iTunes says computer not authorized. When I try to authorize computer it says it is already authorized but will not play song

I'm experiencing the same thing under iTunes 11.1.1:

1. iTunes says the computer is not authorized, prompts me to authorize
2. I enter my credentials, iTunes says computer is already authorized
3. When I attempt to play song, iTunes starts at bullet point 1 above over again.

My attempted fixes:

1. I tried everything in this support document, to no avail: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1389 (Note: I cannot find a SC Info folder on my Mac)
2. Deauthorize and then reauthorize computer
3. Delete song and try to redownload from iTunes store - there's only a button that says 'purchased' with no option to redownload it

Note: I am using only one iTunes account, and I double checked the song info - I'm authorizing the correct account - 12 songs from the same album purchased at the same time play fine. As does the song in question - from the finder. Only iTunes stubbornly refuses to play it.

The most odd thing is that iTunes music is DRM free - the song in question was purchased only a few months ago. Thus there's no need to authorize the computer to play it.

I was hoping that iTunes 11.1.1 would cure it - no dice.

Every m4p purchase.

🙂 Many thanks.

With that, let's try the following two documents:

iTunes repeatedly prompts to authorize computer to play iTunes Store purchases

iTunes: Missing folder or incorrect permissions may prevent authorization

I was playing around and I found out that you must authorize the computer under the account that the items were purchased under that fixed the problem for me. So you need to authorize the account you bought the items with AS WELL AS the account you set the computer up with

When I try to authorize computer it says it is already authorized but will not play song.

Doublechecking. Are you getting that message for every purchased item that you've moved across to the Mac? Or just one particular song?

Has anyone figured out how to fix this?

Out of the blue, my MacBook is repeatedly prompting that I need to authorize the computer to play my iTunes songs. The computer is authorized (no question about that).

Even worse, now I can't sync my music onto my iPhone.

Please Help!!!

@pastayoyoSep 27, 2014 6:37 AM Re: iTunes says computer not authorized. When I try to authorize computer it says it is already authorized but will not play song
Re: iTunes says computer not authorized. When I try to authorize computer it says it is already authorized but will not play songin response to dbrownwhgt

This worked for me:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420

Authorize your computer using iTunes

Open iTunes. Click Store, select Authorize This Computer...

I don't want to come off as sarcastic but obviously that is the way it is supposed to work. If that worked for you, then it means the computer you were using wasn't authorized and you fixed it by authorizing the computer.

What we are seeing is the computer is clearly authorized and for whatever reason iTunes is not recognizing that authorization for a specific song or set of songs. The song won't play, or in my case it blocks syncing my iPhone. The error we see says that it isn't authorized, but clearly it is. Instead of providing real help so far all we are hearing from Apple is deauthorize/reauthorize and blow away a couple of hidden or cryptic folders then try. From what I have read here that works about 1 in 5.

The frustration I have is that if iTunes detects the problem file(s). It obviously knows precisely which files were the problem and why it thinks they were unauthorized. If it would just display that information or log it somewhere then A) short term I could back up then remove the file from iTunes and at least sync my phone and B) long term we could communicate that to Apple and at least get a reasonable fix instead of a "what the heck try this" response which rarely works. I swear Apple is turning in to MS right before our eyes.

I spent many days on the phone and sending emails back and forth with Apple and they could never resolve it.

I have the same problem. All my purchased Music works but not any Shows. It keeps saying authorize this computer even though it already is. SERIOUSLY spent MONTHS working on this with Apple Tech and iTunes Tech and the Genius Bar and they could never resolve it. So every Video file bought does not work.

Same issue suddenly appearing with slightly different angle:

I have multipe countries itunes accounts (e.g UK and US). yesterday I downloaded a song fromthe UK account (actually I redeemed a freebee card from Starbucks in the UK account)

I have never had this problem before and have loads of songs and movies from 3 different countries on my Macbook pro

I found out that I had somehow created two accounts, and one had become compromised. I called Apple support, and they cheerfully fixed the problem. There was no charge involved; I guess support is free for purchased music not playing.

I have the same problem.

Started after the new iTunes and IOS updates. I have both iPhone and iPad, my iPad syncs just fine but the iPhone 4 stoped.

When I go to My Devices > Manage Devices, it only shows my iPad ( iPad lib)

before that update showed my two devices.

I did all things to add my iPhone again bot doesn work =/

I can't sync my APPs only

Message was edited by: nobruds

I did the same steps that mikuk did, except I was also able to find and delete my "/Users/Shared/SC info" directory. I still have the problem. An interesting fact, I have this problem on just two out of 3510 purchased tracks in my iTunes library. The two tracks are from separate albums. All of the other tracks on those albums are playable and can be downloaded to my iPod.

I was able to solve the problem, simply by deleting the offending song, quitting iTunes and then reopening iTunes and re-downloading the song.

Prior to that I tried the "create SC folder" solution - no effect. Also, I repaired permissions in Disk Utility; funny thing is that there was a lot of errors related to iTunes that were fixed, but that did not cure the problem.

So if it's an isolated item that's been purchased from the store (or I imagine, matched via iTunes Match), then deleting it and re-downloading it should prove to be the cure.

Figured it out. You have to remove all apps and purchased items from your previous account first. This includes whatsapp, facebook etc (all apps that can be removed must be removed). Uncheck sync to music and other things which your phone syncs too which could possibly have permission issues. Once you have synced your phone like this. Then resync your phone with the correct authorization.

I recently bought an iphone from a friend and I hadnt d eleted whatsapp and facebook.I had just entered my information in those apps and had started using them. That was the error which was causing the authorization clash. Once i deleted whatsapp and facebook along with all the other apps bought by the previous owner, only then did the error go away.

I had one song out of thousands purchased as well. I am using iTunes Match. If you are in the Purchased songs playlist, you do not see the redownload option, but if you view all music (the 'Music' playlist) and delete the song, a cloud with an arrow appears (and you may get a message about your songs living in iCloud). I redownloaded and the song plays. So odd, but didn't even need a phone call.