Kann Ich Itunes Auf Mehreren Rechnern Installieren

Calculate how many computers you can authorize with your Apple ID and understand the licensing rules for iTunes content across multiple devices.

Understanding Apple’s authorization rules for iTunes content across multiple computers is essential for anyone who wants to access their media library on different devices. This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about installing iTunes (now replaced by separate Music, TV, and Podcasts apps in macOS Catalina and later) on multiple computers and managing your authorizations.

Apple’s Authorization Policy Explained

Apple’s FairPlay digital rights management (DRM) system governs how you can use purchased content across different devices. Here are the key rules as of 2024:

• 5-computer limit: You can authorize up to 5 computers (Mac or PC) to play content purchased with your Apple ID
• Unlimited mobile devices: You can associate your Apple ID with unlimited iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches
• Family Sharing benefits: Family Sharing allows up to 6 family members to share purchases while each maintaining their own authorization limits
• Annual reset: You can completely reset your computer authorizations once per year

What Counts as a “Computer”?

Apple defines a “computer” as:

• Any Mac computer (iMac, MacBook, Mac mini, etc.)
• Any Windows PC running iTunes for Windows
• Virtual machines running macOS or Windows count as separate computers
• Boot Camp partitions on Mac count as separate authorizations

Official Apple Support Documentation

Apple’s Authorization Rules →

How to Check Your Current Authorizations

Before adding new computers, check your current authorization status:

On Mac (macOS Catalina and later):

1. Open the Music app, TV app, or Books app
2. From the menu bar, choose Account > View My Account
3. Sign in if prompted
4. Scroll to the “Apple ID Summary” section
5. Click “Manage Devices” to see authorized computers

On Windows or older macOS:

1. Open iTunes
2. From the menu bar, choose Account > View My Account
3. Sign in if prompted
4. Scroll to the “Apple ID Summary” section
5. Click “Manage Devices”

Step-by-Step: Authorizing a New Computer

Follow these steps to authorize a new computer with your Apple ID:

For Music, TV, and Books apps (macOS Catalina and later):

1. Open the respective app (Music, TV, or Books)
2. From the menu bar, choose Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer
3. Enter your Apple ID and password
4. Click “Authorize”

For iTunes (Windows or older macOS):

1. Open iTunes
2. From the menu bar, choose Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer
3. Enter your Apple ID and password
4. Click “Authorize”

Stanford University IT Services

Stanford’s iTunes Authorization Guide →

Deauthorizing Computers

When you reach your 5-computer limit or need to remove old devices, you’ll need to deauthorize computers:

Deauthorizing a Single Computer:

1. On the computer you want to deauthorize, open iTunes or the respective media app
2. From the menu bar, choose Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer
3. Enter your Apple ID and password
4. Click “Deauthorize”

Deauthorizing All Computers (Annual Reset):

1. Go to appleid.apple.com
2. Sign in with your Apple ID
3. In the “Devices” section, click “Manage Devices”
4. You’ll see the option to “Remove All” associated computers
5. Note: You can only use this option once per year

Common Problems and Solutions

Users often encounter these issues with iTunes authorizations:

Problem	Cause	Solution
“This computer is not authorized” error	Computer wasn’t authorized or authorization expired	Reauthorize the computer with your Apple ID
Can’t authorize new computer	Reached 5-computer limit	Deauthorize an old computer or use annual reset
Purchased content missing	Different Apple ID used for purchase	Sign in with the correct Apple ID or use Family Sharing
Authorization option grayed out	Already authorized or network issues	Check network connection or sign out/in of Apple ID

Family Sharing: Extending Your Limits

Apple’s Family Sharing feature (available with iCloud Family Sharing) allows up to 6 family members to share purchases while each maintaining their own authorization limits:

• Each family member keeps their own Apple ID and authorization count
• Purchases made by any family member are available to all
• Family members don’t count against each other’s authorization limits
• Requires iOS 8 or later, macOS Yosemite or later, or iTunes 12.3 or later on Windows

Setting Up Family Sharing:

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing
2. Tap “Set Up Your Family” or “Add Family Member”
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to invite family members
4. Choose which features to share (purchases, location, etc.)

Feature	Without Family Sharing	With Family Sharing
Authorization limit per Apple ID	5 computers	5 computers per family member (30 total)
Shared purchases	None	All purchases available to family
Mobile device limit	Unlimited	Unlimited (shared across family)
Apple Music family plan	Not available	Up to 6 accounts with individual libraries

Business and Educational Considerations

Organizations face special considerations when dealing with iTunes authorizations:

For Businesses:

• Apple Business Manager allows bulk purchase and distribution of apps
• Volume Purchase Program (VPP) enables app distribution without individual authorizations
• MDM solutions can manage app deployment across company devices

For Educational Institutions:

• Apple School Manager provides similar bulk purchasing capabilities
• Shared iPads can be configured for multiple students without authorization conflicts
• Educational discounts may apply to volume purchases

U.S. Government IT Standards

GSA Mobile Technology Guidelines →

Alternative Solutions When You Hit Limits

If you’ve reached your authorization limits, consider these alternatives:

