Deauthorise iTunes

mrochester · 1 Aug 2009 at 22:35

Hi all

Just given myself a new installation of Windows 7 for full time use. I'm trying to sync my iPhone and as usual it's asking me to authorise the computer for this. However, I can't, as I have already authorised 5 computers. I've tried the 'deauthorise' option in my iTunes account settings, but it informs me I can only do this once per year and that it cannot be done again until 7th March 2010 (which is clearly an absurd amount of time to wait until I have next sync my iPhone!). Can anyone offer any insight in to how to solve this?

Many thanks

Michael.

TheMagicPirate · 1 Aug 2009 at 22:41

Can't you 'un-authorise' one of the computers?

mrochester · 1 Aug 2009 at 22:45

Durr, just realised you can deauthorise a single computer at a time. However, how do I deauthorise computers that now have different Windows installations on them? I've only ever authorised 2 computers - my desktop and laptop, which have had multiple Windows installations. Each new installation seems to count as one new authorisation, even though the computer is the same one. So how do I deauthorise Windows installations that have now long gone?

Thanks

Michael.

Spuds · 2 Aug 2009 at 12:23

Unfortunatly you can't, the only other way to deauthorise a computer is using the option to deauthorise all your computers in your Apple account. If your laptop is authorised you can try deauthorising that until the option to deauthorise all is available again, or you could try contacting Apple and see if they can deauthorise some of the old ones for you.

I've nearly been caught out by this myself, I'm on 4 out of 5. Apple really should make it clearer that you need to do this before re-installing an OS.

mrochester · 2 Aug 2009 at 13:25

Spuds said:
Unfortunatly you can't, the only other way to deauthorise a computer is using the option to deauthorise all your computers in your Apple account. If your laptop is authorised you can try deauthorising that until the option to deauthorise all is available again, or you could try contacting Apple and see if they can deauthorise some of the old ones for you.

I've nearly been caught out by this myself, I'm on 4 out of 5. Apple really should make it clearer that you need to do this before re-installing an OS.

Yeah, or they should make it clear that even though your computer hasn't changed bar a new Windows installation, it still counts as one authorisation.