How can I subscribe to Apple Music family subscription?

Question

Level 1

16 points

How can I subscribe to Apple Music family subscription?

I am trying to sign up for an Apple Music Family subscription. I clicked the link: https://music.apple.com/deeplink?app=music&p=subscribe-family&at=1000l4QJ&ct=kbj_family&itscg=10000&itsct=kbj_fam

I accepted the 1 month free trial. My fingerprint allowed the subscription to proceed. I got the message

"You Have Already Authorised Five Computers

You can still make purchases on this computer, but you will need to transfer them to an authorized machine or device to play them. If you wish to play purchases on this computer, you will need to first deauthorise a currently authorised computer."

Leaving aside the issue of this absurd 5-computer limit, what's going on here?

I've never subscribed to Apple Music before, I have 2 Mac computers and no other Apple devices. Apple's obtuse support docs say to open Account > Authorizations on Apple Music, which doesn't help since I haven't signed in (due to lack of subscription) so literally nothing has been "authorized". I don't subscribe to any Apple services except iCloud+ so there's no TV subscription either.

Can somebody please assist me?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: How can I subscribe to Apple Music?

MacBook Air, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jun 20, 2025 6:13 PM

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Answer 1

TheLittles

Level 10

202,201 points

Jun 21, 2025 12:14 AM in response to canadia

“You cannot authorize more than 5 computers: You have already authorized 5 computers with this Apple Account. To authorize this computer you must first deauthorize one of the other computers”

———-

Apple Music Subsection Device Count:

Go here and see how many devices are actually associated with to your Apple Account. If 5 are shown, then something is up with your account, perhaps a hacked account, or the computers are showing up multiple times: Check your Apple Account Device List to Find where you’re Signed in - Apple Support

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Answer 2

canadia Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 20, 2025 6:20 PM in response to canadia

The saga continues and gets weirder.

I dismissed the popup telling me to transfer authorizations from nonexistent machines and closed Apple Music. Then I opened it again, went to Account > Authorizations and tried to authorize my Macbook.

Now I'm getting a different message:

"You cannot authorize more than 5 computers

You have already authorized 5 computers with this Apple Account. To authorize this computer you must first deauthorize one of the other computers."

I'm utterly baffled because literally none of that twaddle has any relation to reality.

Is somebody ripping off my account? If so, why? How?

Reply

Answer 3

TheLittles

Level 10

202,201 points

Jun 21, 2025 10:59 PM in response to canadia

"Unlike Apple Music, there's no 0-computer limit for Spotify. Also, it costs less. It was an easy decision once I remembered that my time has value."

Thanks for spreading the word! It will help many for certain.

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