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How to Fix “Cannot Connect to iTunes Store”

Cannot connect to iTunes Store

By Chand Bellur – September 21, 2020 at 11:18 a.m.

If you use the iTunes Store, you may have come across this error message: “Cannot connect to iTunes Store”. Learn how to find out if this is a problem with Apple’s servers, your ISP or your device.

The iTunes Store sells millions of songs and videos and usually works without issue. Sometimes users are confronted with connection problems. The most common error message is “Cannot connect to iTunes Store”. This problem could be caused by a variety of issues. Let’s take a look at how to troubleshoot this problem…

Retry Accessing the iTunes Store

If you receive an error while trying to connect to the iTunes Store, the first thing to do is just try again. These issues are usually intermittent. I find when I retry the transaction a few seconds later, it works fine. If you are using iOS or Mac OS X, simply try to purchase or download the item again. If the iTunes Store couldn’t connect upon launch, close the application and try again.

Problem With Apple’s Servers?

Apple’s data center is very reliable, however, like any data center, it’s not perfect. Servers go down due to a variety of issues. Sometimes the telecommunications company connecting Apple’s data center to the Internet is having problems. High volume can also overwhelm servers, making it difficult to connect to the iTunes Store.

Fortunately, it is easy to check the system status of every Apple service. Simply go to the Apple System Status web page to check if the service you need is running. This web page displays the status of every Apple service, including the iTunes Store, iCloud, iMessage, Siri, iTunes Radio, the App Store and many more. The web page also has a timeline showing past issues. If there is a problem with the service you are using, you will need to wait until it is fixed. You can also contact customer support, however, if the issue shows up on the system status web page, Apple already knows about it.

Apple system status web page

Problem With Your ISP?

The most common reason for the “Cannot connect to iTunes Store” error is a problem with your Internet connection. This is easily verifiable. You can try connecting to a web page on your iOS device or computer. If you experience this issue on your Apple TV, you can try connecting to a third-party service such as Netflix, YouTube or Sky News. If you can’t connect to any other services or web pages, there is a problem with your Internet connection. Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to help troubleshoot the problem.

I have also experienced iTunes Store problems when my Internet connection is slow. It is possible that you can access the web or other services, but your connection is simply too slow to work with iTunes. Basically, the connection is so slow that the authentication (login) process times out. This is usually a combination of a slow Internet connection and high demand on Apple’s servers. You can verify your Internet connection speed using Ookla Speedtest. Ookla also makes a Speedtest app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. There is no specific speed requirement for the iTunes Store to work. However, if you notice that your Internet connection is unusually slow, this is likely the issue.

test your Internet connection speed with Ookla Speedtest

Problem With Your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

If Apple’s servers and your Internet connection are not the problem, it could be an issue with your device. Problems connecting to the iTunes Store are usually caused by two issues — incorrect date and time settings and obsolete software.

First, make sure that your date, time and time zone settings are correct. This will ensure that you can sync with iTunes Store servers. Tap on Settings > General > Date & Time and verify that the settings are correct. You can also toggle Set Automatically off and on, if the setting exists. This should automatically fix problems with the date, time and time zone.

Adjust iOS date and time settings if you have a problem connecting to the iTunes Store.

If your date and time settings are correct, but you still can’t connect to the iTunes Store, ensure that your device is using the newest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check if there is a newer version of iOS. Update your device to the newest operating system software to ensure compatibility with the iTunes Store.

iPhone upgraded to iOS 7.1

Problem With Your Mac?

Firewalls can often pose a problem with the iTunes Store. If you can access websites but cannot access the iTunes Store, it is likely that firewall software is the problem.

If your computer was provided by your employer, make sure to check with your desktop support staff before making any changes. The company network might also have a network firewall that is blocking access to the iTunes Store. Some employers do this because they feel it increases productivity.

If you are using Mac OS X, go to the Apple menu at the top left of your screen and select System Preferences. Next, click on Security & Privacy and then click the Firewall tab. You may need to click on the lock in the lower left and type in the administrator password to make changes. Make sure that iTunes is allowing incoming connections. If it is set to block incoming connections, change it to allow them. This should enable access to the iTunes Store.

Mac OS X firewall settings may need to be changed to allow iTunes Store access.

