You can deauthorize all your computers from iTunes in one step through your account settings

If you've signed into iTunes on multiple computers over the years, Apple lets you remove all of them at once without touching each machine individually. You do this through your Apple ID account settings on the web, not through iTunes itself. The process takes about two minutes and when ready revokes access on every computer that was signed in under your account.

This is useful when you're selling a computer, giving one away, or straightforward want to start fresh because you've lost track of where you're signed in. After you deauthorize all computers, you can then authorize just the ones you currently use.

Key Takeaways

  • You deauthorize all computers through your Apple ID account page on the web, not through iTunes on any individual machine.
  • The option to deauthorize all computers appears only once per year, so use it carefully if you need to do it again soon.
  • After deauthorizing all computers, you'll need to sign back into iTunes on the machines you actually use and authorize them again.
  • Deauthorizing removes access to your purchased music, movies, and TV shows on those computers, but doesn't delete the files themselves.

How to find the deauthorize all option

Go to appleid.apple.com in your web browser and sign in with your Apple ID and password. If you use two-factor authentication (which Apple recommends), you'll need to enter a verification code sent to one of your trusted devices.

Once you're signed in, look for Devices in the left sidebar menu. Click it. You'll see a list of all the devices currently signed into your Apple ID — iPhones, iPads, Macs, PCs, and anything else. At the bottom of this page, you should see a link that says Deauthorize All. Click it, then confirm when Apple asks you to verify the action.

If you don't see the Deauthorize All link, it may be because you haven't authorized any computers yet, or because you've already used this feature within the past year. Apple limits how often you can deauthorize all computers to once every 12 months as a security measure.

What happens when ready after you deauthorize

The moment you click confirm, every computer signed into your Apple ID loses the ability to play music, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks you purchased through iTunes. If someone tries to open iTunes on one of those computers, they'll see a message saying the computer isn't authorized.

The files themselves don't disappear — your music library and any downloaded content stay on the hard drive. But iTunes won't play them without authorization. This is Apple's way of preventing one purchase from being shared across unlimited computers.

You can still access your account and see your purchase history on the web. You just can't play protected content on an unauthorized computer.

Re-authorizing the computers you still use

After deauthorizing all computers, sign back into iTunes on each machine you actually want to use. Open iTunes, go to Account in the menu bar (on a Mac) or under Edit (on Windows), then select Authorizations and choose Authorize This Computer. Sign in with your Apple ID when prompted.

You can authorize up to five computers at any one time under a single Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will ask you to deauthorize one of the others first. This limit applies across all your devices — so if you've authorized three Macs and two PCs, you've used all five slots.

Each computer you authorize gets its own authorization, so you don't have to worry about one person's sign-in affecting another's. If you share a computer with family members, each person can sign in with their own Apple ID and authorize it separately.

When you might need to deauthorize all computers

The most common reason is when you've accumulated authorizations on old machines you no longer own or use. If you've had the same Apple ID for ten years and bought three computers in that time, you might have authorizations lingering on machines that are long gone. Deauthorizing all at once clears the slate.

Another reason is security. If you think someone else has signed into your Apple ID on a computer you don't control, deauthorizing all computers removes their access when ready. You should also change your Apple ID password after doing this.

You might also do it before selling or giving away a computer. Deauthorizing all computers ensures the new owner can't access your purchased content, even if they somehow know your password.

The one-per-year limit and what to do if you've already used it

Apple allows you to deauthorize all computers only once every 12 months. If you've already done it recently and need to remove a specific computer, you have two other options.

First, you can deauthorize individual computers through iTunes on that machine itself. Open iTunes, go to Account or Edit > Authorizations, and choose Deauthorize This Computer. You'll need physical access to the computer and your Apple ID password.

Second, if you can't access the computer, you can remove it from your devices list on appleid.apple.com. Sign in, go to Devices, click the device you want to remove, and select Remove from Account. This removes the device from your account but doesn't technically deauthorize it for iTunes purposes — it's a different action. If you need true deauthorization and can't wait for the 12-month window, contact Apple Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deauthorizing all computers delete my music library?

No. The music files stay on your hard drive. You just won't be able to play protected content (songs, movies, and TV shows you purchased) without re-authorizing the computer. Your library itself is always yours to keep.

Can I deauthorize all computers more than once a year?

No, Apple limits this to once per 12 months. If you need to deauthorize a specific computer before the year is up, you can do it individually on that machine through iTunes, or contact Apple Support for other options.

Do I need to be on the same computer to deauthorize all?

No. You deauthorize all computers through your Apple ID account on the web at appleid.apple.com, so you can do it from any device with a browser and internet access.

What if I forgot which computers I authorized?

Sign into appleid.apple.com and go to Devices. You'll see every device currently signed into your Apple ID. Computers you've authorized for iTunes will appear in this list, though the list shows all devices, not just authorized computers.

Do I lose my purchase history when I deauthorize all computers?

No. Your purchase history stays with your Apple ID forever. You can see everything you've ever bought by signing into your account on the web or in iTunes. Deauthorizing only affects playback on that specific computer.