Q: My iphone gives me the this device is already associated with an apple id whenever i try to redownload or a watch a tv show i just bought. Help?

Hi corbi111,

Welcome to the Support Communities!  The resource below will explain the alert you are seeing.

Manage your associated devices in iTunes - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204074

When you turn on iTunes Match, Family Sharing, or Automatic Downloads, or when you download past purchases on your computer, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, that device becomes associated with your Apple ID. You can associate your Apple ID with up to 10 devices, with a maximum of 5 computers at any time. Each computer must also be authorized using the same Apple ID. You don't need to authorize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

After you associate a device with your Apple ID, you can't associate that device with another Apple ID for 90 days.

See your associated devices

You can see the devices associated with your Apple ID in iTunes on your Mac or PC:

1. Click to open your account in iTunes, or use these steps:
   1. Open iTunes, choose Store > Sign In, then enter your Apple ID and password.
   2. Choose Store > View Account.
2. Click Manage Devices in the iTunes in the Cloud section. If you haven't associated any devices with your Apple ID, you won't see the Manage Devices section.

Next to each device, you can see when it associated with your Apple ID. You can also track how many days remain before you can associate your device with a different Apple ID.

Remove an associated device 

To remove a device or computer from your Apple ID:

1. Click to open your account in iTunes, or use these steps:
   1. Open iTunes, choose Store > Sign In, then enter your Apple ID and password.
   2. Choose Store > View Account. 
2. Click Manage Devices in the iTunes in the Cloud section. 
3. Click Remove next to the device that you want to remove.

When you remove your Apple ID from a device, the 90-day limit stays in place on that device. But you can associate your Apple ID to another device that doesn't have the 90-day limit. Depending on when you associated the device, you might need to wait to associate it to a new Apple ID.

 

Last Modified: Dec 23, 2014

Report a problem with an item purchased from the iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, or iBooks Store - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204084

I hope this information helps ....

- Judy