A new iPad or iPhone should be easy to add to Apple Music. So seeing Apple Music "Device Limit Reached" or a similar "Too Many Devices" warning when you try to download music can be confusing, especially when only a few devices appear under your Apple Account.
This happens because Apple manages multiple separate device lists behind the scenes. Devices signed in to your Apple Account are not the same as devices associated with your account for media purchases and downloads. Apple currently allows up to 10 associated devices (with a maximum of 5 computers). An old phone, tablet, or PC might still be holding a slot without your knowledge. In this article, we will walk you through how to fix device limit reached on Apple Music.
Part 1. Quick Reference Guide: Fix Apple Music Device Limit
Before removing anything, use the table below to identify which limit you are actually dealing with and how to solve it quickly.
| What You See | What It Usually Means | Where to Start |
|---|---|---|
| Device Limit Reached while downloading music | Purchase-associated device limit reached (10 max) | Check Manage Devices in Account Settings |
| Only a few devices appear in Settings, but the error remains | You may be checking the signed-in device list instead | Check associated devices separately |
| Remove button is unavailable/greyed out | 90-day account reassociation period is active | Sign out on that device and check the association period |
| Error specifically on Mac or Windows PC | Computer authorization limit reached (5 max) | Deauthorize an old computer via Apple Music app |
| Music stops when another device starts playing | Simultaneous playback restriction on Individual plan | Check the subscription and devices currently using Apple Music |
Part 2. Associated Devices vs. Apple Account Devices: What's the Difference?
To fix the Apple Music device limit reached error, you must understand Apple's two primary device lists:
- Apple Account Devices (Signed-In List): Found under Settings > [Your Name]. This shows devices signed in to iCloud, iMessage, and Find My. Removing a device here signs it out of iCloud, but does not automatically free up your Apple Music download slot.
- Associated Devices (Purchase List): Devices linked to your Apple Account for downloading offline music, movies, and apps. This list capped at 10 total devices (max 5 computers) is what triggers the "Device Limit Reached" download error.
Part 3. How to Fix Apple Music Device Limit Reached
Apple uses several device-related systems, which is why the phrase Apple Music device limit can mean different things depending on what you were doing when the message appeared. If the warning appears while you are downloading purchases or associating a new device with your Apple Account for media purchases, the relevant limit is generally the associated-device limit.
The most useful fix is to remove a device from the associated-device list, rather than randomly signing out of every Apple device you own.
Fix 1. Remove an Associated Apple Music Device on Mac/Windows PC
If you have access to a Mac or Windows computer, you can see the account's purchase-associated devices from the Music app.
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app. From the menu bar, choose Account > Account Settings in the top menu bar.
Step 2. Sign in to your Apple Account if prompted. Find the device section and select Manage Devices.
Step 3. Locate a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or other device you no longer need associated with the account. Click Remove next to that device.
Fix 2. Remove the Current iPhone or iPad from Purchase Associations
On an iPhone or iPad, the path for purchase associations is different from the regular device list.
Step 1. Open Settings app and tap [Your Name].
Step 2. Select Media & Purchases and Tap View Account.
Step 3. Scroll down and choose Remove This Device.
This removes the current iPhone or iPad from its purchase association. It is different from tapping a device under the normal Apple Account device list and choosing Remove from Account.
Fix 3. Sign Out and Back In After Removing a Device
If you have already cleared an old associated device but Apple Music still shows the warning, refreshing the account session may help.
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On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases, sign out of the media account, and then sign back in.
- On Mac, Apple Music includes the Account > Sign Out option. Windows users can manage the signed-in Apple Account from the account area in the Apple Music app.
Signing out Apple Music account does not increase the 10-device limit by itself. It is more useful after you have already corrected the associated-device list and need Apple Music to reload the account state.
Note:
Signing out will temporarily clear your offline downloaded tracks, but your cloud library, playlists, and history remain intact.
Part 4. Still Getting Apple Music "Too Many Devices" After Removing Devices?
An Apple Music Too Many Devices message does not necessarily mean you currently own or actively use 10 devices. An old iPhone or iPad can remain associated with your Apple Account after you stop using it. The same can happen when you frequently replace computers, switch between Apple Accounts, or set up Apple media services on multiple devices over time.
If you have removed the old hardware and the message still appears, check the account state before repeating the troubleshooting steps.
Fix 1. The 90-Day Lockout
If the Remove button is unavailable and a device cannot be removed normally, you can sign out of the Apple Account on that device and try again. When the device has recently been associated with another Apple Account, you may also need to wait before associating it with a different account. The reassociation period can reach 90 days, and the device may display the number of days remaining.
