How to Deauthorize iTunes on a Mac or PC
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: In a few seconds, all the computers on your account will be deauthorized.
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.
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.