If the firewall isn’t the issue, make sure that your date and time settings are correct. Click on the Apple menu on the top left of your screen. Next, click on System Preferences and then Date & Time. Make sure that these settings are correct, especially the time zone. Turn on “Set date and time automatically” if it is not enabled.

Changes to OS X date and time settings can restore connectivity to the iTunes Store.

Updating iTunes and Safari may also help with connecting to the iTunes Store. The easiest way to do this is to check for updates. Click on the Apple menu on the top left of your screen, then click on “Software Update”. Follow the on-screen instructions. If there are newer versions of iTunes and Safari, make sure to run the associated update.

If you are using an older version of OS X, it is possible that Keychain is causing iTunes Store connectivity problems. While this is unlikely, Keychain has been known to cause problems when connecting to the iTunes store. This only occurs with OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard). This issue can usually be solved by resetting Keychain, using the Keychain First Aid tool. Using Spotlight on the top right of your screen, type in Keychain Access and then launch the utility. Click on the Keychain Access menu and then click on Keychain First Aid. Login with your user ID and password and select Repair. If Keychain was causing your iTunes Store connection problem, Repair should fix the issue.

Run Keychain First Aid to fix iTunes Store connection problems.

Check Your iTunes Account

You may be experiencing an error connecting to the iTunes Store due to a problem with your Apple ID or payment information. Sometimes the problem is on Apple’s end. Their authentication services may be offline or may be overwhelmed with too much traffic. When you are repeatedly seeing “Cannot connect to iTunes Store”, try signing in to the iTunes account screen with your Apple ID. After you have signed in, verify that your payment information is correct. You can view your iTunes Store account information on any device except Apple TV.

It’s possible that your payment information is no longer valid. Perhaps your credit card expired. There was also a problem a few years ago where Apple failed to properly migrate payment information after a system update.

If you have a computer with iTunes installed, launch it. Click on iTunes Store on the top of the screen. Next, click on Account on the right side of the screen.

Click iTunes Store and Accounts

A dialog box will pop up, prompting you to enter your Apple ID (email address) and Password.

Sign in to iTunes Store

If this information is incorrect, you will see an error — “Your Apple ID or password was entered incorrectly”. If you forgot your password, click on “Forgot?” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Sign in to iTunes Store Rejected

You can also verify your Apple ID using an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Launch the iTunes Store app and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Tap on View Apple ID. You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. If these aren’t valid, tap on iForgot and follow the on-screen instructions.

When you change your Apple ID or password, it may present an error on another device where this information is cached, such as Apple TV. After your password is reset, you will need to login with the new password on other devices. On your computer and iOS device, you will be prompted for your Apple ID when necessary. Simply enter the new password. On an Apple TV, you may need to sign out and sign in again. You can do this by going to Settings > iTunes Store > Accounts and then sign out. Sign in again with the correct information.

If your Apple ID and password are not the problem, verify your payment information. The accounts screen will appear after successful authentication. On iTunes for computers, your payment information is presented under “Apple ID Summary”. Verify that the payment information is correct. You will need to click on “Edit” next to Payment Type to view your credit card’s expiration date and security code. When you get a new credit card, it may often have the same number, but a new expiration date and security code. Update this information and click Done.

iTunes Account Edit Screen

You can also view and update your iTunes Store account information on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. First, launch the iTunes Store. Next, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap View Apple ID. Enter your password when prompted. The Accounts Settings screen will appear. Tap on Payment Information and verify that the information is correct. Make any necessary updates and tap Done. Finally, tap Done on the Account Settings screen to exit.

Your iTunes account information should be updated on Apple’s servers, enabling access to the iTunes store on any of your devices. If it isn’t working, wait a few minutes. It’s usually instant, but it may take time for the change to propagate. If all else fails, contact Apple’s customer support.

Vague Error With Many Solutions

There are many issues that cause iTunes Store connectivity problems. The error message “Cannot connect to iTunes Store” is very vague and not helpful. Hopefully, this article has enabled you to solve these issues and you are now able to access the iTunes Store. Apple should provide more precise error messages and automated trouble shooting. We can only hope that future versions of iTunes software will make it easier for anyone to connect to the iTunes Store.

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Comments

  1. I just get a blank white screen when I try to access the iTunes store. These guys must be losing a lot of money if their customers can’t access their site to spend it!

