Unable to purchase.

I've been using iExplorer for years and there is no virus. Those claims are for an app caled iexplore.exe (which is a totally different program.

ikemarrus wrote:

I think you're on to something. My situation keeps getting worse. Now - when I try to download a free app, it tries to download a paid app as well - but Apple says there's nothing in my download queue. They want me to restore my ipad.

However, I did notice that when I plug in, sync thru itunes, and THEN download a free app, I don't get any popups or weird behavior.

I'm reluctant to use iExplorer, though - there are some messages online about it including a possible virus.

Message was edited by: just_jeepin To clarify my point.

Those people must assume that it's Internet Explorer 😀

iExplorer was originally called "iPhone Explorer" but they changed the name to iExplorer for fear (or pressure) from Apple.

I can't imagine that the solution is this simple, but after reading this post I found that no one tried it and so I did. Worked so far. Try this:

Go to Settings->Store->sign out

kill app store if it is running

start up app store and try to download anything

it prompted me for my id and pwd again, entered in my credentials, and no longer got the error.

I'd like to hear if this worked for anyone else...

Yeah, signing out and back in was one of the first things I tried...I didn't see the message immediately afterward, but it did start popping up again later on. At least for me, it was almost definitely due to a database corruption issue, which is fixed by the iExplorer method mentioned above.

I've been getting this on my iPad 2 every few days for over a month. Nothing I've done fixed it, though I haven't tried the iExplore method. I've found iExplore flakely in the past though as it rarely let's me do anything before saying it lost connection and I need to quit and re-run the app.

Anyway, Sunday (March 4th) I went to download an app on my iPhone 4S (on WiFi) and mistyped my store password. I then typed in the correct password and downloaded the app. Since then, I've been getting the error on my iPhone 4S for that app as well.

So the problem is definately related to the device being unable to download an app, even if it then downloads (or syncs) the app succesfully in the future.

I've also gotten the error message under iOS 5.1 so that doesn't correct the problem. I don't know if it prevents the problem from happening in the first place though.

I've been having the same problem for a few weeks now on my iPhone 4 32GB. The issue started when I clicked to purchase GTA3, but had second thoughts and cancelled the iTunes Store password prompt. Since then I've been getting an "Unable to Purchase Grand Theft Auto 3 and 14 other items..." message. My phone was jailbroken at the time. I just updated to iOS 5.1 today (non-jailbroken) and that has not solved the problem. I also tried signing out and back into my iTunes Store account but that doesn't help either. Hmmm...

By the way, I would think doing a reset on the device (holding power and home till device shuts off) would remove the sqlite file since it's supposed to clear all cached files. I've tried a reset and that doesn't fix the problem so I'm not sure deleting the sqlite file would either.

It's not a Wifi Sync bug. I don't have it enabled on either my iPad 2 nor my iPhone 4S. My iPad 2 got the glitch back in January. My iPhone got the glitch a few days ago when I entered the wrong password in the App store when trying to install a free app (that app now displays in the error)..

The problem is caused by a failed App download (incorrect password entered, too large for 3G, etc).

What I don't understand is why the problem doesn't happen all the time. I can go for several days or even a week without seeing the error and then it will suddenly show up, then go away, then go back. That's why I won't consider the problem "fixed" unless I don't see it for several weeks.

It's been over two weeks (Feb 22) since I deleted the database file and I've not had the problem since. All other things I tried previous only lasted for a few days.

Has anyone been successful (or not) by restoring the ipad (reloading all apps)? That's what Apple suggests. I would think that would remove the sqlitedb file. It seems like the apps need to be reloading one by one - is that really correct?

Restoring to factory state should work as long as you don't reload a backup...it would need to be completely from scratch. The iExplorer method is a LOT less intrusive!

I am amazed that Apple is not taking note of all these problems. There should be a way to get around this short of restoring to the factory state or downloading a (questionable?) 3rd-party app onto my work machine. I going to try the genius bar tomorrow.

I used iExplorer to pull the downloads.28.sqlitedb file off my iPhone and actually looked at it since it's just a SQL file. It appears to actually be a database of all the downloaded app (including transaction ids and other data) along with pointers to the folders in the download directory. Those folders contain artwork and other info.

I looked at the title that periodically pops up as failing to download and don't see anything different about that entry compared to others which likely means the problem is either in one of the download folders or possibly with a transaction id not matching one in the App Store server. The later would make sense since phone would try to download the app and the store would deny the request.

I'm not sure simply wiping the downloads.28.sqlitedb file is particularly wise though since it contains a history of transactions, not just for apps, but for purchased music, books and other stuff. It also continues info on pre-orders and the like. It might simply be cache data, but it's more than just apps. My guess is that it is used for pushed iCloud downloads as well so the device knows if it downloaded an app, book, etc or not.

Basically removing it without removing all the media on your device probably will have unintended consequences.

If you do wipe out that file, all the other files in the download directory basically become lost as the sqldb file is a map to all the assets in the folders. As such you'll end up with garbage data so you probably should wipe out everything in the Download folder if you are going to go this route.

In principle your are probably right. But ... I deleted the entire contents of the folder over a month ago. I have had no more error messages, iTunes synchs correctly, my downloaded apps and books are still present for download in the app store and wirelessly. In practice this seems to have solved the problem for me with no ill effects.