After making large purchase, "checking for purchases" gives error

I made a large purchase, and my PayPal account got
debited, and the shopping cart got emptied, but the
download didn't start. Since then, over the last 7 or
8 hours, I've done "check for purchases" many times,
without success. After 30 seconds or so, I get an
error message:
"Unable to check purchases. An unknown error occurred (3)"
I don't think the problem is on my end, because I
previously made a few (smaller) purchases/downloads
succesfully.
Can anyone help?
thanks.
Gateway Windows XP

If you google "itunes error 9808" you'll get lots of ideas, three of which I've listed:
- reset your router/cable modem
- turn off security software
- Go to Start > Control Panel > Internet Options > Advanced, make sure that SSL 3.0 is checked and TLS 1.0 is checked. Also under Security make sure that the "Check for server certificate revocation (requires restart)" is unchecked.

Similar Messages

I need help! "Unable to check for purchases" for over a month!!!

I have been getting the same error message for over a month! Every time I try to check for purchases from the iTunes Store, I get a message saying: "Unable to check for purchases. The network connection timed out." I have 269 items waiting to be downloaded. I am SUPER frustrated, I contacted iTunes customer service twice now, the first time with no response and the second time the response I received didn't help any, I followed up to their answer, again with no response!! I really would like to download these items (most of which I paid for; some were free downloads...). I think this may have happened to me before when my computer crashed and I need to redownload everything from iTunes. I think there is just too many items to download all at once, but they won't even come up in my iTunes, so that I can download them a smaller number at a time! I also had a hard drive failure on my laptop about a week and a half ago (after this problem had already been occuring), and I'm pretty sure any of the items pending downloading that had already begun downloading and was stopped suddenly (a few; maybe a third of what is awaiting downloading...), those items' temporary files were deleted. Could this be causing a problem as well? I've read maybe trying to check for purchases at a less busy time of the day, really early in the morning, or really late at night...Will this work?? I've tried nearly 100 times repeatedly from 8-close to midnight since this has been occuring. I just want the items I paid for. I have been waiting for far too long. I've tried everything suggested and I don't know what else to do!!

First off, make sure Norton isn't blocking iTS access
Here are Norton directions
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/0/7fb6e478e2a1abf78825708b00558625? OpenDocument&seg=hm&lg=en&ct=us
Secondly, you're the third or 4th person to post here that having hundreds of downloads cuases problems.
Contact iTS again, using the email they already sent. Don't start a new ticket.
Give them the URL of this topic, and ask them to reduce the number of items in your download queue. The magic number mentioned in the other thread was 69 downloads didn't cause a problem. (Apparently, 70 does)
Message was edited by: Katrina S.

Unable to check for purchases. The iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable.

Every time I go to check for purchases I receive this message. Ive been recieving it for a couple weeks now and its reallly starting to annoy me.
Based on what info I found, I tried adding different program and port exceptions to my firewall, and I toggled my virus scanner and spyware. (and I dont have an internet accelerator so thats not the cause).
So then when that failed i just turned my virus scanner and firewall completely off. Still its the same problem.
I have almost 70 downloads that are incomplete (because of an error that apple support has worked out with me), but I have no way of accessing them.
PLEASE HELP / GIVE ANY SUGGESTIONS
iTunes 7.3.0.54, Toshiba Satellite Laptop, Windows XP service pack 2
Toshiba Satellite Windows XP

ya....
"I understand that you are still receiving a message about connection error when trying to download your purchases.
I have confirmed that the iTunes Store is functioning and accepting connections. Therefore, the issue is likely related to your Internet connection, local network, or computer. I'm happy to provide some information that should help you connect to the iTunes Store again.
I apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced with this issue and I can imagine how frustrating this could be for you. However, the nature of your question falls outside the type of support provided via email by the iTunes Store team. The iTunes Store team answers non-technical questions about billing, customer accounts, downloading music, and iTunes Store."
Im going to send them my exact connection details and such.. but if anyone knows the solutions to this PLEASE tell. It would save a ton of time and frustration.

