De-authorization of computers

A laptop I had been using with iTunes (and on which I had purchased some iTunes from the Store) crashed and couldn't be restored. I never de-authorized that laptop. Furthermore, my present laptop recently had to be re-formatted, so the drive that was active when I purchased iTunes on it from the Store is likewise essentially dead.
How can I retrieve the songs I had purchased on those two hard drives, and do I need to de-authorize them?

*How can I retrieve the songs I had purchased on those two hard drives,*
If you didn't make a back-up of your music/movie purchases to restore from (as you are advised to do) then I'm sorry to say that I'm sorry to say that the policy on lost music/media purchases is that they can only be downloaded once and you'd have to pay to repurchase them: iTunes Store: Purchased content can be downloaded only once
The licensing of Purchased applications allows for them be downloaded over again, see this article for details: How to redownload purchased applications from the App Store
If you have an iPod that still has any of your purchases on it you'll find details in this article on how to transfer them to the computer: Copying iTunes Store purchases from your iPod or iPhone to a computer
Failing this, you could try contacting iTunes Store Customer Service and you might be able to persuade them to sanction a second free download. There have been occasional reports in the iTunes forum of this happening, however just be aware that they are not under any obligation to do so. If you click on this link it'll take you to the support/contact page, from there click on Music Purchases then the Lost or Missing Items option, from there click on "Email Us": Customer Service - iTunes Store Support
You might also want to check out these pages for future reference:
How to back up your media in iTunes
Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
*and do I need to de-authorize them?*
Yes, you'll need to authorise your computer over again.
If your system crashes or you reinstall your operating system without deauthorising iTunes first, even a single computer can use up your limit of 5 authorisations. You can't deauthorise those dead installations individually. However once you reach your limit of 5 you have the option to deauthorise them all in one go from your iTunes Store account and start over again. *Just note that you can only use this option once a year*: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation

Similar Messages

  • Can I authorize two computers withe the same iTunes

    Can I authorize two computers withe the same iTunes

    Yes, you can authorize two computers with the same Itunes Account.

  • I want to authorizes all computers from my account

    I want to authorizes all computers from my account

    I quote from the document I linked to above:
    Click iTunes Store on the left side of iTunes.
    If you're not signed in to the store, click the Account button, then enter your account name and password.
    Click the Account button again (your Apple ID appears on the button), enter your password, and then click View Account.
    In the Account Information window, click Deauthorize All.
    Note: You may only use this feature once per year. The Deauthorize All button will not appear if you have fewer than two authorized computers. If you need assistance on using this feature, please contact iTunes Store support via email (http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/store/).

  • ITunes crashes when "De-authorize all computers" is pressed iTunes 12

    Current PC (Windows 7) never had iTunes installed. My other 5 authorized computers are dead.
    Installed new iTunes 12, logged in to "De-authorize all computers" but as soon as I press the button the program freezes.
    At the time of freezing the confirmation dialog appears behind the "This program has stopped responding..." error and I can't click on the confirming "yes de-authorize all computers" button.
    [enter] closes the program.
    I don't get why the iTunes interface is the only way to access my account. I should be able to log into a secure online account and make changes to the iTunes account but that isn't possible as far as I can tell.

    Since this is a users' forum - not an Apple Helpdesk - lack of response probably means that no-one has encountered the same problem or, if they have, cannot offer advice on how to resolve it.
    You should be able to contact Apple Support and request that they de-authorize the computers on your account.  Also, there have been two updates to iTunes (12.1 and 12.1.1) since you first posted the issue, so its possible that the problem has been resolved in one of those.
    Quite why there isn't an automated/secure web-based way to do this I have no idea - the whole authorization/de-authorization approach seems based on fears that iTunes/iPods would become a widespread method for illegal sharing of copyright material, something that might have been true in the early days of iTunes and the iTunes Store, but today must be a tiny risk compared to P2P networks and file sharing.

