There's no doubt that Apple's iTunes Music Store is a success. WIth billions of tracks sold, and millions of iPods around the world, Apple's position as the number one online music retailer doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon. However, not being able to authorize your iTunes store account on more than five computers that might need access to your protected music tracks, movies, and applications won't be going anywhere either. Fortunately, Apple has a pretty easy solution for deauthorizing machines to which you still have access, but in case you can't get to a far away machine, Apple has created a kill switch to deauthorize all of your machines at once. We'll show you step by step instructions for both the easy way, and the hard way, to deauthorize all your iTunes accounts at once.
First, lets talk how the iTunes Music Store works. You sign in with an Apple ID, which links your credit card details, among other information, to an email address that lets you purchase music, movies and applications from the iTunes store. Apple allows this account to be linked to five separate machines. To link the machines, it's a relatively simple process. Either attempt to play a song that's authorized by another user, which will then throw up a prompt asking you for an Apple ID and password, or head to the "Store" menu and select "Authorize Computer." Deauthorizing individual machines is also a simple process, as long as you still have access to each machine. Again, head to the "Store" menu, and select "Deauthorize Computer."
Every user on a computer will have to be authorized to play music, as it'll be linked to each individual user account and not linked to the computer at large. Also, if you delete that user account without deauthorizing iTunes, the authorization will dissapear, and will be unable to be restored without following our guide. Also, keep in mind Apple says you can only deauthorize all machines if you've hit the five machine limit, and that you can only use the "kill switch" once every 12 months.
I ran into authorization problems after attempting to sync an iPod to my new MacBook Pro. iPods using auto sync will automatically delete any non-authorized material from the iPod, and if the iPod syncing with an unknown library, all the content will be deleted after being presented with a warning message. To avoid losing data in either scenario, simply disable autosync and manage your library manually. I, however, like the ability to automatically sync my iPod whenever its plugged in, so I attempted to authorize the machine, which is when I found out I had hit my activation limit of five machines.
The first step to remedy your problem is to head to the iTunes Store section of iTunes, click the "sign in" button in the upper right corner, and log in to your account.
After you've signed in, click on your username, again in the same spot in the upper right corner, and you'll see your account settings. You'll also see the number of authorizations you've completed, and a big button that says "deauthorize all." If you're sure you're ready, go ahead and click the button.
iTunes will ask you one more time if you'd like to deauthorize all accounts. This will disable any machine connected to the internet that you have previously authorized. Again, you can only use this "nuclear option" once every 12 months, so be sure this is the time to use it before confirming the dialogue box.
Just like that, you're set. You'll see a confirmation message, letting you know all your computers are deauthorized. Now, all that's left is to authorize your new machine and get back to syncing your music.
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Comments (23)
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Gary Vey
(8:48 AM on Wed Oct 22, 2008)
I bought a used iMac on ebay with iTunes. I tried to set up acct but get error msg. Think I need to deauthorize prior account of old owner - but dont know password. How to proceed? reply to myristicin@hotmail.com
thanks much in advance - Gary
eee (7:15 PM on Wed Nov 12, 2008)
I have to reformat my computer several times not knowing that I have to deauthorize my Itunes so that I can use it again when my computer is up. I hit the 5limit. Good thing I saw your tips. Thanks and more power
Anonymous (3:35 PM on Tue Dec 2, 2008)
thanks for the tip. i too had to reformat several times over the past year.
meliton (3:05 PM on Sun Feb 15, 2009)
how do i delet my itunes account from the computer
Anonymous (5:09 PM on Thu Mar 19, 2009)
Thanks so much. I have had to keep formating so my ipod has been authorised too much.
Thanks again, you were a big help.
Anonymous (4:17 PM on Sat Mar 21, 2009)
trying to deauthorize my computer, but not sure i need to. I have never brought songs from itunes with this computer, do i still need to deauthorize it?
grimmlock
(3:52 PM on Thu Apr 2, 2009)
thanks, mate, I had some computers that I had never deauthorized and reformatted. Can't believe I never saw that little button before.
NJ (12:48 PM on Thu Apr 23, 2009)
Perfect .. thanks a Million !!!
