If iTunes Store downloads stall, clear the queue, check authorizations, and redownload purchases with the built-in tools.
Stuck downloads waste time and kill the mood. This guide shows fast, safe ways to get purchases onto your device, whether you’re on iPhone, iPad, Windows with iTunes, or the Music app on a Mac. You’ll see what to check first, how to restart a jammed queue, and the exact menu paths that trigger a fresh download. No fluff—just steps that work.
What This Guide Covers
This walkthrough targets paid tracks from the store on Apple platforms. It also includes fixes for Apple Music library downloads where they overlap. Every step keeps your library intact and avoids risky cleaners or third-party tools.
Quick Checks That Clear Most Stalls
Run through these short checks before deeper fixes. They solve the bulk of “stuck on Waiting…” and “circle keeps spinning” cases.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Waiting…” for minutes | Stuck queue or weak connection | Open the Downloads list and pause/resume; switch Wi-Fi or toggle Airplane mode, then retry |
| Purchased badge, no download button | Needs a manual redownload view | Use the store’s Purchased screen and trigger a fresh pull |
| Downloads work on phone, not on PC | Computer not authorized | Authorize via Account > Authorizations, then retry |
| Some tracks appear, others missing | Sync Library off or cloud status pending | Turn on Sync Library on all devices and let it update |
| Endless spinner in the store | Store hiccup or stuck partial file | Cancel the item in Downloads, restart the app, then redownload |
| “You do not have permission” on desktop | Apple ID mismatch or deauthorized computer | Sign in with the correct Apple ID and re-authorize |
When Tracks Refuse To Download In The iTunes Store
Most jams come from a blocked queue or the wrong screen. Get to the right place, then ask the store to hand over the file again.
Use The Purchased Screen To Pull A Fresh Copy
The Purchased view exposes a clean download button for each album or song. On iPhone, open the store app, go to More > Purchased > Music, then tap the cloud icon next to the item you want. Apple’s step-by-step page shows the taps by platform—see redownload music from the store for the mobile path and tips.
Clear The Queue If One Item Is Jammed
Queues can hold everything back when a single item fails. Find the Downloads list in the store or in the desktop app, cancel the frozen entry, then start it again. If the item keeps sticking, remove it from the list, quit the app, reopen it, and start a redownload from Purchased.
Swap Networks And Retry
Move from a slow network to a faster one. If you’re on cellular, turn Wi-Fi off and on, or try another hotspot. On iPhone or iPad, a quick Airplane mode toggle resets the radios and often frees a stalled job.
Restart The App, Then The Device
Close the store or desktop app, wait a few seconds, and reopen it. If the spinner returns right away, reboot the device and try the Purchased route again.
Store Purchases On A Computer: Fix Rights And Resume
On a Mac or PC, redownloads can fail when the machine isn’t authorized for the Apple ID that bought the track. The fix takes seconds and doesn’t touch your library.
Authorize The Machine
Open the Music app (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Head to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer, then sign in. Apple caps this at five computers; you can later remove old ones. The official steps live on Apple’s help page here: authorize or deauthorize your computer.
Trigger A Redownload From The Correct Menu
In the Music app on Mac, go to Account > Purchased and click the cloud icon. On Windows with iTunes, use Account > Purchased to find the same cloud button. If the store says the computer isn’t authorized, redo the step above, then try again. Apple’s platform pages list the exact clicks for Mac and PC.
Check Apple ID And Region
Downloads only appear for the Apple ID that bought them. If you have multiple IDs, sign out and back in with the one that owns the purchase. Region changes can also hide past orders until you switch back to the original store.
Apple Music Library Downloads: When The Cloud Symbol Spins
For subscription tracks saved offline, the fix often sits in Sync settings. A quick toggle kicks the library back into motion.
Turn On Sync Library On Every Device
On a Mac: Music > Settings > General > Sync Library. On iPhone or iPad: Settings > Music > Sync Library. Then let the app finish updating the cloud view before trying again. See Apple’s guide to use Sync Library with a subscription for menu names and screenshots.
Confirm The Same Apple ID Everywhere
Open the Music app or device settings and check the signed-in account. A mismatch across devices prevents cloud status from resolving.
Give The Cloud Time To Rebuild
Large libraries take a beat. Leave the app open on power and Wi-Fi. Once the cloud status completes, the download icons should switch from dim to active.
