iTunes for Mac: How to copy purchases between computers
Summary
This document is for Mac users. If you use Windows, see iTunes for Windows: How to copy purchases between computers.
You can download a song once when you purchase it from the iTunes Store. If you want to listen to it on another computer, you can copy it from the computer you used to purchase the song, but you can't download it again. You are allowed to play each song on up to five authorized computers.1 If you want to listen to it on another computer, you can move or copy it from the computer you used to purchase the song. Use one of the options below.
Note: If you no longer use your old computer, make sure to deauthorize it.
Products Affected
iTunes 7 for Mac, iTunes 9 for Mac, iTunes 8 for Mac
Home Sharing
Transfer your iTunes content between authorized computers on your local network using the Home Sharing feature in iTunes 9. See iTunes: Understanding Home Sharing for more information.
Burn Data CD or DVD
Copy your purchased music to a data CD or DVD. See How to back up your media in iTunes to save the purchased song files onto a data disc that you can use with other authorized computers.
MobileMe iDisk
If you have a MobileMe account, you can save song files to your iDisk and then copy them to other authorized computers. See Finding the files of your iTunes Store purchases for help locating song files you purchased. See MobileMe Help for more information on using iDisk.
External hard drive
Drag files to the disk icon of an external hard drive connected to your computer. From there, you can copy them to other authorized computers. See Finding the files of your iTunes Store purchases for help locating song files you purchased. You can also use many iPod models as a hard disk.
Use your iPod and iTunes
With iTunes 8 you can transfer iTunes Store purchases that are synced with your iPod to any authorized computer, for example from your home computer to your computer at work. Here are the steps to "reverse sync" purchases from your iPod:
- Make sure that you are using the latest version of iTunes 8 and iPod software.
- Authorize your computer by choosing Store > Authorize Computer in iTunes.
- Connect your iPod to the authorized computer.
- Choose File > Transfer Purchases from iPod.
File sharing
Turn on file sharing to copy files over a network. See Mac 101: File sharing for information on how to set up file sharing.
Other Removable Media
If you have an Iomega Zip or Jaz drive, or any other removable media that can be used by each computer, you can copy the songs to the removable disk and use the disk with other authorized computers. See Finding the files of your iTunes Store purchases for help locating song files you purchased.
You could email music files as enclosures, but email is probably not the best option for copying music because most song files are too large for email servers to process.
Additional Information
Notes
- iTunes digital rights management (DRM) protected music includes audio with a bit rate of 128 kbps and allows users to transfer songs and videos to up to five computers, burn seven copies of the same playlist to CD, and sync to an unlimited number of iPods.
iTunes Plus music refers to songs and music videos available in our highest-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding (twice the current bit rate of 128 kbps), and without digital rights management (DRM). There are no burn limits and iTunes Plus music will play on all iPods, Mac or Windows computers, Apple TVs, and many other digital music players.
A note about copyright
iTunes software may be used to reproduce materials. It is licensed to you only for reproduction of non-copyrighted materials, materials in which you own the copyright, or materials you are authorized or legally permitted to reproduce. If you are uncertain about your right to copy any material, you should contact your legal advisor. See the iTunes Store Terms of Service for additional information.