iTunes 7.0 Special Report: Authorization problems: Unable to playback purchased media, more

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 12:07 a.m. PT

3 min read

Some users have reported authorization errors for purchased media, particularly television shows, receiving the error message:

"This computer is not authorized to play '(name of video)'.

The user is then prompted to "Open iTunes" (which is, obviously, already open), after which they receive a message "Waiting for iTunes to authorize this computer to play (name of video) -- a fruitless endeavor that never results in the video being authorized and correctly playing.

Instead, users can click the play button and the timeline will track, but no audio and/or video are displayed.

MacFixIt reader Paul Holmstrom writes:

"I cannot play any of my purchased music. iTunes keeps prompting me to authorize, takes me through the procedure, acknowledges the authorization. I again click to play, and go through the same procedure again. I have deauthorized the computer and then authorized again. Still the same. I have 12 downloads on cue that will not download "There was a problem downloading [...] Error 50"

Another reader writes:

"I tried the tip I read about deauthorizing iTunes, then reauthorizing and quitting, then re-opening. Nothing changed. I have the same problem the previous logger had where it keeps asking me to authorize my computer, then appears to do it, then asks again. Meanwhile, I cannot actually do it, and am suddenly unable to use any of the songs I paid for in home projects, slide shows, etc."

Remove third-party plug-ins It appears that in some cases, authorization problems can be resolved by removing errant third-party plug-ins; a workaround also useful for other iTunes 7.0 issues.

Look in the following directory:

~/Library/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins

and remove any third-party plug-ins (including visualizers) you have previously added, then quit and re-launch iTunes.

MacFixIt reader Paul Holmstrom writes:

"Saw a tip about throwing out plugins. Discarded my only plugin MissingSyncPalmiTunesPlugin.bundle and everything is fine (re: authorization)."

Double-clicking file again In some cases, the authorization issue is easily fixed by double-clicking the file (game, video, etc.) in question (from within iTunes), which will prompt the user for authorization credentials. After authorizing, re-attempt synchronization with the iPod.

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