How to Fix Cannot Connect to iTunes Store Issue?

Updated Mar 15,2017 | by Niko

If you use iPhone, iPad and iPod, you may have encountered the problem"Cannot connect to iTunes Store" when you try to open iTunes on your iPhone, iPad, iPod or PC/Mac. It is a common issue bothers many Apple users. You will not be able to download music/videos/iBook/Podcasts or install any app. There are a few reasons may cause the problem. Mostly it's because of internet connection. In this article, we will figure out and provide you all the solutions available to help you solve iTunes could not connect to the iTunes Store

While, you can see many users search this kind of question on the internet. Just briefly mention a few of similar issues, sometimes you might see other alert messages instead of "cannot connect to iTunes Store".

For example,

  "We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."

  "We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The network connection could not be established. There was an error in the iTunes Store. Please try again later."

  "iTunes could not connect to the iTunes Store. Make sure your network connection is active and try again."

Don't worry if you see one of these alert messages, we have summarized the tips in the following will completely help you fix iTunes cannot connect to iTunes Store.

How to Fix Cannot Connect to iTunes Store on iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

If cannot connect to iTunes Store issue happens on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch when you are trying to access iTunes, Follow the method below.

1. Check the Internet Connection

Most of the time, iTunes could not connect to the iTunes Store is caused by broken internet connection. 

• If you are using WiFi, Try opening any other website with Safari or other browser on your iPhone or iPad. If the site doesn't load, see if other people's device can access the internet under the same WiFi. If both devices cannot load, then you need to reset the internet or contact your internet provider for more help.

Also, you can visit the blog How to Fix iPhone wont connect to WiFi.

• If you are using Cellular Data, just make sure you have enabled the Cellular sevice for iTunes Store and App Store. 

Step 1: Go to Settings > Cellular.

Step 2: View APPS USING WLAN & CELLULAR, find iTunes Store in the list.

Step 3: Switch the option to WLAN & Cellular Data.

Step 4: Done.

2. Update iOS

Sometimes, the issue is caused by software error. While iOS software update usually includes some bug fixes, so update it to the latest version may help you out. 

-How to update iOS software? 

-Go to Settings > General > Software Update, then download and install the update step by step.

Also don't forget to back up your iOS content first, you can visit the blog How to Back Up iPhone

3. Make sure Date & Time is set correctly

Go to Settings > General > Date & Time, and check if date, time and time zone are set correctly .

Fix Cannot Connect to iTunes Store Issue on Computer/Mac

If you are running iTunes on Windows computer and Mac, check out the following solutions. 

1. Check out the Internet connection

2. Check if your computer meets the iTunes minimum system requirements (for both Windows and Mac)

3. Check your computer operating system is up to date

·         For Mac users, choose Apple > Software Update from the menu bar at the top of your screen to update your Mac operating system

·         For Windows users, check Windows Update: FAQ for more details

4. Make sure the iTunes you installed is up-to-date. You can update or free download & install the latest version of iTunes: https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

5. Allow app/program/feature through firewall, especially for Windows Firewall. How to change Windows Firewall settings? Open Windows Firewall window by clicking firewall.cpl and make proper changes.

For Mac users, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall, and see if iTunes is allowing incoming connections. If it is set to block, then change it to “Allow”

6. Disable and enable iTunes control again

Go to Preferences > Parental Control > disable access to iTunes Store >enable access to iTunes Store

7. Check iTunes account

Sometimes, cannot connect to iTunes Store is caused by Apple authentication services. Sign out your iTunes account and sign in the account again with your Apple ID. After you have signed in your iTunes account, check the payment and other information and see if the issue is fixed.

iTunes Store Error 0x80090318 Fix

Generally, one of these solutions can help you get rid of “Cannot connect to iTunes Store” issue. But if you see error 0X80090318 when you open iTunes Store, there is a dedicated solution to fix this conflict issue between software that monitors Internet traffic on Windows PCs and Apple software (iTunes Store and iCloud).

1. Download Autoruns for Windows

2. Open Autoruns.exe

3. Choose Winsock Provider

4. You will see a list of software publishers, and check the publisher for support to solve the conflict between the software and Apple software

After trying all the above solutions, you will finally solve iTunes could not connect to the iTunes Store problem. If there are any other questions, you are welcomed to leave a comment.

Related reading:

How to Create and Login iTunes Account

How to Reste iTunes Password

How to Update iTunes

How to Authorize a Computer on iTunes

Related Readings for Reference