Unable to purchase.

Here's the solution: http://apprelated.com/fix-it-unable-to-purchase-error

Warmest regards,

Erik

JVXB wrote:

I occasionally check that folder to see if any folders are being left behind and the Downloads folder is still as clean as the day I deleted all the junk that was in there.

Until yesterday, I had no cause to disagree, as I had seen no blue folders reappear in that area after deletion (I now check my iPad2 frequently with iExplorer, just to see if all is well). But lo-and-behold, a blue folder with numbers appeared yesterday, after my internet connexion went down briefly during a download. I immediately deleted said folder.

Whatever is actually happening, I can confirm our problem is tied to corrupted downloads, as many above figured out.

In this case, it was probably correct that the download folder was left there since the download did not complete. When your Internet connection was restored, your iPad 2 would have continued downloading from where it left off. By deleting the folder you forced it to start over and may have possibly caused a corruption in the sql file.

On an unrelated note, the problem has not returned on either my iPhone 4S or iPad 2 since removing everything from the downloads folder last month. Everything has been working fine since then.

When your Internet connection was restored, your iPad 2 would have continued downloading from where it left off. By deleting the folder you forced it to start over and may have possibly caused a corruption in the sql file.

Given our thread's conclusion, that statement makes no sense, as it makes it sound that the problem BEGINS when you delete the numbered/blue folder, thus corrupting the .sql file. Our collective contention seems to be the exact opposite -- that a failed download corrupts the .sqlite file, necessitating its deletion to function properly again. If you don't delete the folders and ESPECIALLY the file, it gives you that interminable message, "Unable to purchase [...]".

That's what all of us who have "solved" this problem, have done, including yourself, apparently.

Since I posted my participation in the solution (delete .sqlitedb file, and blue folders using iExplorer), I have had ZERO problems. Thankfully!

It works.

Thank you.

Ok, so I think I have an alternate solution which does not involve changing any file names or the like. After restoring from backup I have not had the problem arise. So as far as I can tell, if you restore your iPhone from a backup it should solve the issue.

It is likely that Morac is correct. When you begin downloading an app, a folder is created for it in your Downloads folder. When the app is finished downloading, under normal circumstances, the folder should be deleted.

When your connection is lost in the middle of a download, the folder remains there until you regain a connection and finish downloading the app. Once it finishes, again, the folder should be automatically deleted. By deleting the folder manually prior to letting iOS finish the download, you may be corrupting the database file.

In any case, a corrupt database file is likely the cause for the OS being unable to automatically delete the folders in your Downloads.

I suspect it's only a matter of time before you encounter the issue again. The issue seems to carry over backups. Restoring from a backup won't clear the corrupted database file in your Downloads folder.

Agreed. But the iExplorer method does indeed work. Been at least a week since I did it and haven't got the error since.

BlueBomberRC83 are you sure about the folders not beeing deleted?

If you are that would mean that we could remove the folders in Media/Downloads/ and remove the .sqlitedb file...

Don't know about you bit I have 247 folders inside Media/Downloads folder. Inside are what apears to be icons of the applications.

m.

I'm sure that the folders should not be in Downloads if you have no pending applications to download. The Downloads folder should only have the .sqlitedb file.

If you have no pending downloads but your Downloads folder is full of other folders (which have numerical names), you can delete the numerically named folders. Additionally, if this is the case, your .sqlitedb file is likely corrupt and should be deleted as well.

You are correct on the content of these folders. They have icons of the apps and I think some other bits of data, but I can't remember off the top of my head. In any case, if you're not in the middle of downloading any of these apps, you can delete all the folders. I posted on the previous page (near the bottom) the behaviour that's in iExplorer when deleting all folders.

That is definitely one answer to the problem. Thanks.

This works! Apple, get your stuff together please!

@gleff thank you for the awesome tutorial at http://www.blog.gleff.com/2012/03/app-store-unable-to-purchase-fix/ It's been a couple of weeks since I tried your fix (renaming the sqlitedb file) and so far no annoying Unable to Purchase messages, and I've purchased/updated many apps and purchased several songs since then. The ghost waiting apps no longer appear either. I was reluctant to go tinkering with folders in my iPhone 4 but even more reluctant to reset it. So I took your advice and am so glad I did. Your clear and simple instructions make it easy even for technologically challenged people like me.

Well it certainly depends on the actual origin of the issue. My symptoms seemed to be unique at least to an extent and hence after still not encountering this issue after restoring (admitedly to a new device, which may have been the actual fix)believe that the problem has been remedied, regardless of the underlying reason the message has not popped up again.

This solved my problem.

I tried everything else but eventually removing the sqlite file solved it.

I had this app showing "Waiting" for a couple of days.

I even tried downloading it on iTunes on my Macbook and sync the phone... still nothing.

After I removed the SQlite file. It solved.

Just to inform, the sqlite file may contain data stored for your games.

I realised that all the historic data of the games was gone when I removed the Sqlite.

Not sure if others have experienced the same.

But thats not a big deal for me right now. The annoying app is gone......