"This computer is already associated with an Apple ID" ...

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Level 1

5 points

"This computer is already associated with an Apple ID" ...

I have never understood this infuriating annoyance. For various historic reasons, I have two Apple IDs - one US, one UK. Sometimes, unpredictably, I get this message. Example: a few days ago, I bought the film Gravity from the US store. No problems. Watched it (wished I hadn't, but hey). Then today, I logged into my US account again, this time to download the latest episodes of The Walking Dead (which I had already paid for, back in October as a season subscriber. I had already previously successfully downloaded and watched the first half of the current Season 4). But now, no joy. Instead, "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 49 days."

Why? Why?? What does it mean? Why is Apple being so user-0unfriendly like this? Is there a workaround? Do they really think I am going to buy another iMac if they keep this up? Utterly, utterly infuriating - especially as I spent part of yesterday persuading a friend to go down the Mac route. Gee, thanks guys.

If anyone can explain this infuriating piece of insane bureaucracy to me, they deserve a medal. Better yet, how nice if someone from Apple woke up and realised - "Doh! We're screwing folks here! Let's mend our petty-minded ways". And, yes, I realise that is never going to happen. Shame.

Decent company, decent gear, great innovations. And then this kind of nonsense.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Feb 24, 2014 5:20 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

411,193 points

Feb 24, 2014 5:51 AM in response to Helpless123

Except in very rare scenarios which would be difficult to achieve, you are never intended to be permitted to use the Store in two different countries, and it certainly isn't designed to facilitate that. Unless you are truly resident in two countries and constantly flying back and forth between them so you are in the country when downloading then you are violating the terms of use of the Store. Those scenarios are likely so rare, the system is probably set up to discourage violation versus accommodate the very small number of users who may be in a position to frequently switch between services in multiple coutries.

E.g., "The iTunes Service is available to you only in the United States, its territories, and possessions. You agree not to use or attempt to use the iTunes Service from outside these locations. Apple may use technologies to verify your compliance." - http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/us/terms.html#SERVICE

The system is also not set up for frequent switching between accounts for the purposed of redownloading. You have multiple accounts so you can get around the country switching wait period, but as a result you are working outside design parameters. I could see where frequent reauthorization is made difficult so as to prevent people from going over to a friend's house, logging into their account from their friend's computer, downloading all their purchases onto the friend's computer, then the friend logging back on immediately. etc.

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."

Normal use of a single account or on a computer that is properly backed up so repeat downloads are not necessary will avoid the authorization issue. Since you are kind of working on the edge of how accounts are designed to be normally used you will have to ensure you have your content properly archived on local drives so you can avoid having to frequently redownload.

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