    Reply

      • My iTunes is totally messed up. Nothing works. It keeps rejecting the sign in…not incorrect password response…..just keeps rejecting it and sign in appears again and again. OR…it will say session has expired but I can click on anything in the store and session is active. Movie says rented on iPhone but “problem downloading”. OR….movie not shown OR pending on laptop. This is ridiculous. But I’ll bet there will be no problem with them BILLING me for the rental.

        Reply

        • From what I understand, due to the pandemic and billions of people under stay at home orders, the Internet is getting hammered. I think Apple’s data center is having some problems. We’ve only just begun…

          Reply

        • Mine hasn’t worked in weeks. I keep getting this error over and over again and nothing fixes it. It’s bad enough iPad won’t update my iPad anymore, I’m not buying a new one if I can’t connect to their store.

          Reply

  5. When I go into the App Store it says it Cannot Connect and when I try to Reinstall my Offloaded apps it won’t let me even though I have plenty of storage and Wi-Fi!!??? I don’t know how to fix it?

    Reply

    • There seems to be either a massive problem in Apple’s data center, or some problem with major Internet service providers. I am seeing so many page views for this article today. I mean, record page views!

      Hang in there. It’s clearly a systemic, server-side problem today — not something you can fix on your own. You have to wait until Apple or the responsible telecom company fixes the issue.

      Reply

      • How long to wait? Issue is only with iPad. Not my iPhone 11. Getting sick with this. Something is wrong with iTunes. Reinstalled maybe 20 times. Same issue.

        Reply

    • You make a very valid point. I just tried it, and I can access the iTunes Store. I am on iOS 12.

      That said, I do think it is a data center issue. I checked Apple’s system status, and they admit that there’s a problem with the iTunes Store, App Store and other services. I provide a link to Apple’s system status website on the first page…

      It may be some software configuration issue as a result of rushing out this FaceTime fix, which is delayed.

      The root cause is that the Silly Con Valley job market is red hot, and Apple can’t hire excellent people. It will be like this until the next recession – buggy products and software that doesn’t work. As bad as Apple’s quality is, you can do much worse. I use Windows 10 sometimes. The grass is not greener elsewhere.

      I was at Target yesterday and I had to swipe my card three times, with multiple resets from an employee. I commented that it is 2019 and technology seems to be worse than it was 4 years ago. Internet access is spotty and the basics don’t work, as tech companies undertake ambitious goals with mediocre staff. Tech companies seem content to sprinkle glitter on t—-d, yet can’t get the fundamentals right.

      Reply

  7. Having a problem signing into iTunes and the App Store, it always says “could not sign in, there was a problem connecting to the server”

    How do I solve this problem?

    Reply

    • apple ID make me tired I really fed up with it maybe it is not suitable for my country ,I have i phone 10 x max and i will never buy an i phone again i am wasting my time trying to access my account.
      for now please help me how i will solve my problem.
      having a problem signing into iTunes and the App Store, it always says “could not sign in, there was a problem connecting to the server”

      Reply

    • I did a quick search and Apple hasn’t issued an “end of life” notice for the original iPad. Although they don’t provide software updates any longer, it should still be able to interface with the Apple ecosystem. You should be able to access the iTunes Store.

      Please try the steps in this article. If it doesn’t work, try calling Apple support. They still support this model. Amazing!

      Reply

  9. I just purchased the iPad pro and I set it up, it was really struggling to set up my cloud and now the Istore, the cloud nor the appstor work
    It’s not the Internet because on my other devices the internet is completely fine
    Please help.

    Reply

  11. I am having trouble logging in to iTunes on my computer. I am trying to buy songs from the iTunes store for my iPod nano 7th generation. Whenever I try to log in, it does nothing on my screen. My sons’ iPhones are connected to my account and whenever I try to log on, my son gets a text with the verification code. Only problem, there is no place for me to enter the code on my computer to move forward. Please help! I am beyond frustrated. This should not be this complicated!
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • I had this happen to me. It’s a great example of how bad iTunes has become. You need to add the verification code directly after your password, with no spaces between the password and code.

      It’s horrible usability. They don’t instruct users as to what to do and their workaround is a kludge. The correct design is to have a field for the code, if it is needed. They should at least inform users as to where to enter the code. It’s all the more reason I stopped using iTunes. I use Google Play instead now.

