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Ipad2 app store can't download apps - get error 'item is being modified, try again later', but daughter IS able to download it just fine!

I'm unable to download almost all apps on my ipad2 now. This problem got worse now over the last 2 days. I click on the purchase, then get 'This item is currently being modified. Please try again later.'. I've tried 'rebooting' the iPad (turning it off then back on). I then asked my daughter to try downloading the same app on her ipad2, and it works just fine for her - no error message. I try again, and same error. Apple support had me reset the iPad, and it still didn't work. Apple support had me try to install it on my iTunes from my pc (windows 7 pc), and it doesn't work for me from there either.


It sounds to me like it's a problem then with my iTunes account (my iTunes account is about 6 years old) - my daughters iTunes acct, like her ipad2, is brand new. My iPad2 is a couple months old...


Since it fails on my pc iTunes, I don't think that it is a problem with my iPad.


Since my daughter can install the apps in the middle of when I'm getting the errors, I don't think that the error is correct - it can't be being modified if my daughter can download it...


3 hours with apple support was no help - they don't see any problem with my iTunes account, and just say that it must be an issue with the app...

That doesn't make sense to me when my daughter can download it just fine, and it is happening to me with SO MANY APPS!


By the way, my daughter is here in the same house with me, with wifi access being used to download the apps.


Again, it is happening with almost EVERY app I try to download now, but occasionally I am able to download an app.


I've downloaded hundreds of apps over the 2 months I've owned my iPad, and have gotten this error sporadically the whole time I've had my iPad.

At first I thought the error was valid, but now with it happening over and over again, and trying again 'hours' or a day later doesn't help, I don't see how these apps can really be 'being modified' all this time, especially when my daughter can download these apps just fine (several of them)


Is anyone else having this problem?? How to fix it???

Posted on Feb 5, 2012 12:45 AM

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Posted on Feb 5, 2012 9:03 AM

I'm having the very same issue as you are. Trying to download some free apps and just keep getting this weird message. Using my wife's apple ID I can download the apps immediately.

122 replies

Feb 5, 2012 2:36 PM in response to shuffle-user

I have exactly the same problem with purchasing some apps that are on sale in Russian AppStore! This is happening last 4 days and I've already missed some cool apps that were free! I tried all things you mentioned and no results. App developer says its AppStore problem, support says - something wrong with the app. I'm very disappointed already because of missing good apps that I could have free. I will be very happy if apple will do something with this problem and won't close eyes on it...

Feb 5, 2012 2:36 PM in response to s_Fanous

Count me in. iPhone, not iPad, though.


I've been having this issue for a few days, on only a few apps. I've been able to purchase other apps, but for some reason, I have a few that give me that message.


The three apps that aren't downloading are all free for a few days (i.e. on sale), so I imagine that has something to do with it. I've been searching around on the internet for other people, and this is the first mention I've been able to find on this particular matter. That's surprising, because I know that we're not the only ones coming across this error/bug. I subscribe to a daily review of apps that have become free called AppsGoneFree, and their release yesterday and today mentioned the issue.

Feb 5, 2012 3:34 PM in response to shuffle-user

I'm having the same problem. It's not hardware related. It's not app related. I'm having the problem on my iPhone4, iPad, iPad2, and iTunes/PC.


My wife isn't having problems purchasing, downloading, and installing the same apps on her iOS devices.


I believe it's iTunes account related and centers around free or discounted apps. I've attempted to modify everything on this end that I can to include changing credit card details and even deauthorizing/reauthorizing computers and devices.


I've gone through the hassle if completing the online support form to create a case. I'll post back with any advice, helpful or otherwise, I receive from Apple.


I've never given much thought to jailbreaking my idevices, but issues like these do get one thinking...

Feb 5, 2012 10:15 PM in response to shuffle-user

It's an App Store problem, and I've already repeatedly pushed Apple support to look into it... it looks like some of the servers are getting stuck after a price change and consider the item to be perpetually in modification, until the next price change. Some free app forums have been filling up with complaints about it this weekend, although I noticed it first stated happening for me last week. But this weekend it won't go away, unlike before.


Maybe something running amuck is slowing everything down on the main App servers?

