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Cannot authorize PC with iTunes even after deauthorizing - it keeps saying "You have already authorized 5 computers with this Apple ID"

  1. Recently I had 5 (current and past) devices authorized on iTunes, including a Windows 10 PC. These were all authorized more than a year ago (much longer than the 90-day change limit).
  2. They all worked fine a month ago.
  3. One day, my iTunes on Windows said it was not authorized and that I needed to authorize. I don't know why, but my guess is that after a Windows update, iTunes no longer recognizes the computer as being the same as before.
  4. When I tried to authorize this instance of iTunes, I was told: "You cannot authorize more than 5 computers. You have already authorized 5 computers with this Apple ID. To authorize this computer you must first deauthorize one of the other computers."
  5. I go to iTunes -> Account -> View My Account -> Manage Devices and de-authorize all devices that I am not currently using. Now I am down to 2 (my iPad and an old MacBook).
  6. I try to authorize my computer again and get the same error message: "You cannot authorize more than 5 computers. You have already authorized 5 computers with this Apple ID. To authorize this computer you must first deauthorize one of the other computers."
  7. I figured that maybe there was a delay on the server and that the problem would soon go away.
  8. That was at least a week ago. I still get the same error message.
  9. I have iTunes 12.12.4 and no new updates available.


Is this a known problem? Is there any solution?


Thanks in advance!

Posted on Jun 11, 2022 1:38 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 11, 2022 1:45 AM

I see you have attempted to de-authorize all devices that you are not currently using.


You may be able to solve this by following steps in:

Authorize or deauthorize your computer for iTunes Store purchases - Apple Support

----------------------------------------------------------------

If you need to deauthorize a computer that you don't have access to

To deauthorize a computer that you don't have access to, you have to deauthorize all of your computers. Then authorize each computer that you have again. You can deauthorize all computers only once a year.

  1. Open the Apple Music app or Apple TV app.
  2. Choose Account > Account Settings.
  3. Sign in with your Apple ID and password. Forgot your Apple ID?
  4. At the top of your Account Information page, go to the Apple ID Summary section.
  5. Next to Computer Authorizations, click Deauthorize All.
  6. Authorize each computer that you use again.

-------------------------------------------------------------


If this does not solve it, I would recommend to:

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support


Good luck!

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 11, 2022 1:45 AM in response to SpectrumDT

I see you have attempted to de-authorize all devices that you are not currently using.


You may be able to solve this by following steps in:

Authorize or deauthorize your computer for iTunes Store purchases - Apple Support

----------------------------------------------------------------

If you need to deauthorize a computer that you don't have access to

To deauthorize a computer that you don't have access to, you have to deauthorize all of your computers. Then authorize each computer that you have again. You can deauthorize all computers only once a year.

  1. Open the Apple Music app or Apple TV app.
  2. Choose Account > Account Settings.
  3. Sign in with your Apple ID and password. Forgot your Apple ID?
  4. At the top of your Account Information page, go to the Apple ID Summary section.
  5. Next to Computer Authorizations, click Deauthorize All.
  6. Authorize each computer that you use again.

-------------------------------------------------------------


If this does not solve it, I would recommend to:

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support


Good luck!

Cannot authorize PC with iTunes even after deauthorizing - it keeps saying "You have already authorized 5 computers with this Apple ID"

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