Montebello, Lisa
Level 1 (30 points)

Q: Can't download song purchased from Itunes from one computer to another using same Apple ID

Hi, I am operating itunes 11 at home, using Mac OS 10.7.5.. I purchased a song at work (also a Mac, I am not sure which version of OSM or itunes). I accessed the purchase of the song in the "Purchased" menu option in itunes on my home Mac. When I tried to download the song at home so I can include it in my Library, I got the following message:

 

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.

 

So: just to be clear:I can only buy something from  itunes from one computer and save to another with the  same Apple ID only every 90 days??? And if that is the case, I have not purchased anything from my work computer within 90 days of this recent song  purchase. That just does not make sense to me, since the license covers 10 devices anyway, and I am using the same Apple ID.

 

Let me know if I am not understanding this correctly, or am doing something wrong. It just does make not sense to me that I can't download a purchase I made from one computer to another since I am paying Apple for the music and just accessing it elsewhere, using the same account.

 

Thanks so much.

iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iOS 6

Posted on Apr 12, 2014 8:49 AM

by Chris CA,Solvedanswer
Chris CA Chris CA
Level 9 (79,692 points)
iTunes
A:

Montebello, Lisa wrote:

 

But, I did not download the song from a different account,

You or someone have used your home computer with a different iTunes account to redownload (not make only new purchases) omething within the last 90 days.

Any other family members with their own iTunes account use your home computer?

 

Open iTunes.

Click Store.

Click on your account name then Account.

Under iTunes in the Cloud, click Manage Devices.

Screen Shot 2014-04-12 at 4.26.17 PM.jpg

 

Also see this -> iTunes Store: Associating a device or computer to your Apple ID

Posted on Apr 12, 2014 3:28 PM

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Montebello, Lisa

Q: Can't download song purchased from Itunes from one computer to another using same Apple ID

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Apr 12, 2014 9:07 AM in response to Montebello, Lisa
    Level 9 (79,692 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 12, 2014 9:07 AM in response to Montebello, Lisa

    Montebello, Lisa wrote:

     

    So: just to be clear:I can only buy something from  itunes from one computer and save to another with the  same Apple ID only every 90 days???

    No. You can only redownload songs from a different iTunes account every 90 days.

     

    On your home computer, you have redownloaded something from a different iTunes account.

  • by Montebello, Lisa,

    Montebello, Lisa Montebello, Lisa Apr 12, 2014 2:31 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Apr 12, 2014 2:31 PM in response to Chris CA

    But, I did not download the song from a different account, I downloaded it from my account. When I logged onto itunes from my home computer, the song I bought from the work computer is listed as "purchased," and grayed out. If the song was downloaded from a different account, I would think it would not even show up as purchased. I should be able to download the song, correct ?

  • by Chris CA,Solvedanswer

    Chris CA Chris CA Apr 12, 2014 3:28 PM in response to Montebello, Lisa
    Level 9 (79,692 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 12, 2014 3:28 PM in response to Montebello, Lisa

    Montebello, Lisa wrote:

     

    But, I did not download the song from a different account,

    You or someone have used your home computer with a different iTunes account to redownload (not make only new purchases) omething within the last 90 days.

    Any other family members with their own iTunes account use your home computer?

     

    Open iTunes.

    Click Store.

    Click on your account name then Account.

    Under iTunes in the Cloud, click Manage Devices.

    Screen Shot 2014-04-12 at 4.26.17 PM.jpg

     

    Also see this -> iTunes Store: Associating a device or computer to your Apple ID

  • by Montebello, Lisa,

    Montebello, Lisa Montebello, Lisa Apr 15, 2014 2:04 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Apr 15, 2014 2:04 PM in response to Chris CA

    Thanks for the response. Yes, my husband logged on to our computer and rented a movie for us to view. That is how we use Itunes: I purchase the music, he may purchase a movie or a rental now and then. This is new, it never happend before.

     

    Also, I contacted customer support, both by phone and email. Not only does someone else using the home computer under a different account trigger this, but so does simply activating my own user id from a different computer (one of the 5 I am allowed to under the service agreement.)

     

    Customer support was very helpful and lifted the 90 day ban. I called them because I purchased a season pass of a TV show and could not download the first episode because it was a "past purchase" (the episode was not even available to download when I purchased the pass, so “past” is indeed relevant.)

    But I don't see the point of purchasing content from Apple now. This feature limits the accessibility of legal purchases under the service agreement.  Why allow 5 computers per Apple ID if activating one of them limits the ability to download content for 90 days??

    I (used to) buy movies, rentals and TV shows all the time. I don’t have cable, so Apple was the source for all “must have” shows that I couldn’t wait for. Too bad.