Universal iTunes 12.6.5.3 on MacOS not downloading apps

[MacUse-R]

So since maybe around March of 2020 itunes version 12.6.5.3 on MacOS is not downloading or updating any apps, it looks as the download starts but then it never completes the download/update.
Im using a 2011 MBP with High Sierra. I have not updated itunes just because i wanted to keep the app store in itunes. Apparently this issue does not exist on Windows when reading online, there seems to be a lot of online posts about this, so its probably something Apple has done, but non of the posts had any solutions, or even knew what was going on.

So does anybody know what has happened, and if this is fixable?

 

[TiggrToo]

First of all, that version of iTunes on Macs is no longer supported. Apple provided it as an olive branch to enterprises and it was never designed to support end users.

That said, I did find the following at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250154640

After experiencing the same issue on multiple machines with the same operating system and iTunes versions i spoke with an experienced Apple Enterprise Support team member. They provided a solution with seems the be simplicity itself after two days of careful consultation and screen sharing. By the way, they couldn't reproduce the problem from their end, hence the feeling the the account file itself might be the culprit. It is not an app version blocking issue per-se, more an iTunes/Apple Account security 'feature'. If your account details or payment methods have been flagged for 'non-authorised activity' or 'suspicious transactions' it maybe suspended (without notification or human intervention) until such times as your ID is re-established and the flag removed. Sometimes this flagging can occur well after the said suspicious event (weeks, months). I my case i had multiple Apple accounts in several countries. Only one of which had the 'update error 8288' issue. This one account had been not been flagged as needing ID verification strangely. After changing the account payment method to "NONE' and then re-entering the required credit card details, the Enterprise rep verified my ID using the 3 questions set when the account was first created. Violå. Problem solved in this instance. All updates completed successfully and all machines. The Mac operating version or iTunes version was not really the issue in my case.

 

[MacUse-R]

First of all, that version of iTunes on Macs is no longer supported. Apple provided it as an olive branch to enterprises and it was never designed to support end users.

That said, I did find the following at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250154640

Thanks, but if that was the case as said in that thread, shouldnt it affect all app downloads and purchases, and from all devices, and not only app downloads/app updates on Mac itunes? Also, i have always had "none" as payment option.

If i remember it correctly i was able to download/update apps on itunes on the PC a couple of weeks ago, so in that case the problem is specifically on the mac version of itunes 12.6.5.3?

 

[TiggrToo]

Thanks, but if that was the case as said in that thread, shouldnt it affect all app downloads and purchases, and from all devices, and not only app downloads/app updates on Mac itunes? Also, i have always had "none" as payment option.

If i remember it correctly i was able to download/update apps on itunes on the PC a couple of weeks ago, so in that case the problem is specifically on the mac version of itunes 12.6.5.3?

iTunes is currently a fully supported application on Windows. It's only on MacOS that it's been replaced.