Login loop bug on Podcast Connect

Hey-- we were having the same issue and after a little googling, we found the answer. Apparently the iTunes developers are only aware of an Apple-centric universe where everyone has iTunes installed. I had to install iTunes, log in to it, accept the terms of service etc., and THEN try and get to podcast connect. Got it on the first try after I did all that...here is the reddit thread where I found the answer: https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/8nnz5y/apple_podcast_connect_login_ loop/

OK, so here's a possible solution that worked for me.

This solution worked for me and I'm a PC user who does not have any apple products and who doesn't use iTunes and has never downloaded it.

SOLUTION:

1. Download and install iTunes on your PC - You do not have to make it your default music player
2. Sign in and agree to the Terms and Conditions
3. You will receive a message that your AppleID has never been used to sign in to iTunes before and to "click here" to learn more.
4. Click to learn more
5. You are taken to another few screens where you have to agree to more Terms and Conditions
6. You will then be taken to a screen that says everything is set up and ready to go
7. Go back to trying to sign in to Podcasts Connect (purple screen)
8. After signing in, agree to more Terms and Conditions
   1. At this point, I received another error and had to sign in again
   2. Signed in again and I was taken to the screen with the 5 icons including the Podcasts Connect icon
9. Click on the Podcasts Connect icon
10. After some weird redirects, I was taken to the screen where I can add my RSS feed.

So having to have iTunes installed on your computer or on another device somewhere ahead a time seems to be a requirement, and also that you have to sign in and connect your Apple ID to iTunes. I figure this is a legal maneuver to avoid monopoly laws and to keep these all as separate legal entities, which is why you have to agree to 3+ T&C agreements.

It may be possible to now uninstall iTunes now that the Apple ID has been approved by iTunes. Not sure. I'll never use it either way except for testing purposes.

YAAAAAYYYY!!! Amazingly, the steps above worked for me and I've been able to submit my podcast.

I did this - and I followed all the steps even though I was already signed in, computer was already authorised - I redid it all...

"1. Open iTunes.

2. If you’re not signed in, sign in with your Apple ID.

3. From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen, choose Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer.

Next, download or purchase an app using your Apple ID (this can be a free item); this will ensure your Apple ID is fully enabled for the iTunes Store.

Last, please clear your web browser’s cache, cookies, and history. Once you have completed these steps, please try to access Podcasts Connect again. You can also try to submit your request from another web browser."

To elaborate on the last part of this (clear web browser's cache, cookies and history):

Close all browser windows first.

To delete History, go History>Clear History.

To delete Cookies, go to Privacy>Manage Website Data>Delete All

To delete cache, go Safari Preferences>Advanced>Show Develop Menu in Menu bar (tiny tick box at the bottom). Then a new menu will appear in the toolbar called Develop. Scroll Down to Empty Caches.

Then I re-opened Safari.

Good luck, hope it works for you.

This problem has arisen a number of times. It's no good talking to getsupport.apple.com: the people to contact are Podcasts Support. Go to https://itunespartner.apple.com/en/podcasts/overview and click the 'Contact Us' link at the bottom of the page. Unfortunately there has been a problem using this contact method for several people, but it has been reported so if you run into it just try again from time to time.

Woohoo! I got it in as well. I went to Safari and made sure my cache/history was cleared. I logged in but didn't get the Terms form that we need to check and accept before being directed to the RSS Feed page (that many of us have not been able to get to for the past 3-4 weeks). I then logged in a second time then got to the Terms form and after checking the box and accepting the terms I was directed to the RSS Feed page. YES!!! I was hoping there was a light at the end of the tunnel when I read a few people were getting in sporadically. I hope that everyone can get access now. Happy podcasting, everyone!!

Downloading and installing iTunes onto my PC fixed the problem for me. During that process, you are asked to link your Apple ID to your newly created iTunes account. I can only guess why Apple and iTunes are separate entities, maybe for anti-trust reasons. But once those two log ins were connected together, I stopped having that loop login issue.

