Authorisation FAQ
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What is authorisation?
Songs purchased on the iTunes Store can be copied to an unlimited number of computers. However, only five computers at a time can play your iTunes DRM-protected music*.
You can enable a computer to play your purchased music by authorising it. You can remove a computer from the authorisation list by deauthorising it. Deauthorising your computer does not erase your music files; it simply prevents your purchased music from playing until you authorise that computer again.
* iTunes DRM-protected music includes audio with a bit rate of 128 kbps and allows users to transfer songs and videos to up to five computers, burn seven copies of the same playlist to CD, and sync to an unlimited number of iPods.
iTunes Plus music refers to songs and music videos available in our highest-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding (twice the current bit rate of 128 kbps), and without digital rights management (DRM). There are no burn limits and iTunes Plus music will play on all iPods, Mac or Windows computers, Apple TVs, and many other digital music players.
How do I authorise my computers?
To authorise a computer, simply play a purchased song on your computer. The first time you authorise your computer, you'll need to enter your iTunes account name and password. For more information, check out our step-by-step instructions.
When should I deauthorise my computer?
Please deauthorise your computer before you send it for repair, upgrade it, sell it or give it away. To deauthorise a computer, choose Deauthorise Computer from the Store menu in iTunes.
How do I deauthorise all of my computers?
If you have authorised five computers, a button labeled "Deauthorise All" will appear in your Account Information screen. This button will deauthorise all computers associated with your account. You can then reauthorise up to 5 computers. Note: You can only use this feature once a year.
Why can't I authorise one of my computers?
Check to see if you have 5 computers authorised. If you do, you'll need to deauthorise one or all computers to be able to authorise an additional computer. Next, make sure you're attempting to authorise the song using your correct account name.
Do I need to authorise my iPods?
No, you do not need to authorise your iPods. Your purchased music needs to be authorised on your computer before you copy it to your iPod. For more information on copying and playing your purchased music on your iPod, check out our iPod FAQ.