Feb 5, 2012 11:35 PM in response to shuffle-user

Interestingly, I've looked up the US rankings for a couple of big apps that have gone free this weekend that I can't download, and all plunged from moderatly successful (~300-400) to near zero, indicating that we aren't the only ones with the problem. Apps that I have been able to download have risen substantially, as you'd expect. It's ONLY happening in the US App Store, all others are showing the expected ranking increases.

Feb 5, 2012 11:57 PM in response to tgroman

I am experiencing the same issue with free and discounted apps. I have successfully purchased a few non-discounted, paid apps since this problem started. As tgroman mentioned, I am experiencing this issue across all of my devices (iPad, iPad 2, iTouch), so it is almost certainly an account related issue.


There is one other thing that I will mention that may or may not be related. Around the same time as I started noticing this issue, I had attempted to re-download a "previously purchased" free app (Ccmixter), but the download failed for some reason. Since then, most of the time when I update apps, I will get a message like "CCMixter could not be downloaded." Despite getting the message, the apps do update successfully.


The last time I got the message, it said something like "CCMixter and 7 other apps could not be downloaded." At that point, I had been able to download CCMixter, and it was actually installed when I got the message.

Feb 6, 2012 12:43 AM in response to shuffle-user

Hi all, I have been having the same problems with my iMac's and all my IOS devices over the past three days. After viewing all the forums I found the answer. I was using a "&" symbol in my iTunes account name. I changed it to an "and" instead and all systems went back to normal. I can only assume that Apple has done something to their system over the past few days, which has caused problems with accounts using the ampersand symbol.


If your account looks like this: John & Jo Smith


Change it to: John and Jo Smith


Hope that helps.


PS. Apple Support could not help me but the forums did.

Feb 6, 2012 4:34 AM in response to shuffle-user

Opening a case has been a waste of time...



Hi Grace,


Sending me a link to an app in the app store indicates that you don't fully comprehend the problem I'm having, and/or are ignoring the specific details I've provided.


My problem has nothing to do with finding an app in the app store.


Did you read my initial post used to create the case? Did you read the part about my wife purchasing, downloading, and installing the app without a problem with her account? Did you read the part that indicated it wasn't hardware specific as it was effecting all three of my iDevices and my PC?


If so, please accept my logic that it's not an app specific problem, but the app is an additional variable in a problem that appears to be specific to some other variable/s associated with my iTunes account.


Yes, please investigate this issue further. Please refrain from sending any further emails that indicate that you're unable to comprehend, or are ignoring, the information I've already given you - it's not only disappointing, but also non-customercentic.


Thomas


Sent from my iPad


On Feb 6, 2012, at 3:16 AM, iTunes Store <iTunesStoreSupport@apple.com> wrote:


Dear Thomas,


Thank you for writing to iTunes Store Customer Support. My name is Grace and I'll be your iTunes Advisor for today.


I'm sorry to hear that you are not able to download the free app that is being offered from the store. I can appreciate how anxious you are to have this looked into. No worries, I'll be more than happy to check on your concern.


Thomas, I check the item on the store and I see that the item is up and available for download. I also learned that there are lots of users who are also downloading the app.


Please try downloading the app "G.U.N" from this link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/g.u.n/id427132748?mt=8


If you are still unable to download the app, please let me know and I will further investigate on your concern.


Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I'll be more than happy to assist you with whatever you need. Thank you for the chance to improve your iTunes experience.


Have a great day!


Sincerely,


Grace

iTunes Store Customer Support

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww/


Please Note: I work Fri-Tue, 8-5PM CT


Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to assist you.


First Name : Thomas

Last Name : G

Email :

Apple ID (Optional) :

Lang_Country : en_US

Product : iPad

Support Subject : iTunes Store, App Store or iBookstore

Sub Issue : iTunes Store error code descriptions and troubleshooting

GCRM Case ID :

See additional info below

Which operating system is installed? iOS 5.x

What version of iTunes is installed on your computer? iTunes 10.5

Choose the iTunes Store or App Store for your country: United States

Item title:

Order number:

Please tell us more about the issue:

Details:

I'm getting the error, when attempting to purchase a free app (G.U.N) on my iphone, ipad, ipad 2, or iTunes on my PC:


"This item is currently being modified, please try again later."


My wife is able to purchase, install, and play the app on her iphone with out getting the error.


There are several apps that's cause this same error. What's the problem?

Ipad2 app store can't download apps - get error 'item is being modified, try again later', but daughter IS able to download it just fine!

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