"Unable to check for purchases" error

So I'm getting a strange message I've never seen. I gifted a video game for my girlfriend and after she clicked on the link and entered the code apparently something happened in the beginning of the download of the game which suggested that she "check for purchases music." I upgraded her ipod to 1.2, upgraded to the new itunes 7, upgraded to the latest quicktime and repaired permissions. We are stuck in this problem now. iTunes can never check for purchases. It keeps saying its busy but I don't think that's it. Is there something we can try? I feel like an idiot now that I bought this $5 game and it won't even download on her computer. Anyone else have this problem???

I was having the same problem, then read here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=6378
to try re-authorizing the computer in iTunes. I did,
then did a "check for purchases" again and it worked.
Thanks Cyno!!

Unable to check for purchases problem . . .

Hi,
I mentioned this problem in another thread, but I think a new one is warranted.
I too have received the "Unable to check for purchases" message after upgrading some songs using iTunes Plus. After allowing for the initial congestion to die down, it has now been over a month since I bought them, yet I still can't get the songs.
But, my question is this. I emailed iTunes Customer Service, and I have received a reply requesting my billing details. I've checked, and this is information that Apple already holds. I'm a little suspicious about this request, here is the email:
"I am sorry that you are not able to download your items that are currently in your download queue. To help troubleshoot this for you, I would like for you to reply to this email.
In this email if you could please include the billing address associated with your account. I will also need your permission to test your account and reset your password.
Once we have received this information, we will verify, reset your password and test your account. You will then receive a follow up email with you new password and the results of our test."
Does this email sound realistic? Has anyone else received an email like this from iTunes Customer Service? I hope I can reset my password afterwards also.
Yours (in paranoia)
turkey101
15" MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz Santa Rosa Mac OS X (10.4.10) 12" Powerbook 1.5GHz G4 1.25GB, iMac 15 800MHz

Yes, this email is realistic and not an uncommon reply (I also had such a reply when once I had a problem with the iTunes Store). The iTunes Store customer service rep sometimes needs to be able log into your account and check things when a problem arises, and it's something they can't do without resetting the password since they don't have access to your current password, they can only change it. So I don't think you need to worry.

Everytime I launch iTunes, get "check for purchased music" message. Why?

Greetings Everyone,
After I installed iTunes 7.2 (for PC), and upgraded my library to the available iTunes Plus songs I started receiving this message.
This occurred after one song did not download during the iTunes Plus library upgrade. I received an error that was documented by an editor at MacWorld Magazine (it was a numbered error, I do not remember which one it was). I tried again the next day and was able to successfully complete the download.
However, every time I launch iTunes I am asked to input my AppleID and password to check for purchased music. This has become very annoying. Does anyone know why this is happening?
I have taken a few steps to troubleshoot this process. I tried rebuilding my iTunes library as suggested on this support site. That did not work. I deleted everything from my iTunes folder and then launched iTunes. The box asking me to check for purchased music did NOT appear. So I have narrowed it down to a problem with my library/configuration.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
MacBook Pro C2D 2.16 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB HD Mac OS X (10.4.9)

I had this problem and found some interrupted downloads stuck in my download folder. Quit iTunes and move the downloads folder to the desktop. Check inside and make sure you don't need to re-download those songs.
~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/Downloads
I think that is a temporary folder that gets created during the download, then gets deleted when done. iTunes must be seeing at startup and asks for password to try to finish, but never does.

Cannot download songs - Unable to check for purchases...

Hello everybody,
This week-end I tried to upgrade my library to iTunes Plus. Everything went fine.
But the problem is that I have 228 files to download, and I cannot do it, because iTunes tries to check for purchases... and then it stops by saying that it was unable to check for purchases.
I can connect to iTunes Stores, I can check my account, I can see all purchases I've done since the beginning of my account, I can do everything!
Except that iTunes does not allow me to download my files...
I have checked on my Mac OS X 10.5 iTunes... and in a Windows XP iTunes.
It's the same story.
I have put the topic on Windows, but Mac/Windows... same problem for me now...
Do you have any idea what is wrong? I suppose since Apple is doing many maintenance... they could have some issue with the Purchasing server.
Can you buy and download songs? Am I the only one with this problem?
Just to inform you, I've read all the info and contacted the Apple tech support, and except giving me all sort of "not usefull" tips like firewall check/download accelerator removal (which I don't have). Checking for error codes (I have no error code, just that he cannot check the purchasing server), ... and check the internet connection (which works for EVERYTHING except for this purchasing server!).
So any help would be great!
Thank you in advance!
Alessandro

