itunes says "store is temporarily unavailable. please try again" but then I log in as my wife, and it works. why?

Hello pzado

Check out the article below to ensure everything is set right on your computer to access the iTunes Store.

Can't connect to the iTunes Store

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1368

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

Regards,

-Norm G.

Hi deepfriedturkey

I eventually found a fix for my problem of the same error message (with a little adjustment of my own). I can't say it will fix your problem as it seems be be different for everyone, but lets hope.

The full discussion is here https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5378841?answerId=23254458022#23254458022&ac_cid=tw123456#23254458

Basically I make a backup copy of the following folder and deleted EVERYTHING in it

I deleted EVERYTHING under

C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes

or YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes

Some people have had success only deleting everything in the cookies folder

C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\Cookies

Good luck.

My problem was specific to my login profile, if I logged on under another name the problem didn't exist, so I knew it was local to my machine (specifically my profile). Seems to me that the uninstall process of itunes needs to clean up more than it does.

Unsure if this will help anyone but I had the same problem with the message always coming up when I tried to login: "We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."

What I couldn't understand was that I could log into iTunes online, but not through the iTunes app, becoming very frustrated I went to drastic measures to get everything working again - although I found this post after I had success.

To add to the issue, my iPhone (4S - iOS7) was visible on iTunes (latest version), but some of my apps had failed to sync (showing grey on my iPhone and being unable to delete them), causing further issues and adding to my frustrations....which attributed to the drastic measures posted below.

(You may want to try following the above posts before following my method)

--------------------------------------------------

**** Apple support provided me with an email containing many links, all of which didn't really help me, but I'll post anyway, just incase they assist someone else:

"Dear Luke,

Thank you for writing to iTunes Store Customer Support, my name is Indra and I'll be assisting to you with your concern.

I understand that you are unable to login to your iTunes store account and getting message that the iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. I can imagine you must be eager to access your account and I will do my best to resolve this issue.

Luke, as an advisor for the iTunes Store, I handle issues related to billing, downloading, customer accounts, and the items available on the iTunes Store. Although your question falls outside of my area of specialty, I will be happy to assist you with resolving your issue.

I have verified that the iTunes Store is functioning and accepting connections. The issue could have been temporary, related to your internet connection, your local network, or your computer itself. If you’re still unable to connect, this article outlines some potential solutions:

Can't connect to the iTunes Store

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1368

These articles have helped other Windows users resolve connection issues:

iTunes for Windows: iTunes Store connection troubleshooting

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1527

iTunes for Windows: Could not establish a secure connection to the iTunes Store

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1470

iTunes for Windows: can't access the Internet if proxy settings are incorrect

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1490

iTunes: Troubleshooting security software issues

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3125

Firewall, virus-protection, and web-acceleration software can prevent you from connecting to the iTunes Store. You might not be able to connect even if the software appears to be configured to allow full access to the iTunes Store. You can use the MSCONFIG utility to determine if software on your computer is preventing access to the iTunes Store. For detailed instructions, please refer to the following article:

Using Msconfig to troubleshoot conflicts in Windows Vista and Windows 7

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2292

If the articles above don't help you connect to the iTunes Store, I suggest testing to see if this issue occurs while you are signed in to a new user account on your computer. To learn how to create a new user account in your version of Windows, please read the article below for your operating system:

How to create and configure user accounts in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279783

Windows Vista: Create a user account

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Create-a-user-account

Windows 7: Create a user account

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/Windows7/Create-a-user-account

Windows 8: Create a user account

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-user-account

Once you are signed in to this new user account, open iTunes and try to connect to the iTunes Store. If you can connect without error, then you’ve identified that the issue is with the previous user account that you were using. You may want to consider adopting this new account as your user account and transferring your files from the old account to your new one.

If you require more assistance, you may wish to call our AppleCare technical support team. A technical Advisor will be able to tell you about Apple's complimentary and fee-based support options as well as assist you in determining what option might be most helpful in this case. To find the appropriate phone number, please visit:

Contacting Apple for support and service

http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

I hope that the information provided above is helpful.

Thank you for contacting us and have a nice day!

Sincerely,

iTunes Store Customer Support

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

--------------------------------------------------

But if the above doesn't work for you then you can follow my method...in the end, I perfomed the following actions which did work:

1). Uninstalled iTunes from my computer (via Control Panel > Programs & Features)

2). Located the iTunes folder containing media, Previous Libraries etc (normally located under your Music folder) and simply moved it to my desktop. (can't afford to delete)

3). Downloaded iTunes.

4). Plugged my iPhone into my laptop and moved all contents across to my desktop (photo's).

5). Restored my iPhone erasing ALL data (extreme but desperate measures were required) - you may want to back it up, but I personally didn't have anything that I couldn't afford to loose on it.

6). Set-up my iPhone (set language etc...) including iCloud, but did not plug it into my laptop.

7). Chose the following iPhone settings>

> iCloud - Contacts turned off

> Mail, Contacts, Calendars - iCloud Contacts turned off (same end result)

> iTunes & App Store - made sure I was logged in via Apple ID.

