Apple allows you to authorize up to five computers to play content purchased with your Apple ID. Over time, as you replace machines, sell old laptops, or reinstall operating systems, you can run out of available authorization slots. The problem is that you cannot individually deauthorize a computer you no longer have physical access to. This guide explains how to reclaim those lost authorizations.

Understanding iTunes Authorization

When you authorize a computer, you are granting it permission to access and play content purchased from the iTunes Store, App Store, or Apple Books. Each Apple ID can authorize a maximum of five computers at any given time. A computer counts as a new authorization each time you perform a clean install of the operating system, even if it is the same physical machine.

Common scenarios that lead to lost authorizations include:

  • Selling or giving away a computer without deauthorizing it first
  • Replacing a hard drive or reinstalling the operating system
  • A computer that has failed and can no longer boot
  • Upgrading hardware that changes the machine identity

Deauthorizing a Computer You Still Have

If you still have access to the computer, the process is straightforward.

In iTunes (Windows or older macOS)

  1. Open iTunes on the computer you want to deauthorize.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID if you are not already signed in.
  3. From the menu bar, select Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
  4. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.
  5. Click Deauthorize.

In the Music App (macOS Catalina and Later)

Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple replaced iTunes with the Music app for media management. The authorization process moved there:

  1. Open the Music app.
  2. From the menu bar, select Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
  3. Enter your Apple ID and password.
  4. Click Deauthorize.

Deauthorizing a Computer You No Longer Have

If the computer is lost, broken, sold, or otherwise inaccessible, you cannot deauthorize it individually. Instead, you must use the Deauthorize All option, which removes authorization from every computer associated with your Apple ID. After doing this, you re-authorize only the computers you still use.

Passo-by-Passo: Deauthorize All Computers

  1. Open iTunes (Windows) or the Music app (macOS Catalina or later).
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.
  3. From the menu bar, select Account > View My Account (or Account Settings).
  4. Enter your password to access account information.
  5. Scroll to the Apple ID Resumo section. Next to Computer Authorizations, you will see how many computers are authorized.
  6. If you have used all five authorizations (or if you have two or more), you will see a Deauthorize All button. Click it.
  7. Confirm the action when prompted.

After deauthorizing all computers, sign back into each computer you still use and reauthorize them by selecting Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer.

Important Limitations

  • The Deauthorize All button only appears when you have two or more computers authorized.
  • You can only use Deauthorize All once per year. Plan ahead before using it.
  • Deauthorizing does not delete any purchased content from your computers. It only removes the ability to play DRM-protected content until you reauthorize.

Managing Authorizations Through the Web

You can also check your authorization count by signing in at appleid.apple.com. While you cannot deauthorize computers from the web interface, you can review your devices and remove ones you no longer use from your account. This is helpful for managing iCloud-connected devices separately from iTunes/Music authorizations.

The Transition from iTunes to Apple Music

Apple has been moving away from the traditional iTunes model:

  • macOS Catalina (10.15) and later: iTunes was replaced by Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV apps.
  • Windows: iTunes for Windows continues to be available, and Apple released a newer Apple Music app for Windows as well.
  • iCloud Music Library: If you subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match, your purchased music is available on all devices through iCloud without needing to authorize individual computers for playback.

If you use Apple Music or iTunes Match, the authorization limit mainly affects movies, TV shows, and audiobooks rather than music.

Preventing Authorization Problems

To avoid running into authorization limits in the future:

  • Always deauthorize before selling or recycling a computer.
  • Deauthorize before reinstalling your operating system.
  • Keep track of which computers are authorized by checking your account settings periodically.
  • Consider using iCloud and Apple Music to reduce dependence on per-computer authorization.

Solução de Problemas

If you have deauthorized all computers and still cannot authorize a new one:

  • Ensure you are signed in with the correct Apple ID.
  • Check that it has been at least 12 months since you last used Deauthorize All if you need to use it again.
  • Contact Apple Support if your authorization count does not reset properly after using Deauthorize All.

Resumo

When you lose access to a computer that was authorized with your Apple ID, the only way to reclaim that authorization slot is to use the Deauthorize All option from your account settings in iTunes or the Music app. This removes authorization from all computers, after which you reauthorize only the machines you still own. Remember that this option is limited to once per year, so always deauthorize computers before selling or reformatting them.