Updated: How Many iPads Can I Sync With A Single iTunes User Account?

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article that concluded, with information from the iTunes End User Agreement, that 5 iPads could sync with a single iTunes account.  It turns out I was mistaken: an iTunes user account can be used on up to 5 computers.  However, any one of those computers can sync with as many iPads as you like.  This information comes from commenter Cindy Buchannan, whose response to my first post I’ll quote here:

“I worked for Apple for 3 1/2 years and left to come back to teaching last August. This was a very common question asked both by consumers and educators. You can sync your ipod content to as many devices as you would like – all from one library. You may authorize that content in the library on up to 5 authorized computers – meaning you may copy a library’s content and have it on up to 5 computers. OPTION 1) I can have one library – sync to 40 ipods or ipads (or more). OPTION 2) I can purchase songs, apps, video, whatever – and legally authorize that content to be on 5 computers (5 libraries). I would do the second option if perhaps I want content on my imac and also my macbook. Generally to make things easy, people keep one library – sync all ipods in the house or classroom to that one central library. Also to address another common question – you can sync multiple devices at once on a mac. Windows users – one at a time, as windows does not support multi-device syncing. Same rules as far as syncing multiple ipods of course – just not all at the same time on PC’s.
Hope this helps clarify – and even better news to save money in a school. Apple’s still making their money on the devices – no worries! Definitely back up your school’s library on an external drive – having all the content on one computer is a risk. If the computer that has the library gets upgraded or replaced – be sure to DE-AUTHORIZE after transferring the library to the new computer in order to preserve one of the “5 lives of authorization. Further explanation can be found in itunes.”

So… Instead of spending $1918 for the 5 software purchases I blogged about before, the cost is a single purchase of $47.95.  If the cost of software licensing has ever been an obstacle for technology in your classroom, the iTunes App Store is the solution!

Thanks to Cindy for clarifying this issue.  Those of you considering implementing a lab of iPads in your classroom, this might be a major argument you can use when considering costs versus using netbooks or laptops.

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