What authorizing a computer on iTunes means

Authorizing a computer on iTunes lets you play music, movies, and TV shows you bought from the iTunes Store on that specific device. When you buy content from iTunes, Apple ties it to your Apple ID. Without authorization, you can download what you bought, but you cannot actually play it. Authorization is Apple's way of making sure you are not sharing your purchases across dozens of devices.

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at any given time. If you reach that limit and want to authorize a new computer, you must deauthorize an old one first. The authorization stays active until you manually remove it or until you deauthorize all computers at once from your Apple ID settings online.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization connects your computer to your Apple ID so you can play iTunes purchases on that device.
  • You authorize through the Account menu in iTunes on Windows or the Account menu in Music on Mac.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; reaching the limit means deauthorizing an old computer first.
  • If you forget which computers are authorized, you can see the full list and deauthorize any of them from your Apple ID account page online.

How to authorize a computer on Windows

Open iTunes on your Windows computer. Click the Account menu at the top of the window — it sits between the View and Help menus. From the dropdown, select "Authorizations" and then "Authorize This Computer."

A dialog box will appear asking for your Apple ID and password. Type both in and click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that your computer is now authorized. The process takes a few seconds. You are now able to play any iTunes purchases tied to that Apple ID on this computer.

How to authorize a computer on Mac

Open the Music app (or iTunes if you are running an older version of macOS). Click the Account menu at the top of your screen, then select "Authorizations" and "Authorize This Computer."

Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted, then click Authorize. The system will confirm authorization is complete. You can now play your iTunes purchases on this Mac.

What to do if you have reached the five-computer limit

If you try to authorize a sixth computer and get a message saying you have hit the limit, you must deauthorize one of your existing computers first. You have two options: deauthorize from the computer itself, or deauthorize remotely from your Apple ID account page.

To deauthorize from the computer itself, open iTunes or Music, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, enter your Apple ID and password, and click Deauthorize. To deauthorize remotely, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, scroll to the Security section, find "Devices," and click "Manage." You will see a list of all authorized computers. Click the one you want to remove and select "Remove from Account."

How to see which computers are authorized

The easiest way to check your authorized computers is through your Apple ID account page. Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in. Scroll down to the Security section and click "Devices." You will see every computer and device currently authorized to play your iTunes purchases under that Apple ID.

This list is useful if you have forgotten which computers you authorized, or if you suspect someone else has authorized a device without permission. You can remove any computer from this page without needing to sit down at that computer itself.

Common reasons authorization fails

The most common reason authorization does not work is using the wrong Apple ID or password. Double-check that you are typing both correctly — passwords are case-sensitive. If you have recently changed your Apple password, make sure you are using the new one.

Another frequent issue is an outdated version of iTunes or Music. If your software is old, authorization may not work properly. On Windows, check for updates through the Microsoft Store or by visiting apple.com/itunes. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update to make sure your operating system is current, which will also update the Music app.

If you are still having trouble after checking your password and updating your software, sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes or Music, wait a few minutes, and sign back in. This often clears up temporary connection issues.

What happens after you deauthorize a computer

Once you deauthorize a computer, you can no longer play your iTunes purchases on that device, even if the files are still stored there. The files remain on the computer, but they will not open. If you later want to use that computer again, you can re-authorize it using the same steps above.

Deauthorizing is permanent until you authorize again. There is no waiting period — you can deauthorize and re-authorize the same computer immediately if needed. This is useful if you are selling or giving away a computer and want to make sure your iTunes purchases are not accessible on it anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized under your Apple ID, authorizing it again does nothing. If you want to change which Apple ID a computer is authorized under, you must deauthorize it first, then authorize it with the new Apple ID.

What if I lost access to one of my authorized computers?

You can deauthorize it from your Apple ID account page at appleid.apple.com without needing to sit at that computer. Go to Devices, find the computer you no longer have access to, and click Remove from Account. This frees up one of your five authorization slots.

Do I need to authorize my iPhone or iPad for iTunes purchases?

No. iPhones and iPads do not require authorization the way computers do. As long as you are signed into the same Apple ID on your phone or tablet, you can download and play your iTunes purchases automatically.

Will authorizing a computer let other people use my iTunes purchases?

Anyone with access to that computer can play your iTunes purchases while logged into your Apple ID. If you share a computer with family members, they can listen to your music and watch your shows. If you want to prevent this, deauthorize the computer or sign out of your Apple ID on it.

Can I authorize a computer at a library or internet cafe?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. Authorizing a computer uses up one of your five slots, and you would be signing into your Apple ID on a device you do not own. If you do authorize a public computer by accident, deauthorize it immediately from your Apple ID account page to protect your account.