You can deauthorize up to five computers at a time from your iTunes account

iTunes limits you to playing purchased content on five computers at once. When you reach that limit or want to remove a computer you no longer use, you deauthorize it through your account settings. The process takes less than a minute and does not require you to have the computer in front of you — you can deauthorize remotely from any device.

Deauthorizing a computer removes its access to your iTunes purchases and Apple Music content. If someone else uses that computer, they will no longer be able to play your library. You can reauthorize the same computer later if you change your mind, but you will need your Apple ID password to do so.

Key Takeaways

  • You can authorize up to five computers on your iTunes account at the same time, and deauthorize any of them from your account settings.
  • Deauthorizing a computer removes access to your iTunes purchases and Apple Music on that device, but does not delete the files.
  • You can deauthorize a computer remotely without having it in front of you, or deauthorize all computers at once if you have lost track of them.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it before handing it over so the new owner cannot access your purchases.

Deauthorize one computer from your account settings

Open iTunes on any authorized computer and go to Account in the menu bar. Select View My Account and sign in with your Apple ID. Scroll down to the iTunes in the Cloud section and click Manage Your Devices. You will see a list of all computers and devices linked to your account, with their authorization status and the date each was authorized.

Find the computer you want to remove and click the X button next to it. iTunes will ask you to confirm. Click Remove and the computer is deauthorized when ready. You do not need to restart iTunes or the computer itself.

If you do not have access to an authorized computer, you can deauthorize from a web browser instead. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, and select Devices. Find the computer in the list, click it, and select Remove from Account.

Deauthorize all computers at once

If you have lost track of which computers are authorized or you want to start fresh, iTunes lets you deauthorize all five at the same time. Open iTunes, go to Account and View My Account, then scroll to iTunes in the Cloud and click Manage Your Devices.

At the bottom of the device list, click Deauthorize All. iTunes will warn you that you can only do this once per year, so use this option carefully. After you confirm, every computer and device on your account is deauthorized. You will then need to reauthorize any computers you still use by entering your Apple ID password in iTunes.

What happens after you deauthorize a computer

Once a computer is deauthorized, anyone using it will no longer be able to play your iTunes purchases or stream Apple Music through your account. Downloaded files remain on the computer, but they cannot be opened without authorization. If the computer is sold or given to someone else, they will not have access to your content.

Deauthorizing does not affect iCloud Music Library or music you have uploaded to iCloud. It only affects content purchased through iTunes and Apple Music streaming. If you want to use that computer again later, you can reauthorize it by opening iTunes, going to Account, and selecting Authorize This Computer. You will need your Apple ID password.

Deauthorize before selling or giving away a computer

If you are selling a computer or giving it to someone else, deauthorize it before you hand it over. This prevents the new owner from accessing your iTunes purchases and Apple Music account. Even if you change your Apple ID password afterward, the computer will still have access until you deauthorize it.

You should also sign out of your Apple ID on the computer before giving it away. Go to Account in iTunes and select Sign Out. This removes your account information from the device. If you have already given away the computer without deauthorizing it, you can still remove it remotely through your account settings on another device or through appleid.apple.com.

Reauthorize a computer you deauthorized by mistake

If you deauthorized a computer you still use, you can reauthorize it when ready. Open iTunes on that computer and go to Account in the menu bar. Select Authorize This Computer and sign in with your Apple ID. iTunes will add the computer back to your account and restore access to your purchases and Apple Music.

You can reauthorize the same computer as many times as you need. There is no limit on how often you can authorize and deauthorize the same device, only on how many devices can be authorized at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deauthorize a computer I do not have access to?

Yes. You can deauthorize any computer remotely through appleid.apple.com or through iTunes on another authorized computer. You do not need the computer in front of you. Go to your account settings, find the device in your list, and remove it.

What is the difference between deauthorizing and signing out?

Signing out removes your Apple ID from the computer but does not prevent it from playing your purchases if it was already authorized. Deauthorizing removes access to your content entirely. For security, do both before giving away a computer.

Will deauthorizing delete my music files?

No. Deauthorizing removes the ability to play protected files, but the files themselves stay on the computer. You can delete them manually if you want to free up space.

Can I authorize more than five computers?

No. iTunes limits you to five authorized computers at a time. If you try to authorize a sixth, you must deauthorize one first. This limit applies to computers only, not to iPhones or iPads.

How often can I use the deauthorize all option?

You can deauthorize all computers only once per year. After you use it, you cannot use it again for 12 months. Plan carefully before you choose this option, since you will need to reauthorize each computer you still use.