Sign in with your Apple ID to use Apple Music on your Mac
To use Apple Music on a Mac, you need to sign in with an Apple ID that has an active Apple Music subscription. Open the Music app, go to Account in the menu bar, and select Sign In. Enter your Apple ID email and password, then follow the prompts to complete authentication. If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Apple ID — which Apple recommends — you will receive a verification code on another device and need to enter it to finish signing in.
Once you are signed in, your Mac is authorized to play music from your Apple Music library. You can stream songs, create playlists, and access your entire music collection. The authorization happens automatically; you do not need to take a separate step after signing in.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Music app on your Mac, select Account from the menu bar, and choose Sign In to begin the process.
- Enter your Apple ID email address and password when prompted, then complete any two-factor authentication requests.
- Your Mac will be authorized to play Apple Music content as soon as you finish signing in — no additional authorization step is required.
- If you have multiple Apple IDs, you can only stream Apple Music from the account that holds the active subscription.
- You can sign out and sign in with a different Apple ID at any time by returning to Account in the Music app menu.
What happens if you have two-factor authentication turned on
Two-factor authentication is a security feature that requires you to verify your identity on a trusted device when you sign in somewhere new. If your Apple ID has this enabled, signing in to Apple Music on your Mac will trigger a verification request on your iPhone, iPad, or another Mac you have already signed in to.
When the verification prompt appears on your trusted device, tap Allow. Your Mac will then receive permission to sign in and will complete the process automatically. If you do not have another trusted device nearby, you can instead choose to receive a verification code by text message or phone call, then type that code into your Mac.
Signing in with a different Apple ID
If you want to switch to a different Apple ID — for example, if you share your Mac with someone else who has their own Apple Music subscription — sign out of the current account first. Open the Music app, go to Account in the menu bar, and select Sign Out.
After signing out, follow the same Sign In steps with the new Apple ID. Your Mac will then authorize the new account and display that person's Apple Music library and playlists. Only one Apple ID can be signed in to the Music app at a time on a single Mac.
What to do if sign-in fails
If you see an error message when trying to sign in, the most common causes are an incorrect password, an expired subscription, or a network connection problem. Double-check that you are typing your Apple ID email and password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive.
If your password is correct, verify that your Apple Music subscription is still active by visiting appleid.apple.com and checking your subscriptions. If the subscription has expired, you will need to renew it before you can stream music. If everything looks correct and you still cannot sign in, restart your Mac and try again. If the problem continues, restart the Music app by closing it completely and reopening it.
Using Apple Music on a shared Mac
If multiple people use the same Mac, each person can have their own user account on the computer. When you log into your Mac user account, you can sign into the Music app with your own Apple ID. When someone else logs into their Mac user account, they can sign in with their own Apple ID and see their own music library.
The Music app keeps each person's library, playlists, and preferences separate as long as they sign in with different Apple IDs. This means you can share a Mac without your music libraries mixing together. Just remember to sign out of the Music app before another person logs into their account, or they will see your library until they sign in with their own ID.
Checking which Mac is authorized
You can see which Mac you are currently signed in on by opening the Music app and looking at the Account menu. Your current Mac will show your Apple ID name next to the Sign Out option. If you want to see all the devices signed in to your Apple ID across your entire Apple ecosystem, visit appleid.apple.com, select Devices, and review the list.
Apple allows you to sign in to Apple Music on up to ten devices at the same time using the same Apple ID. If you reach that limit and want to sign in on a new device, you will need to sign out on one of your existing devices first. You can also remotely sign out of a device from the appleid.apple.com website without needing to access that device in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to authorize my Mac separately after signing in?
No. Authorization happens automatically when you sign in with your Apple ID. Once you complete the sign-in process and any two-factor authentication requests, your Mac is ready to stream Apple Music immediately.
What if I forgot my Apple ID password?
Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID email address. Apple will send you a link to reset your password. Once you create a new password, you can use it to sign in to the Music app on your Mac.
Can I use Apple Music without signing in?
No. You must sign in with an Apple ID that has an active Apple Music subscription to stream songs. You can listen to music you have purchased or downloaded, but streaming from the Apple Music catalog requires an active subscription and sign-in.
What happens if my subscription expires?
You will no longer be able to stream Apple Music songs on your Mac or any other device. Your playlists and library will remain in the Music app, but you cannot play songs from Apple Music until you renew your subscription.
Can I sign in to Apple Music on my Mac if I use a family plan?
Yes. If you are part of an Apple Music Family Plan, each family member has their own Apple ID and can sign in separately on the same Mac or different Macs. Each person will see their own music library and recommendations.