"iTunes could not connect to the iTunes store" keeps popping up

I just updated to 12.5.4.42 on my mac with OS X 10.12.2. Same problem.

It would seem our 'friends' in Cupertino want to know what music we are playing at anytime. I am disconnected from the net on this computer and am running it as a music server. The iTunes Remote won't allow playing until the error message is acknowledged. Nice work iTunes team. Another form of tracking that doesn't work as intended. I'm growing more tired and frustrated with Apple every day and their constant information gathering. And we thought Microsoft was bad.

Hi Liam! The iTunes dialogue box seems to be a widespread bug of iTunes 12.5.4. Currently a temporary workaround is: connect your Mac once to the internet, launch iTunes, the error will go away. You may disconnect from internet, but don't quit iTunes, you may keep it minimised, hidden. If you restart iTunes while offline, the error will reappear.

I talked with an AppleCare adviser about the issue, he will be in touch with iTunes engineering team. It may take some time before they can provide a solution or issues an update to fix the issue. Let's be patient until then 🙂

I think the culprit is iTunes 12.5.4. Try uninstalling it and install a previous version of iTunes. If you're lucky, you might have one on your download folder or try this site.

Apple - Support - Downloads

This works as a workaround for now. This bug should be fixed. Seems like the app is trying to authorize the account for every tune : https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7787318?answerId=31223487022#31223487022

Hi Liam,

See if you can find the answer here. If you can’t connect to the iTunes Store - Apple Support

I have tried logging in and out of itunes turning off all features that would require internet use in itunes preference, nothing has worked.

The next thing I did was reinstall itunes. Did nothing.

I also reinstalled os Sierra still nothing. I am annoyed with the situation. Hope there is a solution

>> temporary workaround is: connect your Mac once to the internet, launch iTunes, the error will go away.

Just FYI this did not work... but we have a slightly different message.

We have various iPads and Macs in live performances that we don't want connected to public networks during performances for various important reasons and as soon as we disable the network a "iTunes could not connect to the iTunes store. The network is down or unavailable." message displays on every device and then with every click... totally insanely annoying.

We know the network is down and we want it that way. Just play the local track - why connect to the store? We are trying to downgrade but have live performances.

We have tried disabling everything related to the Apple Store we can think or find. Anyone have any idea why this message keeps popping up with every click or a work-around?

I was having the same issue .. something that has never happened before,, When I take the MacBook offline.. and it's used as "Music Server" to playback 24-bit files that I've purchased through HDtracks.. The dialog box above appears.. and I can't get rid of it.. to the point where I need to Force-Quit iTunes. I connect the MacBook via USB to a Peachtree Decco... The workaround suggested by pranab actually worked for me. Although hopefully they will fix it asap.

Just been on a flight (ie offline), not as critical as being in a live performance I admit, but boy talk about embarrassing/annoying/enough to make people look elsewhere (along with the duo trainwreck match/music) iTunes experience.......

Apple seem desperate to pilfer everyone's hard earned music playlists/ratings/metadata or something.

I thought it was my music on my computer, obviously I was wrong.

Shame on Apple....

screw apple. if this is the BS they want to start doing. i just had to uninstall itunes, reinstall an older version, which had to wipe out my library file so i have to rebuild that. forget it. i don't plan to ever update again. they don't need access to my every freakin song play.

I have the same issue after I updated to iTunes 12.5.4. This happen to both Macs and PCs that I own. I reinstalled iTunes 12.5.3 on one of my Windows laptops and the issue went away.

Having the same issue since the latest itunes update

Sorry to hear that! It's super annoying. The trick worked for me on OS X 10.11.6 though.

The latest iTunes update 12.5.5 seems to be working I just updated from 12.5.3 and so far no pop up windows.