      Reply

  12. you want me to continue buying music? then ya need to fix this i can get into my own library but itunes store will not open. I havee updated the software, my internet connection is very good and my computer is very new. So the problem is indeed on Apple’s side. I am not uninstalling and reinstalling again because i lose all my playlists every time i do that, not to mention the hours that you force on me to re-create all my playlists, and in addition, each time i do that, all my songs duplicate. you have no easy way to eliminate duplicates, therefore next time you tell me i need to uninstall and reinstal, i will let go of Apple alltogether
    this problem has been going on way too long and it is time for a fix, or i’ll start aquiring my music from another of hundreds of plaves to do so. This is the Final Straw for Apple.
    March 30,2019

    Reply

    • I stopped using Apple Music after the trial expired. I found it to be horribly defective. I guess they still haven’t fixed the duplicate tracks issue. This does not surprise me. Apple’s apps and services are not very good. They make great devices and one excellent OS (macOS). iOS is pretty good.

      I use Google Play Music on my Apple devices.

      Reply

  13. I’m still getting same thing and now it’s almost April. I am about to part ways with Apple over this, and I will not move to Android at all for music. Ya think Apple has problems? (which they do), but try listening to music on Android… cannot crossfade, can’t produce good playlists, can’t do easy searches, etc… all around there are hundreds of music players out there that do just as much, if not more than this continued problematic service.

    Reply

  14. Hi. I can’t sign in. My Apple ID in the App Store and my iPhone display Cannot Connect to App Store on my iPhone 6 running iOS 12, but I have another iPhone, iPhone 5s that runs iOS 10 and I can use the App Store. What’s my iPhone 6’s problem?

    Reply

    • I’d try the network reset. It’s a bit of a pain, as you will need to reenter WiFI passwords, but I think it may work.

      Before you do that, just try a soft reset. Hold down the Home and Sleep/Wake button for 10 seconds (until you see the Apple logo), and then release both buttons. Your iPhone will do a soft reset, which may clear out some cached data. That might be the problem.

      Reply

  15. I choosed erase all content and setting in reset section and I did all the things you said I changed my DNS to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 but my problem did not solve. I use same wifi network and same apple id on my iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s.

    Sorry for my bad language.

    Reply

  17. My Apple TV will not connect to iTunes Store, but says that I have a WiFi connection. As well, it says the activation failed, but won’t let me sign in to iTunes to activate. It was working a week ago, and now it isn’t, and I have no clue what to do. I have tried EVERYTHING. Please help me!

    Reply

  18. My music wasn’t playing on my Mac so I signed out of iTunes. When I try to sign back in nothing happens. If I do the wrong password it’ll make me type it in again but when I put the correct one in nothing happens and I’m still not logged in. I’ve tried restarting my Mac, signing in and out of iCloud, etc. but nothing will work. Please help!

    Reply

  20. Whenever I open my iTunes app, there’s nothing shown except “open the iTunes U app”. How can I fix it?

    Reply

    • Same thing with mine. It’s so annoying I have tried everything already I guess. Still the same issue not fixed.

      Reply

  21. Hey, so I messed up a section of my screen where the numbers of the passcode are needed, my phone restarted and my fingerprint refuses to work. I am currently not in a country where I can get the phone fixed and was wondering if anything could be done. I tried reseting my phone through iTunes but it refuses to login to my Apple Id.

    Reply

    • If you set up Find My iPhone, you can use recovery mode to reset your iPhone passcode. You can access these features from any web browser using Apple’s iCloud website. Apple also has an Apple ID website, which you can use if you have forgotten your Apple ID or the associated password. If all else fails, take it to an Apple Store or call support.

      Reply

  22. I am in shock! I “grew up” on Apple computers. I’m not a “techie”, but I have generally enjoyed all things Apple. Now I am one of those who can’t get into the iTunes Store. As I set about searching for solutions, I picked up on this article. To find that people have been struggling with this same issue for over FOUR YEARS is a very bad business practice, not supporting their customers, besides missing all the revenue those customers would have provided! Since any honest business person would want to fix a major component of their business, it seems that they are not being honest or they do not read these requests for help.

    Come on Apple! Show us you are a good company!

    Reply

  23. Ugh! Everything, everything EVERYTHING I’ve tried is NOT working. Please help! I’m using an iPad Pro.

    Reply

  24. I just updated my iPad to iOS 13 then my AppStore says cannot connect to the App Store. I tried all methods please help me…

    Reply

  26. I can’t download an app on my tab. The problem is always cannot connect to iTunes Store. Please help me.

    Reply

  28. I was having trouble with the iTunes Store app on my iPhone as well when no connected to wi-fi. I then remembered about letting it access via cellular so I checked and I did have to turn it on in the Celluar settings in order for it to work.

