Deauthorizing a Computer Removes Its Access to Your iTunes Library

When you deauthorize a computer from iTunes, you disconnect it from your Apple ID and prevent it from playing protected music, videos, and other media you purchased through iTunes. This is useful when you sell a computer, give it away, or straightforward want to tighten security on your account. You can deauthorize a machine remotely from any other computer, or directly on the machine itself if you still have access to it.

Apple lets you authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. Once you hit that limit, you must deauthorize one before you can authorize another. Deauthorizing is permanent—the computer loses access to your iTunes purchases when ready, though any files already downloaded to that machine remain on its hard drive.

Key Takeaways

  • You can deauthorize a computer directly on that machine through iTunes, or remotely through your Apple ID account settings on another device.
  • On the computer itself, open iTunes, click Account in the menu bar, and select Deauthorize This Computer, then enter your Apple ID password.
  • To deauthorize remotely, sign into your Apple ID account on appleid.apple.com, go to Devices, select the computer, and click Remove.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID, so deauthorizing frees up a slot if you have reached the limit.
  • Deauthorized computers keep any iTunes files already downloaded but cannot play protected purchases or access your library.

Deauthorizing Directly on the Computer

If you still have access to the computer you want to remove, the fastest method is to deauthorize it right there. Open iTunes on that machine. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Account, then select Deauthorize This Computer. A dialog box will appear asking for your Apple ID and password.

Enter your Apple ID (the email address associated with your iTunes account) and your password, then click Deauthorize. iTunes will confirm that the computer has been deauthorized. You are done—the computer is now disconnected from your account and cannot access protected iTunes purchases.

This method works on both Mac and Windows machines running iTunes. If you cannot find the Account menu, make sure iTunes is fully updated. On a Mac, check the iTunes menu in the top-left corner; on Windows, the menu bar may be hidden—press Ctrl + B to show it.

Deauthorizing Remotely Through Your Apple ID Account

If you no longer have access to the computer—because you sold it, returned it, or it is broken—you can deauthorize it from any other device. Go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser and sign in with your Apple ID and password. You may be asked to verify your identity with a code sent to a trusted phone number or email address.

Once you are signed in, click Devices in the left sidebar. You will see a list of all computers and devices authorized under your Apple ID. Find the computer you want to remove, click it, and then click Remove. Confirm the action when prompted. The computer is now deauthorized and can no longer access your iTunes purchases.

This remote method is especially useful if you have already sold or given away the computer. You do not need the machine itself to be powered on or connected to the internet—the deauthorization takes effect on Apple's servers when ready, and the next time that computer tries to access your iTunes library, it will be denied.

What Happens After Deauthorization

Once a computer is deauthorized, it loses the ability to play any protected music, videos, audiobooks, or other media you purchased through iTunes. If someone tries to open a protected file on that computer, they will see an error message saying the computer is not authorized.

However, deauthorization does not delete files from the computer's hard drive. Any iTunes purchases you downloaded to that machine before deauthorizing will still be there—they just cannot be played. If you want to remove the files themselves, you must delete them manually through the file system.

If you deauthorize a computer by mistake, you can re-authorize it by opening iTunes, clicking Account, selecting Authorize This Computer, and entering your Apple ID and password again. You have five authorization slots per Apple ID, so as long as you have not hit the limit, you can reauthorize when ready.

Checking How Many Computers You Have Authorized

To see which computers are currently authorized under your Apple ID, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, and click Devices. The list shows the name of each authorized computer, the device type, and the date it was authorized. This is helpful if you are trying to remember which machines are still connected to your account.

If you have reached the five-computer limit and want to authorize a new machine, you must deauthorize one first. Choose the computer you use least or no longer own, remove it, and then you can authorize the new one. There is no way to increase the five-computer limit, but you can deauthorize and reauthorize as often as you need.

Troubleshooting Deauthorization Problems

If you try to deauthorize a computer and iTunes shows an error, first check that you are using the correct Apple ID and password. Your iTunes account is tied to your Apple ID, so you must use the same credentials you used to authorize the machine originally.

If you are deauthorizing remotely and the computer does not appear in your device list on appleid.apple.com, it may already be deauthorized, or it may never have been authorized under that Apple ID. Check that you are signed into the correct Apple ID account—if you have multiple accounts, you may be looking at the wrong one.

If iTunes itself will not open or is crashing, update it to the latest version through the App Store (Mac) or Microsoft Store (Windows), or read it directly from apple.com. Older versions of iTunes sometimes have bugs that prevent deauthorization. After updating, try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deauthorize a computer if I forgot the password?

You can deauthorize remotely through appleid.apple.com even if you do not have the computer's password. You will need to sign into your Apple ID account and remove the device from your device list. If you forgot your Apple ID password, use the password reset tool on appleid.apple.com.

Does deauthorizing a computer delete my iTunes library?

No. Deauthorizing only prevents the computer from playing protected purchases. Downloaded files remain on the hard drive. Your iTunes library in the cloud (if you use iCloud Music Library) is not affected and remains accessible from other authorized devices.

How long does it take for deauthorization to take effect?

Deauthorization is when ready when done remotely through appleid.apple.com. If you deauthorize directly on the computer, it takes effect right away on that machine. The next time the deauthorized computer tries to access protected content, it will be denied.

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. A computer can only be authorized once per Apple ID. If you deauthorize it, you can re-authorize it later, but you cannot have it authorized twice simultaneously. Each authorization slot is used by one computer.

What if I sold my computer and the new owner wants to use iTunes?

The new owner will need to authorize the computer under their own Apple ID. They cannot use your iTunes purchases—they can only play music and media they have purchased or obtained themselves. Deauthorizing removes your account from the machine so they can set it up fresh.