Deauthorizing a Computer Stops iTunes from Using Your Account

When you deauthorize a computer in iTunes, you disconnect that machine from your Apple ID. After deauthorization, that computer can no longer play music, movies, TV shows, or audiobooks you bought through iTunes, and it cannot sync with your Apple devices using that account. You are essentially telling Apple that computer no longer has permission to use your library.

You might deauthorize a computer because you sold it, gave it away, stopped using it, or want to free up space for a different machine. Apple lets you authorize up to five computers per account at any given time, so deauthorizing an old one makes room for a new one if you have hit that limit.

Key Takeaways

  • You deauthorize a computer through the iTunes process itself, using the Account menu on that specific machine.
  • Deauthorization removes that computer's access to your purchased content and synced libraries.
  • If you no longer have access to the computer, you can deauthorize all machines at once from your Apple ID settings online.
  • After deauthorizing, you can authorize a different computer using the same Apple ID.

Deauthorizing from the Computer Itself

The standard way to deauthorize is to sit down at the computer you want to disconnect and open iTunes. On a Mac, click Account in the menu bar at the top of the screen. On Windows, click Account in the menu bar or in the upper left corner of the window. Look for the option that says Deauthorize This Computer or Deauthorize [Your Name's] Computer.

Click that option. iTunes will ask you to confirm by entering your Apple ID and password. Type them in and click Deauthorize. The computer is now disconnected from your account. This process takes a few seconds, and you will see a message confirming the deauthorization is complete.

After deauthorization, that computer will no longer be able to play protected content you purchased through iTunes. If you try to open a song or video, iTunes will ask you to authorize the computer again before it will play.

Deauthorizing All Computers at Once Online

If you no longer have access to a computer—because you sold it, it broke, or you straightforward cannot reach it—you can deauthorize all five machines at once from Apple's website. Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password.

Click Media & Purchases in the left menu, then look for the section labeled iTunes in the Cloud or Manage Your Devices. You should see an option to Deauthorize All or Remove All Authorizations. Click it, confirm your password again, and all five authorization slots will be cleared when ready.

This nuclear option is useful when you have lost track of which computers are authorized or when you cannot physically access one of them. The downside is that it clears all five at once, so you will need to re-authorize any computers you still use and want to keep connected to your account.

What Happens After You Deauthorize

Once a computer is deauthorized, it loses the ability to play any protected music, movies, TV shows, or audiobooks you bought through iTunes. If someone else is using that computer and tries to play your purchased content, they will see an error message asking them to authorize the computer first.

Deauthorization does not delete any files from the computer. Your music library, playlists, and other data remain on the hard drive. Only the permission to play protected content is removed. If you want to erase the files themselves, you will need to do that manually.

If you deauthorize a computer by mistake, you can authorize it again right away by opening iTunes, going to Account, and clicking Authorize This Computer. You will need to enter your Apple ID and password again.

Authorizing a New Computer

After you deauthorize an old computer, you can authorize a new one using the same Apple ID. Open iTunes on the new machine, click Account, and select Authorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password, and the new computer will be connected to your account.

You can authorize up to five computers per account. If you try to authorize a sixth, iTunes will tell you that you have reached the limit and ask you to deauthorize one of the existing machines first. This limit resets once per year, but you cannot manually reset it yourself.

Deauthorizing on Different Versions of iTunes

The steps above work on recent versions of iTunes for both Mac and Windows. If you are using an older version, the menu locations might be slightly different. On very old versions of iTunes, the option might be labeled Deauthorize Computer instead of Deauthorize This Computer, but the process is the same.

If you cannot find the Account menu, check whether you are running the latest version of iTunes. You can update iTunes through the App Store on Mac or through the Microsoft Store on Windows. Older versions sometimes have bugs or missing features, so updating often solves menu problems.

When You Sell or Give Away a Computer

If you are selling or giving away a computer, deauthorize it before you hand it over. This prevents the new owner from being able to play your purchased content without their own Apple ID. It also protects your account security by removing that machine's access to your library.

You should also sign out of your Apple ID on the computer before you give it away. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID and click Sign Out. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info and click Sign Out. This removes your personal information from the machine and prevents the new owner from accessing your files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deauthorize a computer remotely if I do not have access to it?

Yes. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click Media & Purchases, and select Deauthorize All. This clears all five authorization slots at once. You will then need to re-authorize any computers you still use.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You will need to reset it before you can deauthorize. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you have a new password, you can deauthorize normally.

Does deauthorizing delete my music files?

No. Deauthorization only removes the permission to play protected content. Your music library stays on the computer. If you want to delete the files, you must do that manually through your file manager.

How many computers can I authorize at the same time?

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID. If you need to authorize a sixth, you must deauthorize one of the existing five first.

Can I re-authorize a computer after I deauthorize it?

Yes. Open iTunes, go to Account, click Authorize This Computer, and enter your Apple ID and password again. The computer will be reconnected to your account when ready.