What authorizing a computer means and why you need it

Authorizing a computer for iTunes means telling Apple that a specific device is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you've bought from the iTunes Store. Without authorization, you can download purchases to that computer, but you won't be able to actually play them.

Apple limits each account to five authorized computers at once. This prevents one person from sharing their entire iTunes library across dozens of devices. When you authorize a new computer, you're using up one of your five slots. If you later sell or give away a computer, you should deauthorize it to free up that slot for a different device.

You authorize a computer the first time you try to play iTunes content on it. The process takes about two minutes and requires your Apple ID and password.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization happens in iTunes or Music app on the computer itself — you cannot authorize a device remotely from another computer.
  • You need your Apple ID and password to authorize, and the computer must be connected to the internet.
  • Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers at the same time.
  • If you reach your five-computer limit, you must deauthorize an old computer before authorizing a new one.
  • Authorizing a computer is different from signing in — you must do both for iTunes content to play.

How to authorize a computer on Windows

Open iTunes on the Windows computer you want to authorize. If you don't have iTunes installed, download it from the Microsoft Store or from Apple's website. Make sure you're signed into the correct Apple ID account — check the top menu bar to see which account is currently active.

Go to Account in the top menu, then select Authorization, then Authorize This Computer. A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Type them in and click Authorize. You should see a message saying the computer is now authorized. The authorization lasts for 30 days before iTunes checks in again, but you won't need to re-enter your password each time you play a song.

If you don't see an Account menu, look for a menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner of iTunes. Click it and you'll find the same options.

How to authorize a computer on Mac

On a Mac running Catalina or newer, open the Music app instead of iTunes — Apple renamed it. On older Macs, open iTunes. Sign in with your Apple ID if you haven't already by going to Music (or iTunes) in the top menu, then Account, then Sign In.

Once you're signed in, go to Music (or iTunes) in the top menu, then Account, then Authorization, then Authorize This Computer. Type in your Apple ID and password when prompted. You'll see a confirmation message when the authorization is complete.

What to do if you've already authorized five computers

Apple's system allows only five authorized computers per account. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, you'll get an error message saying you've reached your limit. You must deauthorize one of your old computers before you can authorize the new one.

To deauthorize a computer, open iTunes or Music on that computer, go to Account in the top menu, then Authorization, then Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password. That computer will no longer be able to play your iTunes purchases, but you've now freed up one authorization slot.

If you no longer have access to one of your five authorized computers — for example, you sold it or it broke — you can deauthorize it remotely. Go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, scroll down to Devices, find the computer you want to remove, and click Remove from Account. This counts as deauthorizing it.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If you see an error message when trying to authorize, the most common cause is that you're not connected to the internet. Make sure your computer has an active internet connection and try again.

If you're using the correct Apple ID and password but authorization still fails, try signing out of your Apple ID account in iTunes or Music, then signing back in. Go to Account in the top menu, click Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then go back to Account and Sign In again. Then try authorizing.

If you've forgotten your Apple ID password, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it. You'll need access to the email address or phone number associated with your account. Once you've reset your password, use the new one to authorize the computer.

The difference between authorizing and signing in

Signing in to iTunes or Music means telling the app which Apple ID account you're using. Authorizing means giving that account permission to play purchased content on that specific computer. You need to do both. A computer can be signed in but not authorized, which means you can see your library but can't play the songs.

If you share a computer with other people, each person can have their own Apple ID signed in, but only one account can be authorized at a time. If you want multiple people to play their own iTunes purchases on the same computer, you'll need to authorize the computer under each of their accounts separately, and they'll need to sign in with their own credentials when they want to play their music.

What happens when you deauthorize all your computers

If you deauthorize all five of your computers at once, you can immediately start authorizing new ones. However, if you deauthorize all of them and then want to re-authorize an old computer later, you'll need to have that computer available — you can't deauthorize it remotely once it's already been deauthorized.

Apple also lets you deauthorize all computers at once through your Apple ID account online. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, scroll to Devices, and look for an option to Deauthorize All. This is useful if you've lost track of which computers you've authorized or if you think your account has been compromised. After you deauthorize all, you'll need to re-authorize each computer you actually use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize a computer without the internet?

No. The computer must be connected to the internet to authorize. iTunes needs to contact Apple's servers to register the authorization. If your internet is down, wait until it's back up and try again.

Do I have to authorize a computer to download iTunes purchases?

No. You can download songs and movies to any computer without authorization. You just won't be able to play them until the computer is authorized. Authorization is only required for playback.

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

The authorization stays active even if you change your password later. You don't need to re-authorize. However, if you sign out of the account in iTunes, you'll need the new password to sign back in.

Can I authorize a computer using someone else's Apple ID?

Yes, but that person's account will be the one authorized on that computer. Only that Apple ID's purchases will play on it. If you want your own purchases to play, you'll need to authorize the computer under your own Apple ID instead.

How do I know which computers are currently authorized under my account?

Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, and scroll down to Devices. You'll see a list of all computers and devices currently authorized under your account, along with the dates they were authorized.