7). Closed Outlook.

8). Re-installed iTunes, saving it on the C:> default location.

9). Followed the normal iTunes install prompts, setting it up as new. (making sure I had NO apps or music - clean slate)

10). Plugged my iPhone into my laptop, waiting for it to appear as it normally does.

11). Checked for iOS updates and iTunes updates (all good)

12). Checked Sync Contacts with Outlook (opening Outlook at the same time) - Calendars I left to the iCloud

13). APPLY....once sync finally completed (this time SUCCESSFUL) I was able to click iTunes Store and LOG IN.....finally!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

I probably didn't have to perform all 13 steps, but that's exactly what I did to get everything working again!

There is probably someone out there who will be able to explain why I couldn't login to iTunes, why many of my apps didn't load onto my iPhone correctly, why everything failed to sync and probably able to shorten the above 13 steps to a quick fix.... but for now, everything is finally working and my 48hrs of frustration has come to an stress free end!

Message was edited by: Lucas_from_SA

Solution (at least for me) finally!!

After much reading over the past several hours I found a potential (and very easy) solution on this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2633729?answerId=23338769022#23338769022

After all of the other advice for deleting, and reinstalling and everything else, the fix (for us) was actually very simple.

In iTunes from the top left drop down menu choose iTunes Store

Make sure you are logged out from all your accounts (as this addresses the issue of being able to log into some and not others).

Choose 'Create Apple ID'

Follow the first two pages, agree to the T&Cs etc, until you get to the page where it asks you for your email address and password info you'd like to use.

Instead of filling that in, go back up to the top left dropdown box and choose iTunes Store and 'sign in' and try to sign in with the ID you've been struggling with.

For me at that point it signed me in and brought me to the card payment verification page where I had to input and confirm our payment method which I did. Once completed it brought me to the iTunes store logged in as my husband.

I logged him out and back in again through itunes and was able to authorise his ID for my computer (new hard drive so new iTunes installation), and then log him out and me back in. All is working fine now.

I haven't gone back to his laptop (see my orignal message right above this to show it was an issue on both computers with his ID only), but I am not expecting any issues now that's sorted. I do expect that when he makes his next purchase he will need to veryify his card details again as it will act like it's the first time the card has been used.

I really do hope this helps someone else (and hopefully the OP if their issues haven't been solved.)

I am also unable to sign in to the iTunes store through the iTunes player.

I have shut down my firewall, deleted and reinstalled my firewall software, updated windows, checked that the computer clock is accurate, updated itunes, deleted and re-installed itunes, flushed DNS, netsh winsock reset, checked all ports, made sure incoming connections from itunes are allowed AND updated my itunes payment details online yet I still cannot sign into the store.

iTunes customer support has now advised me to call Apple technical support and also advised me that there may be a fee associated with the call.

If anyone has a better idea than just giving up and downloading from Amazon, I'd like to hear it...

Ive done all of the above, been looped into doing the same things as you over and over, spoke to support, still no success. I'm on the verge of throwing my phones, I've paid for iTunes Match and can't use it from my PC now.

My problem first started with a "can't purchase from US store" ??? I'm in Australia, how did it connect me to US store? Couldnt connect from iPhone or PC, now it works from iPhone, but not PC, same iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable message.

Hi All,

I've done all the above too and I also contacted Apple technical support by phone. The only advise I got was to uninstall iTunes, restart my computer and reinstall iTunes. I did that and guess what? It didn't change anything. Maybe if this thread grows and reaches 100 posts, Apple will consider this very anoying issue. And for completeness, I'm running iTunes on a Windows 8 computer. The funny part is that I can log in with an old iTunes account and it works... the problem is that my iPhone is already connected using the account that doesn't work with iTunes. Note also that this account works with my iPhone so I can download apps via App Store on my phone. Seems that my computer, my account, my internet connection and my phone works fine.

A quick answer would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi LadyBytes,

What a great surprise at 7AM! Just tried your suggested fix and it works :-) I can now log in with the username that didn't work.

Thanks you very much,

deepfriedturkey (and for the story, I tasted my first deep fried turkey last year in Albuquerque and cannot wait until the next one :-)

Update on my previous post.

iTunes showed I was logged in, displaying my Apple ID on the screen (left bar where it normally is) but I couldn't access my account, with the same error message coming up again! (seriously this is total BS)

I deleted EVERYTHING under

C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes

or YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes

Some people have had success only deleting everything in the cookies folder

C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\Cookies

Thank you LadyBytes

I have exactly the same issues as the original poster. pzado did you ever find a solution? I have a new hard drive so reinstalled itunes and had to authorise the computer. I was able to authorise my account ok, but couldn't authorise my OH's. Then when I went to itunes on his laptop I can sign in as me, but can't sign in as him. So this appears to be an issue with his account. Which means that will make things more difficult for him syncing and backing up etc...

