Deauthorizing a Computer in iTunes

To deauthorize a computer in iTunes, open iTunes on that computer, click the Account menu at the top, select "Authorizations," and then click "Deauthorize This Computer." Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. The computer will when ready lose access to any music, movies, TV shows, or audiobooks you purchased through iTunes.

You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. Once you deauthorize a machine, that count drops by one, freeing up a slot if you need to authorize a different computer later. The deauthorization takes effect right away — you do not need to restart iTunes or your computer.

If you no longer have access to a computer you previously authorized — because you sold it, gave it away, or it stopped working — you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account settings on the web instead of using the iTunes app.

Key Takeaways

  • Deauthorizing removes that computer's access to your purchased iTunes content and frees up one of your five authorized computer slots.
  • The fastest method is to use the Account menu in iTunes on the computer itself, then enter your Apple ID password.
  • If you no longer have physical access to a computer, you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account on appleid.apple.com.
  • Deauthorization happens when ready and does not require a restart or internet reconnection.

Deauthorizing From the Computer Itself

If you are sitting at the computer you want to deauthorize, the process takes less than a minute. Open iTunes, then look for the Account menu in the menu bar at the top of the screen. On Windows, this menu is near the top left; on Mac, it is in the top menu bar. Click Account, then hover over "Authorizations" to see the submenu.

Click "Deauthorize This Computer" from that submenu. A dialog box will appear asking for your Apple ID and password. Type both in and click "Deauthorize." iTunes will confirm that the computer has been deauthorized. You are done — the computer no longer has rights to play your purchased content.

After deauthorization, if you try to play a song, movie, or show you purchased, iTunes will ask you to authorize the computer again. You can re-authorize at any time by going back to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer and entering your Apple ID credentials.

Deauthorizing a Computer You No Longer Have

If you sold, donated, or recycled a computer and want to deauthorize it without physical access, use the web. Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click "Devices" in the left sidebar, then find the computer you want to remove from the list.

Click the computer's name to open its details, then click "Remove from Account." The computer will be deauthorized when ready, even though it is not in front of you. This method works for any device — Mac, Windows PC, or even an old machine you no longer own.

If you have forgotten which computers you have authorized, the Devices page shows all of them with their names and the dates they were last used. This is useful if you are trying to figure out which machine to deauthorize when you have hit your five-computer limit.

What Happens After Deauthorization

Once a computer is deauthorized, it cannot play any music, movies, TV shows, or audiobooks you purchased through iTunes — even if those files are still stored on the hard drive. The content remains on the computer, but iTunes will refuse to open it without authorization.

Deauthorization does not delete your files or erase anything from the computer. It only removes the computer's permission to access your purchased content. If you want to use that computer again with your iTunes library, you can authorize it once more by entering your Apple ID and password.

If you deauthorize all five of your authorized computers at once, you can when ready authorize five new ones. There is no waiting period, and you do not need to contact Apple to reset your authorization count.

Understanding the Five-Computer Limit

Apple lets you authorize up to five computers under one Apple ID at the same time. This limit exists to prevent widespread sharing of purchased content across many machines. Each computer you authorize counts toward this limit, whether it is a Mac, Windows PC, or any other device.

The limit applies per Apple ID, not per household. If you have a family with multiple Apple IDs, each person gets their own five-computer allowance. If you share an Apple ID across many computers, you will run out of slots faster.

Once you hit the limit, iTunes will tell you that you cannot authorize another computer until you deauthorize one first. This is the most common reason people need to deauthorize — they have upgraded to a new computer and need to free up a slot for it.

Deauthorizing All Computers at Once

If you want to deauthorize every computer linked to your Apple ID in one action, you can do this through your Apple ID account on the web. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click "Devices," and then look for an option to deauthorize all computers at once. This option is usually near the bottom of the Devices page.

Deauthorizing all computers at once is useful if you suspect someone else has access to your account or if you are switching to a different Apple ID entirely. After you deauthorize all five, you can start fresh and authorize only the computers you currently use.

Be aware that this action cannot be undone when ready — you will need to re-authorize each computer individually if you change your mind. There is no undo button, so make sure you really want to deauthorize everything before you click.

Troubleshooting Deauthorization Problems

If iTunes will not let you deauthorize a computer, make sure you are signed in with the correct Apple ID. The account that authorized the computer is the only one that can deauthorize it. If you are not sure which account was used, check the Account menu in iTunes — it shows which Apple ID is currently signed in.

If you are trying to deauthorize a computer you no longer own and the web method is not working, try signing out of your Apple ID on any computer you still have access to, then signing back in. Sometimes this refreshes your account status and allows the deauthorization to go through.

If you still cannot deauthorize after trying both methods, contact Apple Support directly. They can manually deauthorize a computer from their end, though this is rare and usually only happens if your account has been compromised or if there is a technical error on Apple's servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deauthorize a computer without knowing the password?

No. You need either the Apple ID password for the account that authorized the computer, or physical access to the computer itself. If you have forgotten the password, you can reset it through appleid.apple.com before deauthorizing.

What if I deauthorize a computer and then want to use it again?

You can re-authorize it at any time by going to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer in iTunes and entering your Apple ID and password. There is no penalty for deauthorizing and re-authorizing the same computer multiple times.

Does deauthorizing delete my music files?

No. Deauthorization only removes the computer's permission to play purchased content. Your music files stay on the hard drive. If you re-authorize the computer later, you can play them again.

How long does deauthorization take?

Deauthorization is when ready. The computer loses access to your purchased content when ready after you click the button. You do not need to wait, restart, or do anything else.

Can I deauthorize a computer if I do not have internet?

You need an internet connection to deauthorize a computer through iTunes. If the computer is offline, connect it to the internet first, then open iTunes and deauthorize. The web method also requires internet access.