  • HT1420 every time i am trying to authorize my computers it reply that i have reached the limit (5) and i cant deauthorize, please your support i have 2 apple iphones.

    please need to authorize my computer as every time i am trying to authorize my computers it reply that i have reached the limit (5) and i cant deauthorize, please your support i have 2 apple iphones (4G + 3GS).

    iTunes Store: About authorization and deauthorization - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420 - and another helpful post: https://discussions.apple.com/message/17828050
    About deauthorizing specific computers - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3809988 - Only, if you have physical access to the computer, otherwise you have to deauthorize all computers. De-authorize all computers button does not appear until you actually have 5 authorized and you can only do this once a year.
    iTunes Store: Associating a device or computer to your Apple ID - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4627 - "Your Apple ID can have up to 10 devices and computers (combined) associated with it. Each computer must also be authorized using the same Apple ID. Once a device or computer is associated with your Apple ID, you cannot associate that device or computer with another Apple ID for 90 days." - Additionally instructions for "Removing an associated device or computer from an Apple ID"

  • ITunes says I can authorize 5 computers is that computers or devices ? (iPad, iPod, iPhone.)

    itunes says i can authorize 5 computers is that computers or devices ( pad, pod, phone, etc. )

    Computers. There's not really "authorizing" for mobile devices.

  • I can't get to the place to de-authorize all computers so I can use my new laptop ... No matter what I try. What is the web address to deauthorize all

    Howto de-authorize all computers in my iTunes account?

    De-authorizing Computers (contributed by user John Galt)
    You can de-authorize individual computers, but only by using those computers. The only other option is to "de-authorize all" from your iTunes account.
      1. Open iTunes on a computer
      2. From the Store menu, select "View my Account..."
      3. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
      4. Under "Computer Authorizations" select "De-authorize All".
      5. Authorize each computer you still have, as you may require.
    You may only do this once per year.
    After you "de-authorize all" your authorized computers, re-authorize each one as required.
    If you have de-authorized all computers and need to do it again, but your year has not elapsed, then contact: Apple - Support - iTunes - Contact Us.
    For more information on authorization and de-authorization: iTunes Store- Authorize or deauthorize your Mac or PC.

  • I am trying to de authorize my computers however I cannot find where in the store in my apple id I can find computers??

    I am trying to de authorize my computers however I cannot find where in the store in my apple id I can find computers?? Please help

    You are referring to iTunes? Open iTunes > Menu Bar > Store > and authorize computer. You can only do it with the one you are currently signed into the iTunes Store with, so you will need to do this with every computer you want to authorize.
    Edit: I missed the 'de' in your post - but, as you can see, you can de-authorize it as well.

  • When I try to authorize my computer I receive a message saying you cannot authorize 5 computers at once. I only have one computer

    I have made several purchases from the Apple Store, But when I tried to access them I receive a message that says 'Your computer is not authorized to play this track/album'. So I try to authorize and another message says 'You cannot authorize 5 computers at once.' What does this mean? I only have this one computer.

    At some point other computers were autorized on your account.
    Open iTunes and go to the iTunes store > Accounrs (in Quick Links section on the right) > sign in > From the you can use the Deauthorize All option. Apple limits use of this to once a year. After all are deauthorized you will be able to authorize your computer.

  • Desperately trying to authorize my computers

    Hello,
    I'm facing the same problem with both my PCs. Despite authorizing them on the iTunes Store I still get the same message telling me "This PC is no more authorized..."
    I've been through all the steps described in iTunes repeatedly prompts to authorize computer to play iTunes Store purchases but it's not working. What can I do now, could you help me ?
    Thanks in advance

    iTunes Store: About authorization and deauthorization - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420 - and another helpful post: https://discussions.apple.com/message/17828050
    About deauthorizing specific computers - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3809988 - Only, if you have physical access to the computer, otherwise you have to deauthorize all computers. De-authorize all computers button does not appear until you actually have 5 authorized and you can only do this once a year.
    iTunes Store: Associating a device or computer to your Apple ID - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4627 - "Your Apple ID can have up to 10 devices and computers (combined) associated with it. Each computer must also be authorized using the same Apple ID. Once a device or computer is associated with your Apple ID, you cannot associate that device or computer with another Apple ID for 90 days." - Additionally instructions for "Removing an associated device or computer from an Apple ID"

  • De-authorize 4 computers

    I was wondering if there was a way to somehow de-authorize computers through iTunes as 3 computers that I have had have crashed, making it impossible to do so. Now I only have one authorization left.

    Thee is an option to de-authorize all computers. From iTunes Help:
    If you forgot to deauthorize a computer you no longer own, you can deauthorize all your authorized computers at once. You can use this method once a year.
    Choose Store > View My Account, and then click Deauthorize All. If you don't see this option, it's because you don't have five authorized computers.

  • HT4527 What happens when you can't authorize anymore computers?

