Can someone please explain what this means? I can't download my past purchases whenever I feel like it?
This computer is already associated with an Apple ID.
You can download past purchases on this computer with just one Apple ID every 90 days. This computer can be used with a different Apple ID in 88 days.
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion
Not whenever you want, not exactly, no. The powers that be don't want you going into each of your friends' computers and downloading all your purchases to them, so they place limitations on what you can do, even if that's not exactly what you are trying to do in this case.
iTunes Store: Associating a device or computer to your Apple ID - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4627 - In connection with, "When you turn on iTunes Match or Automatic Downloads, or when you download past purchases on an iOS device or computer, that device or computer becomes associated with your Apple ID." "Your Apple ID can have up to 10 devices and computers (combined) associated with it. Each computer must also be authorized using the same Apple ID. Once a device or computer is associated with your Apple ID, you cannot associate that device or computer with another Apple ID for 90 days." - Additionally instructions for "Removing an associated device or computer from an Apple ID"
Here's an update on my current situation.
The problem was resolved with Apple support.
They reset something and now it all works as before.
I asked them what the problem was, something I might have done maybe and am waiting for an answer.
I will update this post if or when they answer me.
Reading through this entire discussion I never realised this was such a big deal for people me and my wfe share an Apple ID and just download the stuff we're interested in, surely it makes much more sense to only buy apps, content etc once. This hatred against what is clearly a policy to stop people sharing content & apps ad infinitum makes sense from a business perspective.
Where I would concede that it seems ludicrous is on the Mac which has the capability of multiple users. I don't know maybe we're weird?
Where I would concede that it seems ludicrous is on the Mac which has the capability of multiple users. I don't know maybe we're weird?
That's pretty much the case everyone's talking about here.
First of all, this policy does absolutely nothing to stop illegal content sharing. You can illegally copy files in dozens of other ways, and just about *no one* is stupid enough to share conent by giving *someone else* access to their iTunes account, so that's a complete red herring. It's just an annoyance to loyal customers who are trying to follow the rules. If it made sense "from a business standpoint", then Amazon would do it, and they don't.
Second, you and your wife apparently met *before* you had iTunes libraries. When my wife and I met, we both had large libraries (which of course can't be merged). My kids also have their own accounts, so they can learn to manage their own funds, rather than just charging things to Dad's credit card. That's four people in the house who just want to use shared computers (like the one connected to the entertainment center) to access stuff they've legally bought and paid for. Apple doesn't *prevent* it; they just make it a pain in the ***, which is a really lousy way to treat people who have dumped much money in their pockets as we have.
For example, my son came home from college and redownloaded a movie he had bought on his laptop. This action locked *me* out of using my own Match library for 90 days (or would have, if Apple hadn't graciously reset the counter).
Of course, he could have moved it over on a thumb drive, or by remotely mounting the disk, so again this has nothing whatsoever to do with illegally sharing content and everything to do with being annoying.
Like I said never knew it was such a huge issue, the compromise should be to allow one id for one user account on PCs/Macs if they wish to retain one id per device on iOS. I wouldn't bet on the status quo changing too soon though. Reading around it only seems to affect people who subscribe to iTunes Match or is the problem wider?
It mostly affects Match users (which, again, is something I pay for) but it can be annoying for other people, too. For example, if my wife (who doesn't use Match) buys a song on her iPhone, she *should* be able to redownload it on our entertainment computer and listen to it there, but that would lock me out of my Match account, so I periodically have to physically copy the music, since you can *authorize* as many users as you want on one computer, proving again that this has nothing to do with illegal sharing.
Basically, there are two types of users:
(1) Those not affected by this crazy authorize/associate distinction.
(2) Those who are really ****** off by it.
This really makes about as much sense as if a CD player has only played one person's CDs.
Hmm. I am really confuse now. Can someone explain?
If I wish to re-download a movie, then the computer I am using is disabled from allowing other accounts to re-downloading media for 90 days.
If a person with another account on that same computer buys Itunes products films or music, are they banned from doing that too?
In other words, are other account holders completely locked out of Itunes on that computer?
ahhhh.....
You're confused because the rules are confusing, stupid, and designed to annoy loyal customers,
while doing precisely nothing to limit illegal content sharing.
In short:
- Any number of AppleIDs can be "authorized" to buy and play content on a single computer.
- In order to *re-download* content (including Match), a computer must be "associated" with
that AppleID. Only one AppleID may be associated with a computer, and that can only change
once every 90 days.
This means that the other (non-associated) AppleIDs can purchase and download content
*the first time* without interfering with the associated account. They can also play authorized content
that's copied to the computer in other ways (sync, network, thumb-drive, etc) rather than re-downloaded
from iTunes. That's the part that shows how idiotic this rule is wrt limiting illegal sharing.
It's the duty of everyone who comes up against this rule to write a nasty letter to Apple. Maybe they'll
listen someday.
this means that the other (non-associated) AppleIDs can purchase and download content *the first time* without interfering with the associated account.
So just to clarify, if I re-download a movie and the computer is associated with my ID for 90 days, my wife can still download movies 'first time' as long as she doesn't want to re-download them. Have I got it right?
It seems complete madness to me as does DRM. There are loads of sites where these movies can be downloaded for free, way before Apple sells them, so you would think it would be in the interests of all those concerned to make it really easy for those who want to download legally. It seems to be the other way around. 😕
Sparky2041 wrote:
this means that the other (non-associated) AppleIDs can purchase and download content *the first time* without interfering with the associated account.
So just to clarify, if I re-download a movie and the computer is associated with my ID for 90 days, my wife can still download movies 'first time' as long as she doesn't want to re-download them. Have I got it right?
Yes. She could also copy them from another computer or sync them from a mobile device with "Copy purchases". She just can't re-download them from iTunes or run Match.
It seems complete madness to me as does DRM. There are loads of sites where these movies can be downloaded for free, way before Apple sells them, so you would think it would be in the interests of all those concerned to make it really easy for those who want to download legally. It seems to be the other way around. 😕
Yes, it's total madness.
What it means is that when someone else (in this case Apple) controls your access to something you purchased - you really haven't purchased anything at all. I am in the same boat and because of that I am trying not to use the Apple store to "purchase" content. I look for CDs and rip my own content. Such a sham.
I have had the same problem and my daughter now can't get any music and is really upset and an
I am having the same issue. May be its time to look for other option then iTunes.
Downloading Past Purchases
