If you see ‘There was an error downloading your purchased music‘ when you try to download music from iTunes

Fix issues with third-party security software, remove the cached download file, then retry your download.

When you try to download content you bought from the iTunes Store, you might see a message that says "There was an error downloading your purchased music. An unknown error occurred."

To fix the issue, check for any issues with third-party security software and remove the cached download file. Then try to download the music again.

Fix issues with third-party security software

If your connection times out during a download, it might be caused by security software monitoring certain servers and common ports. If your third-party security software doesn't let you download from iTunes, learn how to fix the issue.

Remove the cached download file

A network issue can also cause an iTunes download to time out. When this happens, a cached download file might not let you download the file next time. Remove the cached download on a Mac or PC before you try the download again.

On a Mac

  1. If iTunes is open, quit the program.
  2. In Finder, select Go > Home from the menu bar at the top of your screen.
  3. Open Music > iTunes > iTunes Media. If you have an older iTunes library, you might see an iTunes Music folder instead of an iTunes Media folder.
  4. Open Downloads.
  5. Drag all files from the folder to Trash.
  6. Open iTunes.
  7. From the menu bar at the top of your screen, choose Account > Check for Available Downloads.
  8. If prompted, enter your Apple ID and password. 
  9. Click Check. Your music downloads to your iTunes Library.

On a PC

  1. If iTunes is open, quit the program.
  2. Press the Windows key on your keyboard. If your keyboard doesn't have a Windows key, press the Control (Ctrl) and Escape (Esc) keys.
  3. Click on the magnifying icon or search field. 
  4. In the search field, enter %USERPROFILE%\Music.
  5. Open iTunes > iTunes Media. If you have an older iTunes library, you might see an iTunes Music folder instead of an iTunes Media folder.
  6. Open Downloads.
  7. Drag all files from the folder to the Recycle Bin.
  8. Open iTunes.
  9. From the menu bar at the top of the iTunes window, choose Account Store > Check for Available Downloads.
  10. If prompted, enter your Apple ID and password. 
  11. Click Check. Your music downloads to your iTunes Library.

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