This computer is already associated with an Apple ID

Frustratingly, Apple only lets you associate one Apple ID with a computer. If someone else (spouse, significant other, roommate, etc.) signs in with their Apple ID on the same computer and then downloads content they purchased and legitimately own, then the first person won't be able to do the same for 90 days. We contacted Apple Support for free (an automated system called us and the hold time was 20 minutes) and they were able to reset the computer's association to the original Apple ID. They also suggested something called Family Sharing to address this going forward. Here's a description of that on Apple's site: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201088

Tim_Bracken wrote:

Frustratingly, Apple only lets you associate one Apple ID with a computer. If someone else (spouse, significant other, roommate, etc.) signs in with their Apple ID on the same computer and then downloads content they purchased and legitimately own, then the first person won't be able to do the same for 90 days. We contacted Apple Support for free (an automated system called us and the hold time was 20 minutes) and they were able to reset the computer's association to the original Apple ID. They also suggested something called Family Sharing to address this going forward. Here's a description of that on Apple's site: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201088

Just to be clear on something here. You are correct that you can only Associate a new Apple ID to a particular computer or device once every 90 days, but the Association limitations only apply to:

- Downloading Past Purchases

- Using iTunes Match or Apple Music

- Using Family Sharing

- Using Automatic Downloads

If you are simply wanting various people to be able to purchase (which automatically downloads a new purchase to the device the purchase is being made on), and then being able to play music in iTunes on that computer, you can do that. Associating a device does prevent you from purchasing new media. All persons doing that, however, would have to be "Authorized" to that iTunes account in order to be able to play the music in the Library:

Authorize your computer in iTunes - Apple Support

Association refers to all devices and computers. Authorization only applies to an iTunes Library on a computer.

Cheers,

GB

"This computer is already associated with an Apple ID"

Purchased a movie from iTunes over Xmas to watch on my Mac, download didn't start and the above annoying message popped up. I have now spent hours trying every fix on the internet in order to watch the movie that I have paid for (I have also emailed support via iTunes help, no reply as yet....).

On my 2009 Mac I have 2 log-ins, one for my wife and one for me. We both have individual AppleIDs, neither of us use match or cloud services. Having read all of these forum pages I'm guessing the bug lies somewhere along the "associated devices" pathway (my wife's AppleID is associated with this Mac). Having now been made aware of this frustrating "90 rule" I can at least (finally) partly understand what is going on. However, unlike others on this forum I am not trying to re-download my purchased movie, but merely to download and watch it for the first time!!

Hopefully Apple support will come back with a resolution.

A couple of other related points:

Firstly, to those here who question why we may need to re-download our own material: movies take up a lot of HD space, so I delete them after watching, thinking I could easily re-download when needed (apparently not!). Note: this is not what I was trying to do when I encountered the bug, I'm merely explaining (to the doubters!) why the 90-day rule is frustrating.

Secondly, whilst trying to get Apple's support with this I had great difficulty with the "Report a Problem" screen in My Account (in iTunes). I'd click "Report a Problem", it would then say in small writing "Report a Problem" next to the problem item. I'd then click Done. No acknowledgement, etc. Go back and problem item wouldn't be highlighted..., rinse & repeat. Only through reading another forum did I discover that the little "Report a problem" writing that appears is actually a button to press!!!

BUT, after making the above discovery it gets worse! For the page that you go to says (to paraphrase) "there are no problem items to report". This was at the end of an evening where I didn't get to watch my movie, I wasn't impressed.

I eventually trawled through the iTunes "support" and have sent a description of my issue ("in <400 characters" !) via email. I'll update with Apples response when I get it....

The solution is to wait the requisite number of days until you can re-associate the Mac to your Apple ID. What it is telling you is that the other Apple ID on the computer has met one or more of the following criteria within the last 90 days:

Downloaded a past purchase

Has Automatic Downloads turned on in iTunes

Is on a Family Sharing account

Is using iTunes Match

Is using iTunes Music Library

You can sign that person into iTunes, then go to Account>View My Account, type in the password when asked, then click on Manage Devices to determine how many days are left before a different ID can be associated.

Cheers,

GB

Hello,

Yes, Apple got back to me quickly. They sent me an apologetic email and gave me a full refund. They also stated that if I continue to have problems to contact them via the email to get further support.

So this is a good response (in terms of the refund), however it doesn't really (directly) address the core issue, of why it happened in the first place..., although, I guess they are offering me further support if I chose...

However, I am now reticent to re-purchase my movie to avoid further hassle, ho hum!