Anonymous (7:51 AM on Wed May 27, 2009)
You're Great! Your method has saved me a lot of aggravation!
anon (1:19 AM on Mon Jun 8, 2009)
A friend of mine didn't know how to use itunes and didn't need it because she didn't have an ipod. But I wanted her to be able to listen to this one song that i was ranting about. Because i have an ipod i had downloaded itunes... so we downloaded it on her computer, so she could hear it and I gave her my password and log in info and 'authorized' her computer. That way she could listen to the song, and wouldn't have the authorization pop up. She is no longer a friend, and so I have deauthorized all 5 computers... does this mean that she is deauthorized as well, since she was one the of the five computers, and does this mean she will have to authorize her own computer, and can no longer use mine? If she types in my old password will she still be able to authorize my itunes? Just in case i have changed my password. But i am still curious, does my changed password show up on her computer still. I guess I just want to know, what access she has to my music, etc. Please if someone can tell me. She's one of those vicious friends, well ex friends... and as trivial as it mean seem, i just don't want her messing my itunes up. I have too much music, paid out way too much for her to be messing around with it. Does this mean she can't listen to itunes music, or just not my music... ???? confused. please someone explain. cheers... thanks.
Matt (8:21 PM on Mon Jun 8, 2009)
I have recently bought an ipod that was authorized to the owner and now i cannot authorize the ipod to my computer because i do not know the id or password what should i do? Please respond to blacknight1993@hotmail.com
-Matt
ozce (4:31 AM on Sat Jun 27, 2009)
I have recently bought an ipod that was authorized to the owner and now i cannot authorize the ipod to my computer because i do not know the id or password what should i do? when i tried to listen music it needs a password and i dont' know any information:( Please help me...
Please respond to ozce3@hotmail.com
Ozce
Marc (3:55 PM on Mon Jun 22, 2009)
Thank you so much!! This was immensely helpful! I also have a brand new MacBook Pro and ran into this issue since my previous PCs have crashed and henceforth rendering unauthorizing null.
ozce (4:26 AM on Sat Jun 27, 2009)
I have recently bought an ipod that was authorized to the owner and now i cannot authorize the ipod to my computer because i do not know the id or password what should i do? whe ı tired to listen music it needs a password and ı don't know the information.:(
Please respond to ozce3@hotmail.com
-Ozce
ozce (4:44 AM on Wed Jul 1, 2009)
I have recently bought an ipod that was authorized to the owner and now i cannot authorize the ipod to my computer because i do not know the id or password what should i do? whe ı tired to listen music it needs a password and ı don't know the information.:(
Please respond to ozce83@hotmail.com
Aaron Raus (7:13 PM on Tue Sep 29, 2009)
if you deauthorize all accounts, then sync your ipod, will it erase everything not bought on that computer, or will it sync from the ipod to itunes and leave the ipod the same?
Confused iTuner (8:13 AM on Tue Dec 8, 2009)
Thanks very much for the info! iTunes has had me pulling out my f**** hair!
Cheers
Anonymous (10:16 PM on Sat Dec 26, 2009)
Thank you this was so helpful!!!! I was trying to figure this out for such a long time and it worked perfectly!
jazz
(2:16 PM on Fri Dec 18, 2009)
amazing dude ! i spent 20 mins on to apple and the Cunt that they are told me it was impossible !
HA fucking support my ass. Dude ur a legend !
Phil E. Drifter
(8:39 PM on Mon Feb 1, 2010)
I can haz cheseburgur?
Brandon Beard (6:26 PM on Sat Feb 27, 2010)
I had a computer stolen, and need to deauthorize all my accounts, but I haven't hit the 5 limit. I don't want the guy to get my information! Please help. Can I deauthorize all before hitting the limit???
megan (6:34 PM on Mon Mar 1, 2010)
if i deauthorize all of my accounts will my music b erased for good or will it all just pop up again when i re-authorize my computer?
weewee. :P (8:34 PM on Tue Mar 16, 2010)
hi,
ive deauthorized ALL of my itunes accounts, but it still says they are authorized?? how come? please contact me. :S