Authorizing a computer in iTunes lets that machine play music, movies, and TV shows you've bought from the iTunes Store using your Apple ID

When you buy content from iTunes, Apple ties it to your Apple ID. To play that content on a computer, iTunes needs permission — that permission is called authorization. Without it, you'll see a message asking you to authorize before playback starts.

You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. If you reach that limit and want to use a sixth computer, you'll need to deauthorize one of the existing computers first. The authorization stays active until you manually remove it or until you deauthorize all computers at once.

Key Takeaways

  • Open iTunes, go to Account menu, and select Authorize This Computer to link your Apple ID to that machine.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; reaching the limit means deauthorizing an old computer before adding a new one.
  • Deauthorizing removes access to your iTunes purchases on that computer, so only deauthorize machines you no longer use.
  • If you forget your Apple ID password, you'll need to reset it through Apple's website before you can authorize a new computer.

Steps to authorize a computer in iTunes

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. At the top of the window, click the Account menu (on Windows) or the Account option under the menu bar (on Mac). A dropdown will appear with several options.

Select Authorize This Computer from the menu. A dialog box will open asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID, then enter your password. Click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized, and you can close the dialog.

Once authorized, you can play any iTunes purchases tied to that Apple ID on that computer without seeing an authorization prompt. The authorization remains active until you manually deauthorize the computer or sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes.

What happens when you reach the five-computer limit

If you try to authorize a sixth computer under the same Apple ID, iTunes will tell you that you've reached your authorization limit. At that point, you have two choices: deauthorize a computer you no longer use, or wait until your authorization period resets (which happens once per year if you deauthorize all computers).

To deauthorize a computer, open iTunes on that machine, go to Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. That computer will immediately lose access to your iTunes purchases, so only deauthorize machines you've stopped using or plan to replace.

If you no longer have access to a computer you authorized — for example, if you sold it or it was stolen — you can deauthorize it remotely. Sign into your Apple ID account on Apple's website, go to your account settings, find the "Devices" or "Computers" section, and remove it from there. This counts toward your one annual deauthorization if you deauthorize all computers at once.

Authorizing on a Mac versus Windows

The authorization process is nearly identical on both Mac and Windows. The main difference is where you find the Account menu. On a Mac, the Account option appears in the menu bar at the top of the screen. On Windows, it's in the menu bar within the iTunes window itself.

Both systems require the same Apple ID and password, and both enforce the same five-computer limit. If you use iTunes on both a Mac and a Windows PC, each counts as a separate authorized computer toward your limit.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If iTunes says your password is incorrect when you try to authorize, make sure you're using the correct Apple ID. This might be an email address, a phone number, or a legacy Apple ID username. If you're not sure which one you used, you can look it up on Apple's website or try the email address associated with your iTunes account.

If you've forgotten your password, you'll need to reset it before you can authorize. Go to Apple's account page, select "Forgot Apple ID or password," and follow the steps to reset it. Once you've created a new password, return to iTunes and try authorizing again.

If you see a message saying the authorization server is unavailable, your internet connection may be down or Apple's servers may be temporarily offline. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists, restart iTunes and your computer, then attempt authorization once more.

When to deauthorize a computer

Deauthorize a computer when you're no longer using it or before you sell, donate, or recycle it. Deauthorizing removes your Apple ID from that machine and prevents anyone else from playing your iTunes purchases on it. This is especially important if you're giving the computer to someone else.

You should also deauthorize if you've reached your five-computer limit and want to authorize a new machine. Choose the oldest or least-used computer from your list and deauthorize it to free up a slot.

Keep in mind that deauthorizing is permanent on that computer — you'll need to authorize it again if you want to play iTunes purchases on it later. Make sure you're ready to lose access before you deauthorize.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer twice with different Apple IDs?

No. A single computer can only be authorized with one Apple ID at a time. If you want to use a different Apple ID on that computer, you'll need to deauthorize the current one first, then authorize with the new ID. Each Apple ID has its own five-computer limit.

What happens to my iTunes purchases if I deauthorize a computer?

You lose the ability to play protected iTunes purchases on that computer. If you deauthorize and then want to use iTunes content on that machine again, you'll need to authorize it once more with the same Apple ID. Purchases you've already downloaded remain on the computer's hard drive, but you won't be able to open them without authorization.

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

No. You can download purchases to a computer without authorizing it. However, you won't be able to play them until the computer is authorized. Authorization is required only for playback, not for downloading or transferring files.

Can I authorize a computer if I don't have the password?

No. You need your Apple ID and password to authorize any computer. If you don't have the password, you'll need to reset it on Apple's website before you can proceed. Without the correct credentials, iTunes won't allow authorization.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely until you manually deauthorize the computer or sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes. There's no expiration date. The only time authorization resets automatically is if you deauthorize all five computers at once — after that, you can authorize five new computers, but you can only do this once per year.