Deauthorize your computer using iTunes And Advantages of Deauthorizing your computer in certain circumstances

Make sure you deauthorize your Mac or PC before you sell it, give it away, send it in for service, or make major updates. If your computer isn’t working or you don’t have it anymore, you might be able to deauthorize it using the steps below.

When you deauthorize a computer, you remove the ability to play content that you bought from iTunes. You won’t lose your content; however, and nothing will be deleted. And it’s easy to authorize your computer again later—just follow the steps to authorize a Mac or PC.

Before you can deauthorize a computer, you need to sign into iTunes on a computer. You can't use your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

• If you have access to your computer, you can deauthorize it by signing in to iTunes.
• If you don't have your computer anymore, you'll need to deauthorize all computers.

Why do I need to deauthorize my computer?

To make sure it’s not using one of your available authorizations. You should deauthorize your computer before you:

• Sell it or give it away.
• Send it in for service.
• Make major upgrades.

To see how many computers you've authorized:

• Click this link to open your account in iTunes.
• Sign in with your Apple ID.

Alternatively, you can:

• Open iTunes.
• Click Store > Sign In.
• Enter your Apple ID and password.
• Click your Apple ID and select Account from the drop-down menu.

In the Apple ID Summary section, next to Computer Authorizations, you’ll see the number of computers that you’ve authorized. You can’t see the names of those computers.

My computer doesn't work anymore. Can I deauthorize it?

You can't deauthorize a single computer if you don't have it or can't use it. Instead, you need todeauthorize all computers and then reauthorize the ones you're still using.

Do I need to deauthorize my iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch?

You don't need to deauthorize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, but you do need to disassociate your iOS devices from your Apple ID. Your iOS devices don’t use your available authorizations.

Deauthorize one computer

1. Open iTunes on the computer you want to deauthorize.
2. Choose Store > Deauthorize This Computer.
   You might need to show the menu bar to see this option in Windows. In earlier versions of iTunes, you can access this option from the Advanced menu.
   
3. Enter your Apple ID.
4. Click Deauthorize.

If need to deauthorize your computer but you can't access it, you need to deauthorize all computers. After you authorize 2 computers, you'll have the option to deauthorize all computers for your Apple ID. You can deauthorize all computers once per year.

Why should I deauthorize all of my computers?

To make sure that only you can play your content, or to free up authorizations used by your old computers. You should deauthorize all computers if:

• Your computer doesn't work anymore.
• You sold or gave away a computer and didn't deauthorize it first.

What happens when I deauthorize all computers? Will I lose my content?

Just like when you deauthorize a single computer, you won't delete anything if you choose to deauthorize all computers. You just won't be able to play content that you bought from iTunes on those computers until you reauthorize them. You need to have the computer to reauthorize it.

Deauthorize all computers

Open iTunes on one of your authorized computers.

1. Click Store > Sign In.
2. Enter your Apple ID and password.
3. Click Deauthorize All.
   
   The Deauthorize All button appears only if you have more than 2 authorized computers. If you don't see the Deauthorize All button, that means you only have one authorized computer.

I deauthorized all of my computers. What should I do now?

Reauthorize each computer that you want to use with iTunes. To reauthorize:

• Go to Store > Authorize this computer.
• Enter your Apple ID and password.
• Click Authorize.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.