Why can't you deauthorize just one computer?

Question

Level 1

14 points

Why can't you deauthorize just one computer?

Why is the only choice in the store to deauthorize ALL computers with an appleid/iTunes store account? My husband took my old mac book pro and removed all my info on it, but did not deauthorize the iTunes account first. Now, my phone won't sync with my new computer because we're up to our limit on devices with that iTunes account (try having one account since day 1 of iTunes, and now multiple computers and devices.

Isn't there some way to tell iTunes to stop associating that mac book pro with my phone (which is what it seems to be doing)?

And word to the wise -- do not let anyone use an old computer until you've deauthorized it. Once they start ripping out your data to put theirs in you really are totally (******) if they do it wrong.

iPhone 4, iOS 5, iPad (original)

Posted on Aug 12, 2012 9:51 AM

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Answer 1

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,138 points

Aug 12, 2012 10:02 AM in response to jenskar2

Individual computers can currently only be deauthorised directly on them, but deauthorising all doesn't remove any content from the computers - you just need to reauthorise them before you can use any of your downloaded/purchased content on them.

If you are now going to be syncing your iPhone to a different computer then make sure that you have all content on it before you sync to it for the first time.

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Answer 2

jenskar2 Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 12, 2012 12:09 PM in response to King_Penguin

The only thing that makes me nervous about that is this -- we had an iTunes account forever, and when the Cloud went live, they made us change the login and update our account information. Our original login id still syncs anything associated with it for updates (apps), even though we now use the new id for purchases. It's rather beautiful that it works like that -- asking for one login to update apps prior to the Cloud, seeming to know that it goes with those ... however, I shudder to think if we tried to reauthorize to that original id if the iTunes store would recognize it as a valid id, which could jeopardize all the original music and app purchases (years and years and years of legally purchased content).

We're going to have to try something else.

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Answer 3

Dec 9, 2012 11:57 AM in response to jenskar2

I agree! I am in the same boat. Makes no sense why you can't deauthorize the machine in question. I am currently having problems logging in to FaceTime and I suspect it's because of an iPad I returned to Best Buy 2 weeks ago (got an AirBook instead). I reset it before returning. Not sure if this could be causing the problem or not.

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Answer 4

Dec 12, 2012 10:26 AM in response to Peter Mars

Turns out my Mac Pro FaceTime problem was because my replaced logic board never got a serial number flashed to it! And I still think it's weird that you can't deauthorize just one device.

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Answer 5

SBap

Level 1

0 points

Oct 18, 2015 10:34 AM in response to jenskar2

I have run into this problem as well. How do you de-authorize a computer that has crashed? Of course you cannot. When you attempt to download into a new authorized computer with a defunct computers music (i.e. from your i-phone) i tunes goes all verklempt. Apple is always good at making an interface pretty. Efficient is something else.

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Answer 6

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,138 points

Oct 18, 2015 12:15 PM in response to SBap

You can't do it directly on that computer, but you can deauthorise all by logging into your account, and then reauthorise the computers that you still have and need : Deauthorize your computer using iTunes - Apple Support

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