Unable to download iTunes music purchases

Question

Unable to download iTunes music purchases

I have Apple Music open on my Mac and I'm signed into my account. There are a total of 13 songs available in my account with purchase dates ranging from 2003, 2004, 2005 and one Digital Booklet from an album in 2014 (songs missing).

When I go to Account > Account Settings > Purchase History > See All and go to select a date range by year, I can see all my previous purchases going as far back as May 1, 2003. However, there is no way to download or listen to the music that I paid for.

I can "Report a Problem" about the purchased items but there's no option for "can't download". And I really don't want to have to do this for hundreds of purchases over 12 years.

Posted on Feb 18, 2025 07:35 AM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Feb 18, 2025 12:18 PM in response to Anthony Sbarro

Up until some point in 2009 all iTunes Store music content was sold on the basis that you got one successful download of a 128k DRM laden track, which you were supposed to backup yourself. You could burn such tracks to audio CD and rip back to get an unencumbered copy, for a small (maybe negligible) loss of quality. Apple then switched to selling DRM free 256k music, with the right to redownload provided the content in question remains in the iTunes Store. There was a period when you could pay to upgrade older purchases but that only lasted for a year or two. Depending on the age of the purchase, and the activities of the various rights holders, some of your past purchases may not be eligible/available for redownloading.

Any unhidden, undownloaded content will normally be shown in your library allowing you to stream or download on demand. Check the view menu to make sure that you haven't selected Only Downloaded Music. If needs be see Hide and unhide music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and books - Apple Support to unhide any hidden content and Redownload music - Apple Support to download it to local storage. In general you can right/ctrl-click any selection of content that is in the cloud and click Download from the pop up menu to download it.

tt2

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Answer 2

Feb 18, 2025 02:26 PM in response to turingtest2

Fortunately, I do have archives of the music I purchased. Evidently Apple does not. I was really hoping to start using Apple Music again and even buy the $25/year plan they still have. It's difficult to trust that any company (or rights holder) will do the things they say they'll do for even a reasonable amount of time any more. It's sad and frustrating. Thank you.

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Unable to download iTunes music purchases

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