I have a hunch it is something wrong on Apple's end with having 200+ downloads queued. Some other folks with hundreds of DLs were having this same problem.
What I would do, is contact iTS support and ask them to clear your DL queue so you can have fewer DLs wiating in line. THen when you get the first batch, go on to the 2nd batch.
The magic number mentioned in the other thread seemed to be 69 DLs....you could try searching for it.
Use the "Contact Us" button on this page and give them the URL of this topic you started
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/store/download/

Checking for purchases on second machine

My dad had some strange event with his WINDOWS PC (traitor...) and now it says his hard drive is having a read error (strange thing is, my PC did the same thing... I'm not a traitor though... my Mac mini can't handle parallels.)
Anyways, the hard drive is shot. My dad thinks that PC is a thing of the gods and that it CAN'T have problems (like the hard drive 'disappearing' or whatever...) so he didn't back up the music from iTunes.
My mom also recently got her first iPod, so I have been working that for her from my computer, so we figured that we could put my dads music on my computer and my moms iPod (my dad doesn't have one) until his computer is fixed.
We don't know yet if his hard drive is completely destroyed and everything is gone forever or not.
If it IS destroyed forever, how do we get the music back? Do we have to repurchase it?
I tried authoriing his account on my computer, but 'check for purchases' won't let me do anything...
any pointers?

Just got the message the iTunes Store is not currently availabe after an hour of doing the same! AAHHHH

Checking for Purchases (Every Time)

Every time I open iTunes 7.2 it asks me for my Apple ID and password so it can check for purchased items. It's super weird. I have no purchased items to download and the "Check automatically for purchased content" is unchecked in the prefs.
I've tried entering my password and hitting "check"... tried hitting "cancel". Nothing works. Tried hitting up the email tech support and was sent articles on authorizing my computer. Thanks Apple.
iTunes still asks for my password and ID every time I open the program. I can still use the program no prob, but it's annoying and leads me to think there's Something Very Wrong.
Anybody got a fix? Thanks!

I fixed it on my machine. I found a file called list.plist in a folder called Downloads in my iTunes Music folder. After I moved this file to the trash, the behavior stopped.
I first verified that I had no other outstanding downloads before I deleted the file. I don't know what will happen if you do have outstanding downloads and delete this file. It would suck to lose music you paid for so proceed with caution.
I think I know what caused it in my case. I tried to buy a drm free album the day they came out. The downloads kept timing out because iTunes was getting slammed. Eventually I was able to get the download to complete but after that I was getting the annoying check for downloads prompt every-time I launched iTunes. The list.plist file I found contains references to the music file names that were timing out.
Macbook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Check for Purchases...broken?

I have been trying to download about 50 episodes that are sitting in my downloads box for over two weeks now and I still can't access these files. I get a message stating that "The Itunes store is temporarily unavailable" if I purchase something new it downloads fine. I just can't use the check for purchases feature. Is anyone else having this problem. I have been in contact with Itunes support via email for two weeks and they have not given me a straight answer as to when I will be able to download these files. It's basically 2 seasons worth of LOST. I think I have been more than patient with the support team but enough is enough already. Give me a refund so I can purchase the files again or something.

I have been having this issue for three weeks now. I just received a reply that the problem was fixed. I tried signing out, quitting iTunes, restarting my Mac, and logging back in just to find that the problem has not been fixed. I've got got pending downloads of "The Best Years", "Eureka", "Who wants to be a Super Hero", "NFL Gameday", and a Lifetime Movie. It doesn't seem to matter what kind of show I have, I can't download any of them when I "Check for Purchases". Funny thing is, I have no problem buying music or T.V. shows with my shopping cart. They download just fine.

