Fix “Accessing iTunes Store” Message Stuck Issue.
If you’ve tried downloading iTunes and you’re having trouble accessing the iTunes Store, waiting to connect can be frustrating. Often times the connection gets stuck at the message “Accessing the iTunes store” and only disappears after pressing “X” to close it.
This has happened over the years for a variety of reasons, but this guide will show you some of the causes and how to fix them.
What causes the problem of accessing iTunes Store
This issue usually occurs when using iTunes on Windows and occurs when the iTunes software fails to establish a secure TSL connection with the iTunes server. Hence, iTunes cannot access the iTunes store, which is why you are stuck with the “Accessing the iTunes Store” message.
It can also be caused by a corrupted HOSTS file and another program interfering with the Windows Socket settings. This could have happened after installing network software such as the download manager, which probably corrupted the socket settings as they are also part of the networking functionality.
If the Windows Socket settings are corrupted, it can cause high CPU usage by the Apple Mobile Device Service.exe process when it tries to connect to iTunes. If the service fails to connect, it continues to use the CPU even if no applications are running.
Your computer may overheat or drain its battery faster than usual, and the fans may overload.
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1. Quick Fixes
- Try logging into your account in a web browser and see if it works.
- Check Windows Task Manager (CTRL + ALT + DEL) and check the Apple Mobile Device Service.exe process. If your CPU usage is over 20 percent when iTunes is not running, then the Windows Socket setting is potentially corrupted.
- Please update iTunes to the latest version, as outdated software may cause incompatibility issues when trying to connect to the iTunes store.
- Uninstall iTunes, QuickTime, and Safari and then reinstall iTunes. Make sure you back up your iTunes folder before deleting iTunes, and then after reinstalling it, select the old folder so you can get your library back.
2. Disable Firewall
How to fix “Accessing iTunes Store” message
1. Quick fixes
- Try to access your account on a web browser and see if it works.
- Check Windows Task Manager (CTRL + ALT + DEL) and check Apple Mobile Device Service.exe process. If its CPU usage is over 20 percent when iTunes is not working, it’s possible that Windows Socket setup is corrupt.
- Updating iTunes to the latest version as outdated software might cause incompatibility issues while trying to connect to the iTunes store.
- Uninstall iTunes, QuickTime, and Safari, then reinstall iTunes. Make sure to backup your iTunes folder before uninstalling iTunes, then after reinstalling it, select the old folder so you can restore your library.
2. Turn off the firewall
Your computer’s firewall prevents unauthorized users from accessing your computer’s files and resources. Unfortunately, it is not perfect and can sometimes be harmful, especially if a different firewall is installed.
To disable Windows Firewall, open Control Panel and select System and Security.
Select Windows Firewall (or Windows Defender Firewall, depending on your computer settings).
Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
Click the circle next to Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended).
Click OK to save your changes.
Repeat the steps you took to try to access the iTunes Store and see if that solves the problem.
3. Disable your antivirus or security software
iTunes may not work properly due to a virus on your device’s system. You can remove the virus and see if it can fix the stuck “Accessing the iTunes Store” message.
Your security software can also cause conflicts with iTunes software, so try disabling it and see if it solves the problem. If so, you can uninstall your current antivirus software and install one that doesn’t conflict with iTunes.
4. Uninstall Third Party Conflict Software
As with antivirus and security software, some third-party plugins can also conflict with iTunes so that it may not work properly or cause the process to crash.
If you still see the “Accessing the iTunes Store” message not showing, remove any plugins that might be causing the conflict and restore iTunes functionality. You can verify this by pressing SHIFT + CTRL and opening iTunes in Safe Mode.
5. Disable iTunes Store in Settings
To do this, select the Apple menu and choose Preferences Parental Controls.
Disable the iTunes Store and then enable it again and see if it works again.
6. Reset HOSTS and netsh file
If the HOSTS file is damaged, iTunes will not work normally. To resolve this issue, reset the HOSTS file to the defaults that came with the operating system and run netsh to clear the Windows socket directory and restart the computer.
To reset the HOSTS file, download the Microsoft FixIT tool and run it.
Then launch Command Prompt in Administrator Mode by clicking Start, type CMD in the search bar and select Run as administrator.
At the command prompt, type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
The Windows socket directory is cleared, after which you can restart the device. If you receive an error message from networking software asking you to correct the network association or reassign the LSP, click No to not change the Winsock default settings.
Launch iTunes after restarting your computer and try accessing the iTunes Store again.
7. Authorize and de-authorize your computer in the iTunes Store
If you still see the “Accessing the iTunes Store” message on the screen, you can authorize your computer before using it to play or sync content downloads from the iTunes Store.
Authorizing a computer gives it permission to access content, including movies and music, and can be done on up to five computers. However, you cannot authorize a computer from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or another computer.
To authorize your computer, update it to the latest iTunes (Windows) and the latest macOS.
On your Windows computer, open iTunes for Windows. If you’re using a Mac, open the Music app, Apple Books app, or Apple TV app and sign in with your Apple ID.
Select Account from the menu bar, and then click Authorize Authorize This Computer.
To deauthorize your computer, open iTunes (Windows) or, for Mac, open the Music app, Apple Books app, or Apple TV. Go to the menu bar and select “Account” “Authorization” “Deauthorize this computer”.
Sign in with your Apple ID and select Deauthorize.
8. Check the problem in another user account (Mac)
You can find out if the iTunes Store Access issue is related to your account by testing it with a different account.
Create a new account by going to menu System Preferences and selecting “Users and Groups.”
Click the lock icon and enter your administrator name and password. Click Add (+) below the list of users and fill in the fields for a standard or administrator account.
Click “Create User (Account)”.
Note. If you already have another account in your user list, you can simply sign out of the current account you are using and try using a different one to see if the message appears there. If it doesn’t happen with a new account or another account, the problem is with the files or settings on your account.
To remove the new user account that was created for testing, follow the same steps, but select Remove (-) instead of Add (+). Before deleting your account, make sure that the files or settings you copied are not needed.
If the problem occurs with a newly created or different user account, update the software or try using Safe Mode and check for other hardware or software issues that might be contributing to the problem.
We hope that one of these solutions solved the problem with the “Accessing the iTunes Store” message stuck on your computer.
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