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How to Deauthorize iTunes on Old or Dead Computers (Apple Music, Too)
Do this if you need to authorize a new computer
By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 27, 2020 Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section Mac or PC Computers You Don't Have Access To What Is iTunes Authorization When to Deauthorize iTunes What To Know
In iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. Log in and click Deauthorize.Or go to Account > View My Account > log in> Apple ID Summary > Deauthorize All.These tips also work for the Music app that replaced iTunes on Macs in 2019. This article explains how to deauthorize iTunes on a computer that you're planning on getting rid of, or already have gotten rid of, stopping anyone else from getting access to music, videos, and other content purchased from the iTunes Store. These directions apply to iTunes 12 and up but should work equally well for earlier versions, too. In 2019, Apple replied iTunes with an app called Music on Macs (iTunes still exists on Windows). The instructions in this article also apply to deauthorizing computers in the Music app. How to Deauthorize iTunes on a Mac or PC
Open iTunes on the computer you want to deauthorize. Go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. Log in with your Apple ID if prompted to do so, then click Deauthorize. How to Deauthorize a Computer You Don' t Have Access To
Deauthorizing is simple if you have access to the computer, but what if you sold the computer and forgot to deauthorize it? Or maybe you want to deauthorize iTunes or Music on a non-working computer that won't turn on. You can log in with your Apple ID on any computer to deauthorize iTunes on old, missing, or broken computers: Download iTunes if it's not on the computer. Go to Account > View My Account. Log in with your Apple ID. Make sure it's the same account that was used to authorize the computer you don't have access to but now want to deauthorize. In the Apple ID Summary section, select Deauthorize All. In the pop-up window, confirm that this is what you want to do. In a few seconds, all the computers on your account will be deauthorized. It's very important to understand that this step means that every computer that was previously able to access purchases made through that Apple ID has been deauthorized. So, you'll have to reauthorize the ones you want to use. What Is iTunes Authorization
Authorization is a form of DRM applied to some content sold through the iTunes Store and Apple's other online media stores. In the early days of the iTunes Store, all songs had DRM applied to them to prevent copying. Now that iTunes music is DRM-free, authorization covers other kinds of purchases, like movies and TV. Every Apple ID can authorize up to five computers to play the DRM-protected content purchased using that account. This number limit applies to Macs and PCs, but not to iOS devices like the iPhone. Since iTunes authorizations can be shuffled around, you can deauthorize any number of computers to re-open those authorization slots for other computers. For example, if five computers are authorized, you must deauthorize one before you can authorize a new computer. How to Authorize a Computer for Apple TV Notes About iTunes Deauthorization
The Deauthorize All option is only available when you have at least two authorized computers. You can use the Deauthorize All method once every 12 months. If you used it in the last year and need to again, contact Apple to see if they can help. Deauthorize your computer before upgrading Windows or installing new hardware. In those cases, iTunes can make a mistake and think that one computer is actually two. Deauthorizing prevents that. If you subscribe to iTunes Match, you can keep up to 10 computers in sync. That limit isn't related to this one. Since iTunes Match only handles music, which is DRM-free, the 10 computer limit applies. All other iTunes Store content that isn't compatible with iTunes Match is limited to five authorizations. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Authorize Computers in Apple Music or iTunes Complete Guide to Using iTunes and the iTunes Store Can You Install iTunes on a Mac? M4V File (What It Is and How to Open One) How to Authorize a Computer for Apple TV How to Hide iTunes and App Store Purchases in Family Sharing How to Cancel Your Apple Music Subscription M4P File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Cancel Netflix How to Remove a Family Member From Family Sharing How to Cancel Apple TV+ Do You Have to Use ITunes With an IPhone or IPod? How to Turn Off Family Sharing for iTunes How to Cancel Subscriptions on iPhone How to Set Up and Use Home Sharing in iTunes How to Reset MacBook Air Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies