iTunes can’t verify the identity of the server

Since updating to iTunes 11.0.3 I get the following dialog boxes every time I start iTunes:

iTunes can’t verify the identity of the server “upp.itunes.apple.com”.

The certificate for this server is invalid. You might be connecting to a server that is pretending to be “itunes.apple.com”, which could put your confidential information at risk. Would you like to connect to the server anyway?

iTunes can’t verify the identity of the server “p16-buy.itunes.apple.com”.

The certificate for this server is invalid. You might be connecting to a server that is pretending to be “p16-buy.itunes.apple.com”, which could put your confidential information at risk. Would you like to connect to the server anyway?

Very annoying to say the least.

Can anyone help me solve the problem and eliminate these dialog boxes on startup?

Thanks,

Bruce

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.5), 23 inch Apple Display. LaCie CD/DVD

Posted on May 21, 2013 12:25 AM

Top-ranking reply

Freedom4U2

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Aug 25, 2013 6:55 AM

Same problem here. It took me hours to find this solution that worked perfectly:

Close iTunes and the App Store
In Finder go to Applications, Utilities and open Keychain Access
Click on "System Roots" under "Keychains"
Click on "Certificates" under "Category"
For every certificate listed that shows a little blue dot with a plus sign do the following:
1. Open it up by double-clicking on it.
2. Click on the triangle next to "Trust"
3. In "Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) choose " no value specified"
4. Close the certificate (you will most likely have to enter your admin password)
5. Open the certificate again
6. In "When using this certificate:" choose "Use System Defaults"
7. Close the certificate (you will most likely have to enter your admin password)
8. The blue dot with the plus sign should disappear.
When no certificates show this blue dot anymore, close the Keychain Access.
Open up iTunes or the App Store. The connection should work now.

Hope this helps.

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26 replies

Apr 17, 2017 10:04 AM in response to Bruce Reading

@Freedom4u2:

amigo, this looks like very sound advice, however none of my certificates have blue circles with plus' on them.

do you have any other suggestions before I got to the mac shop and lay down the Law :-) ?

many thanks in advance, this is driving me insane!

Jun 22, 2013 5:38 PM in response to Bruce Reading

Same issues...had problem for over two weeks cannot connect to iTunes store...Does anyone have any ideas?

Aug 26, 2013 10:20 AM in response to Freedom4U2

Awesome......worked like a charm! Can't thank you enough, this problem was a pain in the neck.

Jan 14, 2014 8:15 PM in response to Freedom4U2

So, your fix is to bypass the built-in security, trust unknown certificates, and open yourself up to malicious files? 😮

Mar 18, 2014 9:04 PM in response to Freedom4U2

i can't understand this part : In Finder go to Applications, Utilities and open Keychain Access

is this available in windows XP?

Mar 19, 2014 1:57 PM in response to j@sp3rtyuiop

Sorry, j@sp3rtyuiop, but this solution is for Macs.

Aug 21, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Freedom4U2

This worked perfectly for me too, thank you so much.

Jan 12, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Bruce Reading

i have the same problem and safari won't open websites properly and went to certificates but no blue plus signs. what can i do

Pikewod

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2017 7:39 AM in response to Freedom4U2

I'm sure this does work, but when i tried to do it, i found that none of the certificates showed either a blue dot or a plus sign... So how else can i solve this problem then?

Jun 22, 2013 9:35 PM in response to macusersince85

I solved the problem by contacting Apple Support.

I remained persistent and was pushed up the chain until I was put in contact with an "expert". Cannot remember her name, however, she walked me through the steps necessary to solve the problem. It had to do with the pLists for the appstore and itunes located in the user preference folder. Plus, she also had me delete a few certificate files.

I would not feel comfortable explaining the steps to you as I am not an expert. Contact Apple Support.

There was no cost to me as I stated I had just downloaded the new version of iTunes and that was when the problem began.

The woman who helped me was AMAZING.

Hope this helps.

Jul 5, 2017 2:42 AM in response to Freedom4U2

Hi Freedom4U2

I am having the same problem but don't have any blue dots by my certificates. Any ideas?

Thank you so much

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iTunes can’t verify the identity of the server