Cloud-Based Solutions:

• Apple Music subscription gives access to your entire library on any device
• iCloud Music Library syncs your music across devices without authorization
• Streaming services like Spotify or Tidal don’t have authorization limits

Local Workarounds:

• Burn purchased music to audio CDs then re-import (removes DRM)
• Use home sharing to stream content from one authorized computer
• Transfer purchases to non-authorized computers via manual file transfer

Technical Solutions:

• Create separate Apple IDs for different computers
• Use virtual machines with separate authorizations
• Implement network-attached storage for shared media libraries

Future of iTunes Authorizations

Apple has been gradually moving away from the traditional iTunes authorization model:

• macOS Catalina (2019) replaced iTunes with separate Music, TV, and Podcasts apps
• Apple Music subscriptions reduce reliance on purchased content authorizations
• Increased focus on cloud-based libraries and streaming
• Possible future elimination of authorization limits for Apple Music subscribers

While the 5-computer limit remains in place for now, Apple’s shift toward subscription services suggests that authorization restrictions may become less relevant over time as more users adopt streaming models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize more than 5 computers?

No, Apple strictly enforces the 5-computer limit per Apple ID. The only ways around this are:

• Using Family Sharing to get additional authorizations through family members’ accounts
• Using the annual “Deauthorize All” reset
• Creating additional Apple IDs (though this violates Apple’s Terms of Service)

What happens if I exceed the limit?

If you try to authorize a 6th computer:

• You’ll receive an error message
• The authorization will fail
• You must deauthorize an existing computer before adding a new one

Do authorizations expire?

Authorizations don’t expire automatically, but they may be removed if:

• You deauthorize the computer manually
• You use the annual “Deauthorize All” reset
• You change your Apple ID password (may require reauthorization)
• The computer hasn’t been used with your Apple ID for an extended period

Can I transfer authorizations to a new computer?

Yes, but you need to:

1. Deauthorize the old computer
2. Authorize the new computer
3. Transfer your iTunes library files to the new computer

Does reinstalling the OS affect authorizations?

Reinstalling your operating system may require reauthorization because:

• The computer’s unique identifier may change
• iTunes/Apple Media Apps will treat it as a new installation
• You may need to sign in again with your Apple ID

Best Practices for Managing iTunes Authorizations

Follow these recommendations to avoid authorization problems:

1. Keep track of authorized computers: Regularly check your authorization list in your Apple ID settings
2. Deauthorize before selling/giving away computers: Always remove your authorization from computers you no longer own
3. Use Family Sharing: If you have family members, set up Family Sharing to maximize your authorization capacity
4. Consider Apple Music: For $9.99/month, you get access to your entire library on any device without authorization limits
5. Backup your library: Maintain regular backups of your iTunes media files
6. Use the annual reset wisely: Only use the “Deauthorize All” option when absolutely necessary
7. Keep your Apple ID secure: Use two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your authorizations

Legal Considerations

Understanding the legal aspects of iTunes authorizations is important:

• Terms of Service: Apple’s iTunes Store Terms and Conditions explicitly limit you to 5 computer authorizations
• Copyright Law: Circumventing DRM protections may violate copyright law in many jurisdictions
• Account Sharing: While Family Sharing is permitted, sharing your Apple ID credentials with non-family members violates Apple’s terms
• Business Use: Special licensing may be required for using iTunes content in commercial settings

For educational institutions and businesses, Apple offers specific licensing programs that allow for broader distribution of content while remaining compliant with copyright laws.

Troubleshooting Authorization Issues

If you’re experiencing problems with iTunes authorizations, try these steps:

Basic Troubleshooting:

1. Restart your computer
2. Update to the latest version of iTunes or macOS
3. Sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in
4. Check your internet connection

Advanced Solutions:

1. Reset the authorization database:
   1. On Mac: Delete the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.eqpl
   2. On Windows: Delete the file C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\SC Info\iTunes eqpl
2. Reinstall iTunes or the respective media apps
3. Contact Apple Support if problems persist

When to Contact Apple Support:

• You can’t deauthorize a computer you no longer own
• The “Deauthorize All” option isn’t working
• You’re seeing authorization errors despite having available slots
• Your authorization count seems incorrect

Conclusion

Understanding iTunes authorization rules is crucial for anyone who wants to access their purchased content across multiple computers. While Apple’s 5-computer limit may seem restrictive, options like Family Sharing, Apple Music subscriptions, and proper authorization management can help you make the most of your digital media library.

Remember these key points:

• You can authorize up to 5 computers per Apple ID
• Family Sharing effectively multiplies this limit by the number of family members
• Mobile devices don’t count against your computer authorization limit
• You can reset all authorizations once per year
• Always deauthorize computers before selling or giving them away
• Apple’s move toward subscription services may reduce the importance of authorizations in the future

By following the guidelines in this comprehensive guide, you can effectively manage your iTunes authorizations and ensure access to your content across all your devices while staying within Apple’s terms of service.