NOTE: As of Jan. 2008, all music at the iTunes Store is DRM-free iTunes Plus content, which removes the need to authorize individual songs or computers.
When you buy anything from the iTunes store – a song, an album, a video, an audio book – you are able to play it on up to 5 computers. The computer you bought it from is the first computer authorized to play that file. Here’s how to authorize other computers to play the file.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Less than 5 minutes
Here's How:
- Copy the file you want to play into the iTunes Library of the other computer by dragging that file into an open iTunes window. The file will be added to iTunes.
- Double click the file. Instead of playing it, an iTunes window will pop up asking you to authorize the computer. Simply enter user the username and password for the account you bought the file from and hit enter.
- If your account information is correct, the file will be authorized and will play.
Tips:
- Alternatively, you can authorize a computer ahead of time by going to the Store menu in iTunes and choosing “Authorize Computer.”
- If you want to free up one of your activations and prevent playback on your files on a given computer, go to the same menu and choosing “Deauthorize Computer.”