    I have authorized 4 computers at this point for my itunes data due to computers breaking and I wanted to know what happens when you cant authorize anymore computers. How would you get everything you bought?

    Then you need to de-authorize some computers or get another Apple ID. If you no longer have some computers that are still authorized:
    About De-authorizing Computers (contributed by user John Galt)
    You can de-authorize individual computers, but only by using those computers. The only other option is to "de-authorize all" from your iTunes account.
    Open iTunes on a computer
    From the Store menu, select "View my Account..."
    Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
    Under "Computer Authorizations" select "De-authorize All".
    Authorize each computer you still have, as you may require.
    You may only do this once per year.
    After you "de-authorize all" your authorized computers, re-authorize each one as required.
    Also, see iTunes Store- About authorization and deauthorization.

  • TS3324 how do I de authorize all computers from I tunes but the one I am currently using?

    how do I de authorize all computers from I tunes but the one I am currently using?

    If you don't have access to all the computers you will have to de-authorize them all, then re-authorize the ones you wish. If you have access to all of them, then you can de-authorize each one, but must do so from the computer itself.
    De-authorizing Computers (contributed by user John Galt)
    You can de-authorize individual computers, but only by using those computers. The only other option is to "de-authorize all" from your iTunes account.
      1. Open iTunes on a computer
      2. From the Store menu, select "View my Account..."
      3. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
      4. Under "Computer Authorizations" select "De-authorize All".
      5. Authorize each computer you still have, as you may require.
    You may only do this once per year.
    After you "de-authorize all" your authorized computers, re-authorize each one as required.
    If you have de-authorized all computers and need to do it again, but your year has not elapsed, then contact: Apple - Support - iTunes - Contact Us.
    For more information on authorization and de-authorization: iTunes Store- About authorization and deauthorization.

  • Need to authorize two computers

    how do you authorize two computers on digital editions

    Yes, it can affect your library. Back up to an external hard disk drive by copying the files within Windows, just drag and drop the folder. Unless you have USB 3 or eSATA, this likely will take a while...my iTunes folder is a bit over 300 GB, and takes about 6 hours through USB 2.0!
    I'll warn you AGAINST using iTunes built-in back-up utility. I've it when switching computers, and IT WILL NOT allow you to import from the back-ups to a new computer! On the other hand, as long as the new computer can read the external hard-disk drive's format (FAT32 for maximum compatibility, but NTFS will usually work; Windows machines will require an add-in to recognize Apple's own hard drive format, or you can use your Apple to format the disk as FAT32 if you're starting with an Apple computer and a new hard drive.
    Once your files are drag-and-drop copied, you can take them anywhere.
    AFTER you have made your copy, go ahead and deauthorize the machines.
    SEE, what roaminggnome doesn't mention is that if you've been using iTunes for a long time, the oldest files were copy-protected and require authorization.  When you deauthorize all computers, you may lose authorization to play those files...this falls under "$#!7 happens."  It's happened to me (I've been using iTunes since before the iPod) and it's happened to one of my sisters, when she switched from an iBook to a Dell/Windows laptop! By backing up, THEN deauthorizing, you avoid that problem.
    Read carefully and follow carefully the Apple articles about backing up DRM (Digital Rights Management), especially if you're dealing with Apple OS X!  SERIOUSLY!

  • How to authorize two computers on 1 ID

    Hi everybody,
    I need to authorize two computers on 1 ID for the adobe digital editions. When i try i get the message that this is not possible because my ID is used before.  There most be a solution for this? Can anyone help me?
    Sincerly,
    Nienke

    Hi,
    I've solved this issue. My data in the underlying tables was corrupt. It's now working.
    Erik-jan

  • TS3512 I'm having trouble authorizing iTunes on my new macbook pro due to authorization on computers I no longer have. How do I deauthorize laptops and desk tops I no longer have?

    New MacBook Pro 15" won't authorize my iTunes to sync with my other Apple devices, iPad, iMac, iPod and other MacBook Pro 17" since I have authorized other devices (5 is the limit) that I no longer own.
    How do I get passed this severe limitation? I also assume that my Apple TV won't be alowed to sync due to this limitation as well... any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

    Sign into your account in iTunes - from that page you should be able to deauthorise ALL 5 authorised computers - supposedly you can do this once a year.
    Thereafter any devices you no longer have will be deauthorised, and you can reauthorise those you still have or are new.
    AC

Maybe you are looking for