from Snow Leopard to Lion.

Hello. Some users, myself included, are being asked to sign in to iTunes everytime iTunes opens. ITunes asks for your User ID and Password for Automatic Downloads and to check for downloads. This is a known issue to Apple. I have sent screen shots to the Apple Engineers for observation. So far I have not seen an iTunes update correcting this issue. I highly recommend everyone having this issue to call Apple Technical Support. The more the Engineers hear from customers, the faster they act.

I was finally able to resolve the problem - at least for myself. Sorry for not posting back here - I think I've been participating in multiple threads about this and probably updated one of the others but not this one.

I think it's an issue with cookies and/or other saved Safari information. I am in the habit of reseting Safari every so often - and so I previously had this problem whenever I reset Safari. I found that when I changed my Safari reset options to NOT reset "saved names and passwords" as part of reseting Safari, I no longer have this problem. (This is done by unchecking that box, which appears in the list of things to "reset" that pops up when you select Safari, Reset Safari from the menu bar within Safari).

Perhaps an option to not save or accept cookies might also cause this problem to occur. I think as long as you accept cookies and don't reset the saved web information from Safari, you might get rid of this problem as I have. (Of course, you WILL likely encounter the problem and have to sign in the first time after you make my recommended changes, since you won't have signed in yet...but then after that, never again, as it will/should keep your passwords).

The procedure recommended by EMGULS79 had no effect on the problem I'm seeing on my system. I'm running Windows 7, iTunes 10.5.2.11, and Safari 5.1.2 (7534.52.7). To the extent possible, I've also tried all the other recommendations in this thread. Still, every time I open iTunes, I get prompted for my password, ostensibily to enable automatic downloads. I didn't have the problem on previous computers, but it happens consistently on an HP laptop I got a couple of months ago. Every. Single. Time. It's getting tiresome, to say the least. I'm not accessing the Apple Store...just trying to listen to my music.

I realize this forum section is for iTunes on Mac, but a Google search led me here. I've seen a number of complaints about this issue, but this thread seemed to have the most current fix suggestions. Unfortunately, they haven't worked.

The reason iTunes is asking for your password everytime you open the App, is because "Automatic Downloads" and "Check for Available Downloads" is checked. Everytime you open itunes, the app wants to automatically sign into your iTunes acoount and retreive data. In order for it to "safely" do this, it requires you enter your password.

To make it stop, uncheck these selections in the preferences.

Preferences>Store tab

Hi.

Thank you for your response. I have posted this suggestion a few days ago. Unfortunately, unchecking " Automatic Downloads" and "Check for Available Downloads" is a temporary fix. The prompt boxes asking for User ID and Password eventually returns. A Tier 2 Apple Tech Support representative responded back to me from Apple Engineers that they are aware of this issue and are trying to isolate the problem. Checking or not checking any boxes in iTunes, Prefernces, store should not prompt anyone to sign into iTunes.

I encourage everyone with this issue to report it to Apple Tech Support @ 1-800-275-2273

The more people that report this issue to Apple, the faster we can get a fix.

Thanks for the attempted help, but the problem still exists. I only had "Automatic Downloads" enabled, but clearing the check box (and ensuring "Check for Available Downloads" was also cleared) made no difference. I'm still being asked for my password every time I open iTunes.

Just to be certain, I just now installed iTunes 10.5.3.3, which was presented to me as the latest update. And now I'm being asked for my password twice, each time simply open iTunes.

For the record, every single check box in the Store tab is cleared. I'm not automatically doing anything with the Store. And I'm not manually downloading anything, either. I don't intend to buy anything from the iTunes store until the player works as it should.

This needs fixed. I do not want to have to sign in each time I open iTunes. I do not have either Auto Download or Check for Available Downloads checked. I am willing to sign in any time I purchase something. Other than that, there is no reason to have to sign in. I just want to listen to music in my library. They need to get rid of this annoying, unnecessary and intrusive pop up. I'm sure it is another effort on their part to 'learn' more about each of our music collections and useage patterns. It is crap and it needs to go away.

So I tried everything, and I went to the Itunes Store and signed out then I turned my laptop off and back on and now I don't have to sign in every time. Hope this helps.

Whoa crazy! I was perplexed myself until I realized my above suggestion and it seemed to logical to be untrue....however, since then, I have not had a problem and have restarted/booted iTunes several times without having to sign in.......perhaps I just got lucky, or my "temporary fix" is yet to expire.....

I will do as suggested and report it to tech support.....I deal with weird bugs all the time but this iTunes thing was perhaps the most annoying!!

same problem.

what i did

disconect your account from itunes store in your itunes.

in your itunes on itunes store, right upper corner click in your email press disconect

when you reopen your itunes it wont ask again

Yep this worked for me but didn't have to reboot. I just closed itunes and reopened it.

Worked for me (so far) enrique. Good tip.

Working so far for me, too. Thanks for the tip.