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Zeke D

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 18, 2011
1,024
168
Arizona
Admins please move to the appropriate forum.

I have questions about iTunes and authorized devices. I have an iPad and two iPod touches. That makes 3 of my 5 authorized devices. include my macbook and iBook, thats five of them. But I still have an eMac, and plan on purchasing a Mac Mini. That will make 7 devices. the 5 device limit seems arbitrary. What do you all do in this sort of situation? How can I get more than 5 devices?
 

Zeke D

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 18, 2011
1,024
168
Arizona
So if I use the "deauthorize all" I can still reAuthorize those computers I still have? The 90 day thing only applies to associating with another iTunes account?
 

JediMeister

macrumors 68040
Oct 9, 2008
3,263
5
There used to be a limit to the number of times you can trigger the Deauthorize All, once per calendar year. I don't know if that is still in effect, now that you can deauthorize even before you have reached the 5 computer limit. Re-authorizing a computer is allowed, and yes, the 90 day rule applies to if you switch from one account to another, if you have more than one AppleID.
 

CosmoPilot

macrumors 68000
Nov 8, 2010
1,537
373
South Carolina
There is a small caveat to what was mentioned earlier. JediMeister mentions it above as well.

While it's true you can have unlimited iDevices and 5 computers associated with an Apple ID. iTunes in the Cloud has changed the rules slightly!

If you want to take advantage of iTunes in the Cloud (storing music, movies, etc. in the Cloud), you can now only have 10 total devices (computers and iDevices combined). While you can still have unlimited iDevices and 5 computers. If you want to take advantage of iTunes in the Cloud, you have to choose which 10 devices will get that feature (and only 5 can be computers).

This is slight problem for my family of 4. Everyone in my family has an iPhone, we have 3 iPads, 2 Macs and an Apple TV. We are now at our limit of iTunes Match devices, so the iTouch and iPods in our house have to manually sync music (like in the past) through iTunes. Not a big problem, but remember you can only turn on iTunes in the Cloud on 10 devices total with the same Apple ID.
 
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txinternational

macrumors newbie
Jun 27, 2012
3
0
Texas
I have a follow-up question. Can someone explain a bit about how iTunes authorizations/downloads work as you upgrade computers/iPads/iPhones/future iGadgets? I am considering moving to buying most of my movies through iTunes.

My understanding, from the searching I've done here, on Apple's website, and in general lead me to believe the following: You can only authorize 5 computers at any one time. As you upgrade computers, you can deauthorize old computers and authorize new ones to stay at 5 or fewer computers. When you buy a new mac, you can download your movies purchased through iTunes provided that you authorize the new computer and haven't exceeded your 5 device limit, yes?

I have no problem staying at or below 5 devices at any one time, but I want to make sure that I'm not going to have to re-buy all the movies I buy after 10-15 years, when I've gone through a few more computers and have already maybe had 5 computers I wanted to put things on, though not at the same time.

I also understand that iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs do not count against the 10 device limit, correct?

Am I on the right track or am I wrong in some of my conclusions?

Thanks!
 

JediMeister

macrumors 68040
Oct 9, 2008
3,263
5
I have a follow-up question. Can someone explain a bit about how iTunes authorizations/downloads work as you upgrade computers/iPads/iPhones/future iGadgets? I am considering moving to buying most of my movies through iTunes.

My understanding, from the searching I've done here, on Apple's website, and in general lead me to believe the following: You can only authorize 5 computers at any one time. As you upgrade computers, you can deauthorize old computers and authorize new ones to stay at 5 or fewer computers. When you buy a new mac, you can download your movies purchased through iTunes provided that you authorize the new computer and haven't exceeded your 5 device limit, yes?

I have no problem staying at or below 5 devices at any one time, but I want to make sure that I'm not going to have to re-buy all the movies I buy after 10-15 years, when I've gone through a few more computers and have already maybe had 5 computers I wanted to put things on, though not at the same time.

I also understand that iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs do not count against the 10 device limit, correct?

Am I on the right track or am I wrong in some of my conclusions?

Thanks!

Firstly, you are correct, you'll need to authorize any computer whether Mac or PC to redownload iTunes content from iTunes in the Cloud. You don't have to re-download the music and movies every time you move to a new system though. You can migrate the iTunes folder between computers using an external hard drive or over the network through file sharing, and even use the iTunes feature known as Home Sharing.

iOS devices do count against the 10, if you enable automatic downloads. AppleTVs, the 2nd and 3rd generations anyway, do not count against the device cap as far as I know. I do not know how the first gen AppleTVs work with iTunes in the Cloud.
 

aziatiklover

macrumors 68030
Jul 12, 2011
2,704
269
8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
The bad thing about authorize and deauthorize is when you restore a mac it still count as 1 authorize even tho you cant deauthorize since it will be a new install!

Thats my current issue rite now because I have about 2 macs that I really use to authorize, but apple is telling me I have 5 total which I need to find out where I authorized my account to! Such as maybe my parents mac or uncle or even friends. :confused::eek:
 

CosmoPilot

macrumors 68000
Nov 8, 2010
1,537
373
South Carolina
Wirelessly posted

txinternational said:
I have a follow-up question. Can someone explain a bit about how iTunes authorizations/downloads work as you upgrade computers/iPads/iPhones/future iGadgets? I am considering moving to buying most of my movies through iTunes.

My understanding, from the searching I've done here, on Apple's website, and in general lead me to believe the following: You can only authorize 5 computers at any one time. As you upgrade computers, you can deauthorize old computers and authorize new ones to stay at 5 or fewer computers. When you buy a new mac, you can download your movies purchased through iTunes provided that you authorize the new computer and haven't exceeded your 5 device limit, yes?

I have no problem staying at or below 5 devices at any one time, but I want to make sure that I'm not going to have to re-buy all the movies I buy after 10-15 years, when I've gone through a few more computers and have already maybe had 5 computers I wanted to put things on, though not at the same time.

I also understand that iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs do not count against the 10 device limit, correct?

Am I on the right track or am I wrong in some of my conclusions?

Thanks!

You are absolutely on track. I would caution you however.

Currently all music purchased in iTunes is available for download using iTunes in the Cloud. What that means, you don't have to download the music to your computer and make a backup of your iTunes library.

Movies on the other hand "may" not be available for re-download because not all movie studios have signed onto this service. Therefore, if you purchase any movies, download them into iTunes and make a backup copy of your iTunes library (google how to). Then if you upgrade computes, take the backup iTunes library and add it to the new computer.

Others can chime in, but every movie Ive ever purchased is available for re-download for the cloud. I'm not sure what movie studios are not on board, do just be smart with backing up your data.

But to answer your question, as long as your devices are authorized as you stated, they will be able to play your movies from now until...
 
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