BTW, Apple tech support were no help. They "aren't able to duplicate the problem," which I believe is Corporate Speak for "We want everyone to have a copy of iTunes on their computer".

Make sure you activate the Apple ID on an iOS device or in iTunes on a computer.

That means you need to log into that Apple ID - and accept the term of service.

It is only after you accept the terms of service that the log in loop will go away.

Rob W

I had a reply back from Apple Support. This is what they suggest, if it helps anyone else - I am doubtful the first steps described will help me but am off to try them now...

Thank you for contacting us.

I understand that you have been unable to access Podcasts Connect to submit your podcast as it continues to loop you to the login screen.

To troubleshoot this issue, make sure that your Mac is authorized in the iTunes application.

1. Open iTunes.

2. If you’re not signed in, sign in with your Apple ID.

3. From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen, choose Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer.

Next, download or purchase an app using your Apple ID (this can be a free item); this will ensure your Apple ID is fully enabled for the iTunes Store.

Last, please clear your web browser’s cache, cookies, and history. Once you have completed these steps, please try to access Podcasts Connect again. You can also try to submit your request from another web browser.

If you are still receiving this error, please provide the following:

• Steps to reproduce the issue

• Full-window screenshots or video illustrating the issue

• Username of each user experiencing the issue

• Web browser and version number

• System information (device model and OS version number)

• Approximate date and time the error occurred (including time zone)

• The URL of the page

• Source code of the error page

To obtain the source code, right-click the error page and select Show Page Source. Please copy and paste the source code (do not attach it as a file) in a reply to this email.

After we receive the requested information, we will investigate further and let you know when we have an update. Thank you for your assistance.

Apple fixed the issue on Wednesday (15th) evening in the US.

Since then there have not been reports of users having issues - all it seems are now able to log in.

Rob W

This happened to me, and it was a pretty easy fix.

When this happened, I had just created a NEW apple id. I had not verified the account or updated any information. After I logged out my personal account from the iTunes desktop app, logged in with the new business account I created, and finished creating the account/filling in the personal info, I went back and tried again. The podcast verification worked immediately and without any issues.

Hopefully that works for most of you. Good luck.

I just got this issue again yesterday looping over and over. The way I solved it was to ensure that I was logged into iTunes first, then I ensured that the URL I was using was directly to http://podcastsconnect.apple.com. If you try to go to https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/new-feed, you might get the looping problem.

Hope this helps.

So, I just heard from Apple, here's what they said:

Thank you for contacting us. We are aware of this issue and we are resolving the issue as quickly as possible. Please reattempt periodically, every 24 hours. Thank you for your patience, and understanding.

I guess the good news is that this is a known issue, bad news is...there is no news.

FYI - when I originally tried this it was with a new Apple ID that I created just for a podcast. When I tried my old ID that I have been using for years, I got the same issue. A strange item I got a couple of times when trying to login said:

Bad Gateway. Then it had a correlation key with a long string of characters. I guess we wait.

I had the same problem. I only could enter my ID Apple podcast connect when I activate the Wi-fi router on my cellphone and share my connection with my notebook.

Try to connect to the podcast connect using another wi-fi connection or lan

I had this problem and it was caused by a combination of:

1) Not having a separate iTunes account

2) Not having iTunes downloaded to my PC

3) Not being separately signed into both iTunes AND apple.com and the iTunes client

4) Cookies causing a loop because they didn't see the connection

Once you download iTunes to your computer, sign up for an account, then sign into Apple.com, you should be prompted to connect the two accounts. Even after that, you'll get the loop at least one more time because of the problem with the cookie. So depending on your browser, the speed of your computer, and your cache settings, you may still get the loop. But as long as you have the client, are signed in and both iTunes and Apple.com accounts have been linked, at least you're on the right path. After that, you can clear your cache on your browser and resign into everything and hopefully it will work for you.

Hope this helps.