    Reply

  29. Still no iTunes Store. It comes up but can’t search anything can’t buy anything. Keeps saying retry to connect. Closed it then opened it up 10 min. Later it came up but wouldn’t load anything now it’s saying cannot connect. This is crazy.

    Reply

  30. All of your comments are recent. Did you all update your device to iOS 13? After updating the software to iOS 13, my app store would not load, even with 20mbps internet.

    I am using an iPhone 7, which is already “outdated” in Apple’s standards, and the app store does not work.

    My roommate has an iPhone Xs and using the SAME 20mbps internet, and the app store loads in just 3 seconds.

    What I am trying to imply is that, this is all just a ploy to get us to buy the latest releases of Apple because our devices all of a sudden become sluggish.

    Reply

  32. I am unable to install apps onto my new apple watch via my phone. Message comes up on my watch “The iTunes Store is unable to process purchases at this time.”

    Reply

  34. I just came back from the store with a new iPhone 8, and I can’t log into the iTunes Store with my Apple ID? My phone is logged in on its settings, but it refuses to connect to the iTunes Store. It’s a brand new phone, with a strong WiFi connection. Any advice/ is anyone else relating?

    Reply

  35. Lol that’s why I’m not fan of iPhone sh****st service from top brand waoo same problem guess what I changed WiFi and its start working then I connected to my old WiFi it worked for few hours then again same issue cant connect error what’s wrong with these stupid company I think they just want you to upgrade to latest model device .

    Reply

  36. SOFT RESET WORKS!!! hold on-off button AND home button at the same time for 10 sec till apple logo pops up, then release and phone will reload-fixes this bug! good luck yall

    Reply

  37. If you have a VPN, check it’s switched off. I had a VPN routing to the UK, with a Canadian time zone. Turned off the VPN and I was able to access the store.

    Reply

  38. Good day;
    My network is connecting as I can google anything on Safari, however my iTunes and App Store doesn’t connect, error: Cannot Connect To App Store or iTunes. Please advice.

    Reply

  39. Not being able to connect to the App Store is very frustrating. None, not one good fix for this issue. Connect via cellular, try a different Wi-Fi network, turn it off, then turn it back on. I’m really having a hard time stopping myself from wanting to smash this phone against a wall. Another issue is Twitter, tweets won’t load for days at a time, it’s maddening. Really holding back from destroying this goddamed device.

    Reply

  40. I am having same problems on my MacBook Air when I try to log into iTunes its giving me error 1001 and no server try later NOT good . I do not have problems with my iPod or iPad or phone just my MacBook Air when is apple going to get there act together

    Reply

  41. I’m using Windows 10 & I can’t even log into the iTunes Store. I can the following errors:

    Error Code 0x80090302
    Error Code -50

    I tried everything.

    Uninstalling & reinstalling the app…didn’t work
    Removing cookies & temp files…didn’t work
    Restarting my machine…didn’t work

    There is music I want to buy & I can’t get it due to these technical issues.

    iTunes 12.4 is a piece of garbage.

    Reply

  42. Please somebody help I am having iPhone4 and I am having a problem to connect to App Store and iTunes (cannot connect to iTunes)

    Reply

  43. Please help! Windows 10 and I phone 5 S. Cannot upload my photos from phone to laptop via I tunes app!!!! It’s driving me insane!!! Tried EVERYTHING!!!! I need to empty phone. Thanks!!!

    Reply

  44. This step helped me heaps Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings and tap Reset to confirm.
    Thanks

    Reply

  47. My brother recently shut off all my internet access but then turned it back on, I’m with cox. Our bill isn’t due until April 10th. I can’t send gifs through messages and I can’t open the App Store and I can’t open some websites like YouTube.com and other things, it says it can’t connect to a server or connect to secure server, I’ve tried everything.

    Reply

  48. Cannot connect to app store .. i tried every possible step available on the internet ..using iphone 8 Plus with latest software update .. I reset Network Settings.. I shutdown the phone .. sign-out from App Store and now it is not even signing in ..please guide me

    Reply

  50. Cannot connect to iTunes store while I restore my phone there was a problem connecting to server

    Reply

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