This article explains how to deauthorize iTunes on a computer that you're planning on getting rid of, or already have gotten rid of, stopping anyone else from getting access to music, videos, and other content purchased from the iTunes Store.These directions apply to iTunes 12 and up but should work equally well for earlier versions, too.
In 2019, Apple replied iTunes with an app called Music on Macs (iTunes still exists on Windows).The instructions in this article also apply to deauthorizing computers in the Music app.
Open iTunes on the computer you want to deauthorize.
Go toAccount>Authorizations>Deauthorize This Computer.
Log in with your Apple Account if prompted to do so, then clickDeauthorize.
Deauthorizing is simple if you have access to the computer, but what if you sold the computer and forgot to deauthorize it? Or maybe you want to deauthorize iTunes or Music on a non-working computer that won't turn on.
You can log in with your Apple Account on any computer to deauthorize iTunes on old, missing, or broken computers:
Download iTunes if it's not on the computer.
Go toAccount > View My Account.
Log in with your Apple Account. Make sure it's the same account that was used to authorize the computer you don't have access to but now want to deauthorize.
In theApple Account Summarysection, selectDeauthorize All.
In the pop-up window, confirm that this is what you want to do.
In a few seconds, all the computers on your account will be deauthorized.
It's very important to understand that this step means thatevery computerthat was previously able to access purchases made through that Apple Account has been deauthorized. So, you'll have to reauthorize the ones you want to use.
Authorization is a form of DRM applied to some content sold through the iTunes Store and Apple's other online media stores. In the early days of the iTunes Store, all songs had DRM applied to them to prevent copying. Now that iTunes music is DRM-free, authorization covers other kinds of purchases, like movies and TV.
Every Apple Account can authorize up to five computers to play the DRM-protected content purchased using that account. This number limit applies to Macs and PCs, but not to iOS devices like the iPhone.
Since iTunes authorizations can be shuffled around, you can deauthorize any number of computers to re-open those authorization slots for other computers. For example, if five computers are authorized, you must deauthorize one before you can authorize a new computer.
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