What authorizing a computer means and why you need to do it

Authorizing a computer for iTunes means linking your Apple ID to that specific device so you can play music, movies, TV shows, and books you've bought from the iTunes Store. Without authorization, you can download purchases to the computer but won't be able to play them. Apple limits authorization to five computers per Apple ID at any one time — a restriction meant to prevent sharing purchases across too many devices.

You only need to authorize once per computer. After that, anything you buy on iTunes will play on that machine automatically. If you sell the computer, give it away, or stop using it, you can deauthorize it remotely from any other device.

Key Takeaways

  • Open iTunes on the computer you want to use, go to Account menu, and select Authorize This Computer, then sign in with your Apple ID.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID, and deauthorizing one frees up that slot for a new device.
  • If you forget to deauthorize a computer before selling or giving it away, you can deauthorize it remotely from the Manage Your Apple ID website.
  • Authorization is separate from signing into iCloud — you need both to play purchased content on a Mac or Windows PC.

How to authorize a computer in iTunes on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. In the menu bar at the top, click Account (on a Mac) or look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) if you're on Windows and click Account from the dropdown. Select Authorize This Computer.

A window will appear asking you to sign in. Enter the Apple ID and password associated with your iTunes purchases. If you use two-factor authentication on your Apple ID, you'll need to complete that step — Apple will send a code to a trusted device. Once you've signed in, click Authorize. The computer is now linked to your account and can play your purchases.

The process takes less than a minute. You won't see a confirmation message — iTunes simply closes the authorization window and returns to the main screen. Your computer is authorized once the window closes without an error.

What happens if you've already authorized five computers

If you've hit the five-computer limit, iTunes will tell you when you try to authorize a new one. You have two options: deauthorize a computer you no longer use, or deauthorize all five at once and start fresh.

To deauthorize a single computer, open iTunes on that machine, go to Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer. You'll need to sign in again with your Apple ID. That frees up one slot. If you're trying to authorize a computer that's not in front of you — for example, a laptop you sold — you can deauthorize it remotely through the Manage Your Apple ID website. Sign in at appleid.apple.com, go to Devices, find the computer in the list, and click Remove.

If you deauthorize all five computers at once, you can only do this once per year. Go to Account in iTunes, select Deauthorize All, sign in, and confirm. This resets your count to zero, but you won't be able to use this option again for 12 months.

Authorizing on a Mac with Apple Music or newer iTunes versions

On newer Macs running macOS Catalina or later, iTunes was replaced by the Music app. The authorization process is slightly different. Open the Music app, click Music in the menu bar, then select Account and Authorize This Computer. Sign in with your Apple ID and click Authorize. The steps are the same, just in a different app.

If you're using an older Mac with iTunes still installed, follow the Windows and Mac instructions above — they apply to you. Check which macOS version you're running by clicking the Apple menu and selecting About This Mac if you're unsure which app you have.

Why authorization fails and how to fix it

The most common reason authorization fails is an incorrect Apple ID or password. Double-check that you're using the same Apple ID that purchased the content you want to play. If you've changed your password recently, use your current password, not an old one. If you can't remember it, visit iforgot.apple.com to reset it before trying to authorize again.

Another reason is two-factor authentication. If your Apple ID has two-factor authentication turned on, you must complete the authentication step when prompted. Check the device Apple sends the code to — it's usually your iPhone or another trusted device. If you don't have access to a trusted device, you can use your recovery key instead, which Apple provides when you set up two-factor authentication.

If authorization still fails after checking your password and completing two-factor authentication, try signing out of your Apple ID in iTunes, restarting the computer, and trying again. On a Mac, go to Account and select Sign Out first. On Windows, click the menu icon, go to Account, and select Sign Out.

Deauthorizing before you sell or give away a computer

Before selling, trading in, or giving away a computer, deauthorize it so your Apple ID isn't linked to it anymore. Open iTunes (or Music on newer Macs), go to Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Sign in and confirm. This removes the authorization and frees up one of your five slots.

If you forget to deauthorize before handing over the computer, you can still do it remotely. Sign in to appleid.apple.com on any device, go to Devices, find the computer in the list, and click Remove. This deauthorizes it without needing access to the machine itself. You can deauthorize computers this way as often as you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize every computer I use?

Only if you want to play purchases from the iTunes Store on that computer. If you only stream music through Apple Music or another service, authorization isn't required. Authorization is only for content you've bought.

Can someone else use my authorized computer to play my purchases?

Yes. Anyone using the computer can play the music, movies, and books you've bought, even if they're not signed in with your Apple ID. This is why you should deauthorize computers before giving them to someone else.

What if I authorize a computer and then forget my Apple ID password?

The computer stays authorized and will continue to play your purchases. You only need your password to authorize new computers or deauthorize existing ones. If you forget it, reset it at iforgot.apple.com.

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized, authorizing it again does nothing. If you want to re-authorize it with a different Apple ID, deauthorize it first, then authorize it with the new ID.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely until you deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password. If you change your password for security reasons, you may need to authorize the computer again the next time you try to play a purchase.