What authorizing your computer means

Authorizing your computer tells Apple that you own it and want to play protected music, movies, and TV shows you've bought through iTunes. Without authorization, you can download purchases to that computer but won't be able to play them. Apple lets you authorize up to five computers per account at any given time.

Authorization is different from signing in. You can be signed into your Apple ID on a computer without authorizing it, and you can authorize a computer without being the person who uses it most of the time. The authorization stays attached to that specific computer until you remove it.

Key Takeaways

  • You authorize a computer through the Account menu in iTunes on Mac or the File menu in iTunes on Windows, or through Settings on newer Macs running Catalina or later.
  • Authorization requires your Apple ID and password, and the computer must be connected to the internet.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID account, and you can remove authorization from any computer remotely through your Apple account settings.
  • If you've already authorized five computers and want to authorize a new one, you must deauthorize an old computer first.

How to authorize on a Mac

On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, open iTunes and click the Account menu at the top of the screen. Select "Authorize This Computer" and enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. Click Authorize and wait for the confirmation message.

On newer Macs running macOS Catalina or later, iTunes was replaced with the Music app. Open Music, then go to the menu bar and click Music (or Account, depending on your version). Select "Authorize This Computer," enter your Apple ID credentials, and click Authorize.

How to authorize on Windows

Open iTunes and click the File menu at the top left. Select "Authorize This Computer" from the dropdown. A window will appear asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter both and click Authorize. You'll see a confirmation message when it's complete.

Make sure you're using a recent version of iTunes for Windows. If the Authorize option doesn't appear in your File menu, download the latest version from Apple's website first.

What to do when you've hit the five-computer limit

If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will tell you that you've reached your limit. You must deauthorize one of your existing computers before you can authorize a new one.

You can deauthorize a computer in two ways. If you have access to the computer itself, open iTunes or Music, go to Account or File menu, and select "Deauthorize This Computer." Enter your Apple ID and password. If you no longer have access to a computer—because you sold it, gave it away, or it stopped working—you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account settings on Apple's website. Sign in, go to Account Settings, find the Devices section, and click Remove next to the computer you want to deauthorize.

Why authorization matters for your purchases

Content you buy from iTunes is protected by digital rights management, or DRM. This means Apple has encrypted it so only you can play it. Authorization is how your computer proves to Apple that you're the owner of that account and have permission to play that content.

Without authorization, you'll see an error message when you try to play protected music or video files, even though they're sitting on your hard drive. Authorization solves this problem instantly. It doesn't change what you can do with the files—you still can't share them with other people's accounts—but it lets you use them on that specific computer.

Deauthorizing when you sell or give away a computer

Before you sell, trade in, or give away a computer, deauthorize it from your Apple account. This frees up one of your five authorization slots and prevents the new owner from playing your purchases on that machine.

If you can access the computer before it leaves your hands, deauthorize it directly through iTunes or Music. If you've already handed it over or it's broken, sign into your Apple ID on any web browser, go to your account settings, find Devices, and remove it from there. You can deauthorize one computer per year this way without having to physically access it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize my iPhone or iPad?

No. iPhones and iPads don't need authorization to play iTunes purchases. Authorization only applies to Mac and Windows computers. Your iPhone or iPad will play your purchases as long as you're signed into the same Apple ID you used to buy them.

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

The authorization stays in place. You don't need to re-enter your password to keep playing purchases on that computer. If you change your password later, the authorization doesn't break. However, if you ever need to deauthorize and re-authorize that computer, you'll need to know your current password.

Can I authorize a computer that someone else uses?

Yes. You can authorize any computer you have physical access to, regardless of who uses it. However, anyone with access to that computer will be able to play your iTunes purchases. If you want to limit who can play your content, don't authorize shared computers.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely until you remove it. You don't have to renew it or re-authorize every year. The only time authorization stops working is if you deauthorize the computer, change your Apple ID password and then sign out, or if Apple's servers can't verify your account (usually due to internet connection problems).

What if I see an error message when I try to authorize?

Check that your internet connection is working and that you're using the correct Apple ID and password. Make sure your computer's date and time are set correctly—authorization can fail if they're wrong. If you're still having trouble, try signing out of your Apple ID completely, restart your computer, and then sign back in and authorize again.