HT1420: Authorize your computer using iTunes

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Pestypoo
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Q: I forgot to deauthorize my iTunes account on my PC!

Hi, I have recently purchased a mac, but forgot to deauthorize my apple iTunes account on my old PC?.  I have since smashed up the pc before binning it.  How do I get hold of my original iTunes account and deauthorize it then transfer my stuff  to my new mac?

iPod nano

Posted on Aug 28, 2012 6:18 AM

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Pestypoo

Q: I forgot to deauthorize my iTunes account on my PC!

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  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 28, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Pestypoo
    Level 7 (25,385 points)
    Aug 28, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Pestypoo

    Now that it is gone, you cannot deauthorise that one computer (see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420).  When you get to 5 authorizations, you can de-authorize all and then add back just the ones you want.

     

    But, with your Mac, just login to iTunes with the same AppleID you used before - your purchases are tied to that AppleID, not any particular machine.  You can re-download all purchased content from the iTunes or App store (excpet for audiobooks, for some reason they are excluded).

     

    see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519

     

    Or, if you have a backup drive for the old PC, you can copy those files into your iTunes library.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Aug 28, 2012 6:27 AM in response to Pestypoo
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 28, 2012 6:27 AM in response to Pestypoo

    If it is smashed up then authorization does not matter.

     

    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 may not appear until you actually have 5 authorized and you can only do this once a year.

     

    An "iTunes account" is a login feature for buying items from the iTunes Store.

     

    On your computer you have user accounts or spaces for different users.  Usually each user has an iTunes library or collection of items.  I presume this is what you want.  This was on the old computer as files.  There is the main library file which is only on the computer.  This organizes your media and shows what is in your collection.  It is (was) only on that computer or a backup drive.  There are the media files.  If you bought them from iTunes Store you may be able to download them again.  If you did not then you will have to obtain them from whatever source you used originally.   In either case they will just be a collection of files and you will have to rebuild your library.

     

    Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not all media formats are available in all countries (see: iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match Availability by Country - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5085); apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this).  Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later.  Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid.  Apple notes it is your responsibility to back up your purchases.

     

    Select the store on the left side of iTunes.
    Click on Purchased on the right side under Quick Links.
    You can re-download your available previous purchases.

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html