Fixes By Platform
Here’s a clean, step-by-step set for each platform. Follow the list in order. Stop as soon as the download starts working.
iPhone Or iPad
- Open the store app, go to More > Purchased > Music, then tap the cloud icon next to the song or album.
- Check the More > Downloads list. If one item is stuck, pause it, cancel it, or swipe to remove it. Then trigger the download again from Purchased.
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off. Retry the same item.
- Force-quit the store app and reopen it. If needed, restart the device and repeat step 1.
- If you use the subscription library, turn Sync Library off and back on in Settings > Music. Wait for the library to refresh, then tap the cloud icon again.
Mac (Music App)
- Open Music, then Account > Purchased. Click the cloud icon for the missing track.
- Open Account > Authorizations and authorize the Mac if needed.
- Check Music > Settings > General and turn on Sync Library if you use the subscription.
- Look at the activity indicator at the top of the sidebar. If it says updating, let it finish. Then retry the download.
- Quit Music, hold Option while reopening to pick the right library if you keep more than one, then try the cloud icon again.
Windows (iTunes)
- Open iTunes. Go to Account > Purchased and click the cloud icon for the album or song.
- Open Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer. Sign in, then retry the download.
- Open the Downloads window (look for the download arrow). If one item says “stopped” or shows zero progress, cancel it and start from Purchased again.
- Quit iTunes and reopen it. If a partial file remains, remove the stuck entry from the Downloads list first, then try again.
- If you also use the subscription library on Windows, sign in to the Music app for Windows and let Sync Library finish before testing the same album.
Where To Find The Download Controls
Not sure where the cloud icon or queue lives? Use this map to jump straight there.
| Platform | Path | What You’ll See |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone / iPad | Store app > More > Purchased > Music | Cloud icon for each item; Downloads list under More |
| Mac | Music > Account > Purchased | Cloud icon per album/track; activity status in sidebar |
| Windows | iTunes > Account > Purchased | Cloud icon; Downloads window shows progress and errors |
Why The Download Button Disappears
When you already have the file locally, the store can hide the cloud icon. If you moved libraries or changed computers, the store might think the item is already present. Use Account > Purchased to force a new copy. If the wrong Apple ID is signed in, the button won’t appear until you switch accounts.
Network And Storage Tweaks That Help
- Free space: Leave at least a few hundred megabytes free on phones and a few gigabytes on desktops. Big albums need room to assemble.
- Router reset: Power-cycle the router, then try a single track first before kicking off a batch.
- Metered data: If you’re on cellular with a data saver, switch to Wi-Fi or allow media downloads on mobile data in Settings.
- Background refresh: Keep the app in the foreground during the first minute. Large files start faster when the screen is awake.
Apple Music And Purchased Files: What’s Different
Paid store items download straight from your order history. Subscription tracks rely on your cloud library. You can use both on the same device. If a store purchase fails, use the Purchased route. If a subscription track fails, toggle the Sync setting, wait for cloud status to finish, then tap the download icon again.
Keep Things Smooth Next Time
- Use one Apple ID for media: Mixing accounts across devices hides purchases and confuses the store.
- Prune stuck items promptly: Clear a frozen entry before starting more downloads.
- Schedule big pulls: Batch new albums on stable Wi-Fi with power connected.
- Audit authorizations: If you hit the five-computer cap, deauthorize older machines you no longer use, then re-authorize the current one.
Troubleshooting Flow You Can Reuse
Any time a title won’t land on your device, follow this quick path:
- Open Purchased and try the cloud icon first.
- Check the Downloads queue; cancel the jammed item and restart it.
- Switch networks or toggle Airplane mode; retry the same song.
- Restart the app; if needed, reboot the device.
- On computers, authorize the machine and redownload from the Purchased screen.
- For subscription items, turn on Sync Library everywhere and wait for cloud status to finish.
When To Contact Apple
If purchases are missing from your order history, or if downloads fail across multiple devices after the steps above, reach out to Apple for account-level help. Have your Apple ID, the item names, and screenshots of the error ready. If you recently changed regions, mention that during the chat.
Key Links For Official Steps
These two pages cover the exact clicks and taps used in this guide:
- Redownload music from the store (iPhone/iPad path).
- Authorize or deauthorize your computer (Mac and Windows paths).
Final Check Before You Retry
Open the store’s Purchased screen, confirm you’re on the right Apple ID, and press the cloud icon once per album. Watch the queue for movement. If the progress bar advances, let it finish; if it stalls, cancel that single item and start it again. Stay on a steady network for the first minute. That’s usually all it takes.