Both computers were recently updated to the latest itunes. I have tried the 'delete the itunes folder in the appdata section' advice, both just the cookies and the whole folder, but to no avail. I can sign in, he can't.

I have tried his phone and all his updates are working with his ID and password, and the apps we share on my phone that he purchased I was able to sign into on my phone, but I just can't authorise them to backup on my computer.

I have not tried purchasing anything from itunes on his phone.

So this is obviously an issue with his itunes user account specifically and not itunes or cookies or anything as it's the same on both computers and is specific to his ID only (same as the OP's post).

Any more ideas? I will wait a few more days and try again in case it's an issue with an apple server his ID is related to. I joined well after he did, so it might be something to do with that, but it's just really odd.

Had a bit of a setback. I assumed when I fixed it on the main computer that it would fix the ID on both, but that wasn't the case.

When I went back to hubby's laptop he was still having the same issue. I followed the same steps I did above, and it worked, only this time it didn't ask for card verification, it just signed him into the iTunes Store. Logged out and in twice to be sure and it is working. So you may have to re-set all your computers individually by going into 'create apple id' then through the first couple of pages, then sign in.

There seems to be a few different causes of the issue but I really hope this does help some people.

(ps - running Windows 7 on PC, so this isn't just a Windows 8 problem as some have speculated on other threads)

I'm having the same message, except with this solution that everyone's suggesting, I have no YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes to delete cookies from.

This may be because I have literally just installed it onto my computer, although not the first time I've had this altogether (I changed my laptop two months ago and then temporarily lost my iPod.

Anyone got anything else that may help?

The solutions presented on the page to which @norm123 refers are not applicable here.

The problem is clearly not linked to basic computer settings (firewalls, etc.) which the solutions address but rather to the Apple ID, since one ID works while the other does not.

I am having an identical or similar problem: I have two Apple IDs, where both work fine through the iOS App Store but one does not work in the iTunes Store through the iTunes application in Mac OS X Mavericks.

When trying to login to the iTunes Store through the iTunes application in Mac OS X Mavericks, I receive the error message "We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."

However, when trying to login to the iTunes Store with an incorrect password, I receive the error message "Your Apple ID or password was entered incorrectly."

As a result, it appears that my Apple ID is being blocked somehow by the iTunes application.

The problem appears to have started when I activated iTunes Match on the still functioning Apple ID, which appears to have blocked the other Apple ID.

I have restarted iTunes and have deleted iTunes preferences (com.apple.itunes.pref) in my user library and then restarted iTunes and my computer. Nothing works.

Anyone had any luck in finding a solution?

've had the same problem for over a month now on my iMac. I can log in using my iPhone and my work PC running windows 7 and when I set up another user on my iMac. It's since I upgraded to Mavericks. I spent 3 hours on the phone with two different Apple technicians 10 days ago. I formatted the hard drive and migrated my Time Machine backup. If it's a possible Mavericks issue you get 90 days free support. I expect to spend another 3 hours on the phone again this weekend 😟

Still nothing. I might just go back to a Windows PC.

Re: New episodes available for download - The Blacklist, Season 2 AND Shark Tank, Season 6

WILL NOT PLAY...AGAIN. BOTH NEW EPISODES SHOW UP ON APPLE TV, but:

"THE ITUNES STORE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. TRY AGAIN LATER" ...AGAIN! (as of now: for two hours).

Can you imagine turning on "normal" TV to see a show or sporting event or BREAKING NEWS

and seeing a message that says, "Try again later".

iTunes store is UP and store PLAYS older episodes, but not the new ones.

THIS IS A BUG!

REBOOTED the Apple TV. (Unreliable crap, requiring frequent rebooting. I have 4.)

NO HELP.

I had always hesitated to PURCHASE TV episodes and especially MOVIES for fear that I would someday NOT BE ABLE to access them...if, for example, Apple went out of business. BUT here we are and Apple is still (sort of) in business, BUT NOT AVAILABLE AND NOT RELIABLE. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY MORE TV OR MOVIES FROM APPLE TV.

NO WONDER "Tim" lowered the price on Apple TV.

NOTE, However, that I WAS able to download the new Blacklist episode to my iPhone (using up valuable real estate, so I'll have to delete it) AND play it through AirPlay (one of the RARE TIMES AIRPLAY WORKED).

Apple is really screwed and screwed up. TIM HAS FAILED US.

Apple died when Steve jObs was fired years ago, and now that he's dead, it will fail again.

Back to ROKU! (I have two, never had a problem with them, never had to reboot.)

And… ON TO SAMSUNG GALAXY phones! (We currently have 3 iphone 6+, not to mention past iPhone 5s's and 5's. Never 4...thought an Apple Phone was a bad idea. I was right... So MANY things don't work with the iPhone 6+ and iOS 8, and , strangely, NO ONE is reporting them to us ONLINE.)

(A friend just texted a picture from her Galaxy 5. The clarity was so outstanding, it was blinding.

Our iPhone 6 PLUS's (and 5s) make the pictures look like they have the photoshop painted "Sprayed Strokes" effect applied. Very bad.)