Fix 2. Check Your 5-Computer Authorization Limit
Macs and Windows PCs have another limit: one Apple Account can authorize up to five computers for purchases. iPhones and iPads do not count as computers under this rule.
- On a Mac, open Apple Music and choose: Account > Account Settings. You can see the number beside Computer Authorizations. If an old computer is still authorized, choose: Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
- On Windows, open Apple Music, click your name in the sidebar, and use Authorize Machine or Deauthorize Machine as needed.
If you no longer have access to old computers, Apple also provides a Deauthorize All option in certain cases. It should be used carefully because you then need to authorize the computers you still use again.
Part 5. Does Apple Music Family Plan Expand the Device Limit?
An Apple Music Family subscription should not be viewed as six people sharing one Apple Account and one combined 10-device allowance.
A Family subscription can be shared with up to six people, and Family Sharing is designed so that each person uses their own Apple Account. Members get their own Apple Music library and recommendations. That distinction matters when troubleshooting device limits.
If six people all use the same Apple Account instead of separate accounts through Family Sharing, their music activity, libraries, recommendations, purchases, and device associations can become mixed together. Apple recommends that family members use individual Apple Accounts rather than sharing one account.
So upgrading to a Family plan does not simply turn one Apple Account's 10 associated devices into a larger shared device pool. The cleaner setup is: one Family subscription and separate Apple Accounts for family members.
Part 6. Alternative Solution: Play Apple Music on Unsupported Devices Without Account Limits
There is no normal account setting that raises the purchase-association limit beyond 10 devices. If Apple Music reports that the account has reached that limit, removing an unused associated device remains the most direct solution.
However, not everyone searching for a way to bypass the Apple Music device limit actually needs another Apple Music login. Sometimes the real goal is simply to play selected songs on additional devices, such as an MP3 player, USB drive, car media system, older audio player, or another device where signing in to Apple Music is inconvenient or unsupported. In that situation, a local-audio workflow may be more practical.
Use DRmare Apple Music Converter for Local Playback
DRmare Apple Music Converter provides a different approach: instead of adding more devices to the Apple Music account, it can save selected Apple Music tracks in common audio formats such as MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, FLAC, and AIFF. Those local files can then be transferred to compatible devices and played without adding each playback device to the Apple Music app.
Note:
This does not increase or modify Apple's account-level device limit. It simply changes how the music is played after the tracks have been prepared as local audio files.
Step 1. Launch DRmare Apple Music Converter and sign in through its built-in Apple Music web player. Browse or search for the album, playlist, or songs you want to save. Click the + button and add the tracks to the conversion list.
Step 2. Open Preferences > Conversion and select the format that best fits the devices you plan to use. MP3 is usually the easiest option when compatibility matters most. FLAC or other supported formats may make more sense when the target player supports them and you prefer a different audio workflow. You can also adjust parameters such as the sample rate and audio channel when needed.
Step 3. Click Convert and wait for the selected tracks to be processed. After conversion, open the output folder and copy the local audio files to the device you want to use, such as a USB drive, compatible media player, or another local music library.
Because playback now comes from ordinary local files rather than another Apple Music app session, those playback devices do not need to be added as Apple Music-associated devices. This approach makes the most sense when local playback is the goal.
If you simply want to add a new iPad or iPhone to Apple Music, managing the associated-device list is usually the cleaner solution.
Part 7. FAQs About Apple Music Device Limits
Why does Apple Music say limit reached when I only have 3 devices in Settings?
Because you are viewing your iCloud signed-in list under Settings > [Your Name]. Older hardware you previously owned may still be clogging up your purchase-associated device list under Media & Purchases > View Account.
Can I bypass Apple Music's 10-device limit natively?
No native Apple setting bypasses the account limit. You must remove inactive devices or convert selected songs to local audio files using tools like DRmare for playback on non-Apple/offline hardware.
How many devices can be associated with One Apple Account?
Up to 10 devices can be associated with an Apple Account for purchases, and no more than five of those devices can be computers.
Does Apple Music Family Share One 10-Device Limit?
A Family subscription is designed around separate Apple Accounts for each family member, rather than six people using one shared Apple Account. Up to six people can share the subscription while keeping their own libraries and recommendations.
Final Thoughts
When Apple Music reports Too Many Devices or Device Limit Reached, start with the purchase-associated device list rather than immediately deleting devices from your main Apple Account screen. The two lists serve different purposes, and confusing them is one reason the warning can seem to remain after an old device has already been removed.
For most people adding a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC, clearing an unused association is enough. If the device was previously connected to another Apple Account, also check whether a reassociation waiting period applies.
And if the real goal is simply to use selected music on additional offline players rather than add another Apple Music device, preparing local audio files with a tool such as DRmare Apple Music Converter offers a separate route without changing the Apple Account's device limit.
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