Authorizing a computer lets you play music, movies, and TV shows you bought on iTunes across multiple devices

When you buy content through iTunes on a Windows PC, Apple ties that purchase to your Apple ID. To play that content on a computer, you need to authorize that specific machine first. Authorization confirms the computer is yours and prevents unauthorized sharing of your purchases.

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at any given time. If you reach that limit and want to use a sixth computer, you must deauthorize one of the others first. The process takes less than a minute and requires only your Apple ID and password.

Key Takeaways

  • Open iTunes, go to Account menu, and select Authorize This Computer to link your device to your Apple ID.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID, and you must deauthorize an old computer before authorizing a new sixth one.
  • Authorization is permanent until you manually deauthorize the computer or sign out of your Apple ID.
  • If you forget which computers are authorized, you can view and manage the full list from your Apple ID account settings online.

Steps to authorize a computer in iTunes on Windows

Open iTunes on your Windows PC. If you do not have iTunes installed, download it from Apple's website first. Once the program is open, look at the top menu bar where you see File, Edit, View, and other options.

Click the Account menu. A dropdown list will appear. Select Authorize This Computer from that list. A small window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password.

Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID, then type your password. Click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized, and you can close the window. Your computer is now linked to your Apple ID and can play all content you purchased under that account.

What happens when you authorize a computer

Once authorized, any user on that computer can play music, audiobooks, movies, and TV shows you bought through iTunes. The authorization stays active even if you restart the computer or update iTunes. You do not need to re-authorize unless you deauthorize it intentionally.

If you sell the computer, give it away, or stop using it, you should deauthorize it first. This frees up one of your five authorization slots so you can authorize a different computer later. To deauthorize, go back to Account menu and select Deauthorize This Computer, then enter your Apple ID and password again.

When you have reached the five-computer limit

If you try to authorize a sixth computer and see an error message, you have already authorized five devices. You must deauthorize one of the old computers before you can authorize the new one.

To see which computers are currently authorized, sign in to your Apple ID account on Apple's website. Go to Account Settings, then look for the section showing your authorized devices. The list shows the computer name and the date it was authorized. Choose which one you no longer need and deauthorize it from there. After that, you can authorize your new computer in iTunes.

Deauthorizing a computer you no longer use

If you still have access to the old computer, the easiest way is to open iTunes on that machine, go to Account menu, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password. The computer is now deauthorized and no longer counts toward your five-computer limit.

If you no longer have access to the computer—because you sold it, it broke, or you forgot where it is—you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account online. Sign in at appleid.apple.com, go to Devices, find the computer in the list, and select the option to remove it. You can do this once per year, so use it only when necessary.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If you see a message that says "This computer could not be authorized," check that you entered your Apple ID and password correctly. Make sure you are using the email address or phone number that is actually linked to your Apple ID, not a different one.

If your password is correct but authorization still fails, your internet connection may be the problem. Close iTunes, restart your computer, and try again. If the issue continues, sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes (Account menu, then Sign Out), restart iTunes, and sign back in before attempting to authorize again.

If you see a message about reaching your authorization limit, you have already authorized five computers. You must deauthorize one before authorizing another, even if you think one of those five is no longer in use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized under your Apple ID, it remains authorized until you deauthorize it. Authorizing it again will not change anything. If you want to switch the authorization to a different Apple ID, you must deauthorize first, then authorize with the new account.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You cannot authorize a computer without your password. Go to iforgot.apple.com to reset your password. Once you have set a new one, return to iTunes and authorize the computer using the new password.

Do I lose my purchases if I deauthorize a computer?

No. Deauthorizing a computer does not delete your purchases or your account. It simply removes that computer's permission to play your iTunes content. You can still access your purchases on any other authorized computer or on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple device.

Can someone else authorize my computer with their Apple ID?

Yes, but they should not. Each computer should be authorized with the Apple ID of the person who owns the purchases. If someone else authorizes your computer with their account, they can play their content on your machine, but you cannot play their purchases, and vice versa.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely until you deauthorize the computer or sign out of your Apple ID. You do not need to renew it or re-authorize periodically. The only exception is if you change your Apple ID password for security reasons—in that case, you may need to sign in again in iTunes, but the computer remains authorized.