I also sent feedback to Apple via the link an earlier poster provided for improving their services, this feedback was mainly w.r.t. the terrible "Report A Problem" link that I (finally) encountered.

Quite right, Gail. You *can* still log in with the original Apple ID to purchase new media during the 90-day blackout period. But every time I tried to watch such content, I kept getting "This computer is already associated with an Apple ID." I don't just mean downloading; I mean double clicking on the movies to stream them (though this was admittedly a slightly-older version of iTunes). So being able to buy new content doesn't do you much good in that situation. But it sounds like the Family Sharing solves this issue. We haven't set that up yet though.

Streaming is the issue here. If you were purchasing and downloading the media, then you would be able to use it. Streaming it is like using Apple Music or iTunes Match. If the item was completely download you would be able to use it.

Cheers,

GB

gail from maine wrote:

Streaming is the issue here. If you were purchasing and downloading the media, then you would be able to use it. Streaming it is like using Apple Music or iTunes Match. If the item was completely download you would be able to use it.

Cheers,

GB

That's incorrect, Gail. I could not download either.

As I said in my original comment: "If someone else (spouse, significant other, roommate, etc.) signs in with their Apple ID on the same computer and then downloads content they purchased and legitimately own, then the first person won't be able to do the same [i.e. download] for 90 days."

This is the iTunes error message I got when I tried to download: "This computer is already associated with an Apple ID. You can download past purchases on this computer with just one Apple ID every 90 days."

My statement was "purchasing and downloading media", meaning, if you were to make a brand new purchased with your Apple ID signed into iTunes, it would download that new purchase to the device.

As previously stated, it will not let you download past purchases within that 90-day period.

GB

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. You can view which devices or computers are currently associated, remove unused devices or computers, and see how long before they can be associated with a different Apple ID from the Account Information page in iTunes on your computer:

1. Open iTunes.
2. Sign in to your Apple ID by choosing Store > Sign In from the iTunes menu.
3. Choose Store > View My Account from the iTunes menu.
4. From the Account Information screen, click Manage Devices.

Next to each device or computer name, you will be able to see when each was associated to your Apple ID. You will also be able to track how many days are remaining before your associated devices or computers can be associated to a different Apple ID.

I have the same problem as the initial poster EXCEPT I've never had this computer associated with another Apple ID! One day, for no obvious reason, it just started giving my the same pop-up box when I tried to download previous purchased music with my account. Somehow, Apple screwed up, and it is frustrating me beyond belief.

I can confirm similar behavior on my Mac, which I have owned for two years and used iTunes without issue throughout the entirety. I buy music on my iPad/iPhone and sync it from the cloud to my desktop. Now, I'm getting this error when I try to download an album I purchased a few days ago on the ipad. I have verified that I am not over my allotment of devices, and previous purchases appear to play fine.

So, to sum up, I'm getting this message after successfully using iTunes previously to purchase, sync and play back other purchases from the app store (working as recently as one week ago).

Apple: Please take note - I probably spend around $100 a month in music and have been reluctant to come back to iTMS because of previous experiences with your DRM. This issue, and having to enter my ID and password 3 times to get onto this message board indicate a step down in customer service and usability.

Update: My problem can be summed up in this article: http://www.techbeast.net/2011/12/16/this-computer-is-already-associated-with-an- apple-id/ My fiance has an account on this mac, and got an iTunes gift card for Christmas. Now I can't get my Christmas purchases because iTunes cloud associates by computer, not account. This is very disappointing.

Hi. Another frustrated user with the same problem. My iTunes library has worked perfectly up until yesterday. My wife (who has a separate user account on our Mac) downloaded an album to her iPad which, as she also had automatic downloads enabled, downloaded to he iTunes library. After this, I purchased a track on my iPad which I then tried to download to my iTunes library on my user account on the Mac. It was then it told me that

This computer is already associated with an Apple ID

which it had never done before. I now can't download music to my library which I have legitimately paid for. This cannot be right? Please please, if anyone has a solution to this bizarre problem I'd be grateful to know it. I'm very uncomfortable with the prospect of not being able to enjoy music I've paid Apple for on my system before the end of March!

Yours Angrily,

John.

I contacted Apple support through email, and after a few failed attempts, somebody refreshed some setting on Apple's side and fixed this problem. It is frustrating that it took so long, but at least it now works.

Contact Apple and pester them until they fix this for you!

Good luck!

Hi. Thanks. I'll do that. Did they give any indication of how to avoid this problem in the future?