Whenever i go to check for purchases it can't connect...

I bought 2 movies a week ago and i was half done downloading them both when they just stopped, and wouldn't start again so i closed itunes, opened it back up, went to check for purchases and it said this "The iTunes Store is temporaily unavailable. Please try again later." its been saying this for a week... but i can connect to itunes store,and buy songs which will download fine, its just the Check for Purchases... PLEASE HELP

Hi. I don't know if this will help, but I had this problem too. Mine quit working after I used earbuds. I was told that there is a switch inside the earbud port that tells the device to divert sound to earbuds. This can get "stuck" and the device keeps thinking the earbuds are plugged in. After reinserting the earbuds a few times, the switch was released and my speakers started working again.
I'm not a techie.... this is just what I found to work after my iPhone 4S speakers quit.

Can't Check for Purchases

in my itunes account it says there is 590 downloads available for itunes. I click download now, which is to the right of 590 downloads available for itunes. But when i click it it says "checking for purchases..." at the top, but after a while it says, "Unable to check for purchases. The network connection timed out. Make sure your network settings are correct and your network connection is active, then try again." The network is active and the settings are correct. I emailed itunes about this problem and they check the firewall, spyware, etc. and i have and there is no solution.
HELP VERY FRUSTRATED

Are you using a shopping cart or one-click for purchasing?
Lots of folks are having problems with shopping carts, but one-click works OK.

Check for purchases crashes iTunes

Hi,
I recently purchased an album from the iTunes store on my iPhone 3G. This album came with four videos which I had to download through iTunes on my iMac.
When I select 'Store>Check for purchases' I can see the nine files I need to download (four audio tracks, four videos and a digital booklet). The audio files and booklet download fine. However, whenever a video is finished downloading the status bar will say 'processing file' and then iTunes will quit and give me an 'iTunes has unexpectedly closed' message.
When I open iTunes again the video which was just downloaded is not in my library, and if I search the computer it is not on there anywhere. When I select 'Store>Check for purchases' again the video does not appear for download, so I have basically lost a video I paid for because, in iTunes eyes, I have downloaded it already.
Has anyone come across anything like this before - I have contacted Apple support but got the stock 'update your iTunes and select Check for purchases' reply.
Thanks
Jack

Me too, posted on Windows as well. Just tried again (8/5/08, 3:00 pm PST) and am currently downloading episodes 3 & 4, but now it doesn't recognize that I should be able to download episodes 1 & 2. Already bought 1 on another computer in the house to test firewall problem theory suggested by support.
Support hasn't arrived at any solutions, but they do respond and I ended up with 4 video credits, so I'm thinking I'll just re-buy the missing episodes and call it even.
I had the same problem with Mad Men season pass, got episode 1 as expected, can no longer get episode 2--has vanished as a waiting download.

ITunes - check for purchases, error -206 as a result?

I just recently bought a 3G iPhone and then bought a nice application straight from the iPhone. It refused to download the app and instead stated something like "application is not downloadable" and advised me to use iTunes App Store instead. In iTunes (version 7.7, by the way) I'm trying to check for my purchases (and download some stuff as well), everything's ok for 5 seconds, after which an error message is displayed, saying "Unable to check for purchases. An unknown error occurred (-206)".
This reminds me of Windows 98.

I have exactly the same problem with the same Keith Urban album and contacted Apple support who is investigating. I'll keep you posted once resolved.

Checking for Purchases? Where'd they go!?

I just bought a new laptop and I went and checked for purchases and it started to load my songs, well it loaded 195 songs, but I have over 500, where are the rest? Can someone please help me with this? Im growing impatient.

Can someone just give me the email link or something
I cant find it
You know, this is a user-to-user board, and our time is valuable to us, too. I'm feeling like you don't want to be bothered with looking for it yourself...
A suggestion . . . be VERY polite in this email. VERY, VERY polite.
I think this is the link you need: http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/musicstore/songs/#form

After making large purchase, "checking for purchases" gives error

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