What authorizing your computer means and why you need to do it

Authorizing your computer on iTunes tells Apple that this device is allowed to play music, movies, TV shows, and other content you've bought using your Apple ID. Without authorization, you won't be able to play most of the media you've purchased, even though you own it.

Apple limits each Apple ID to authorize up to five computers at once. This protects your account — it prevents someone else from using your purchases on their machine without your permission. When you authorize a computer, you're essentially saying "I trust this device and I want my purchases to work on it."

You only need to authorize once per computer. After that, your purchases will play automatically. If you sell the computer, give it away, or stop using it, you can remove the authorization remotely from any other authorized device.

Key Takeaways

  • Open iTunes on your computer, click Account in the menu bar, and select Authorize This Computer to complete the process in under one minute.
  • You will need your Apple ID and password — the same login you use for iCloud, the App Store, or Apple Music.
  • Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers, and you can deauthorize old devices from any authorized computer if you reach the limit.
  • Authorization stays active until you manually remove it, even if you stop using iTunes on that computer.

How to authorize on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes on your computer. If you don't have it installed, download it from apple.com/itunes. Once it's open, look at the menu bar at the top of the window.

On a Mac, click Account in the menu bar. On Windows, click Account in the top menu (if you don't see a menu bar, press Alt). A dropdown menu will appear.

Select Authorize This Computer from the dropdown. A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Type in the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID, then enter your password. Click Authorize. You're done — your computer is now authorized.

What to do if you see an error message

If iTunes says "This computer is already authorized," your computer has already been set up. You don't need to do anything else. Your purchases should play without problems.

If you see "You have already authorized the maximum number of computers," your Apple ID has hit the five-computer limit. You'll need to deauthorize a computer you no longer use before you can authorize a new one. Open iTunes on any authorized computer, go to Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password. That frees up one slot for a new device.

If iTunes won't accept your password, make sure you're typing it correctly. If you've forgotten your password, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it. If you use two-factor authentication on your Apple ID, you may need to generate an app-specific password instead — Apple will prompt you to do this if required.

How to deauthorize a computer you no longer use

If you've sold a computer, given one away, or simply don't use it anymore, you should remove its authorization. This frees up space for a new device and protects your account.

Open iTunes on any authorized computer. Click Account in the menu bar, then select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password, then click Deauthorize. That computer can no longer play your purchases.

If you no longer have access to the computer you want to deauthorize — for example, you sold it and can't get it back — you can remove all authorizations at once from your Apple ID account online. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, scroll to the Security section, and look for "Deauthorize all computers." This removes authorization from every device at once, so you'll need to re-authorize any computers you still use.

Why your purchases won't play after authorizing

In rare cases, you'll authorize your computer but still can't play a purchase. The most common reason is that your internet connection dropped during the authorization process. Close iTunes completely and open it again — this usually fixes it.

Another reason is that the content was purchased on a different Apple ID. iTunes can only play purchases made by the Apple ID that authorized the computer. If you bought something on a friend's account or a family member's account, you'll need to authorize the computer with that Apple ID instead, or ask them to authorize it themselves.

If you're trying to play a rental instead of a purchase, rentals have different rules. They expire after a set time and can only play on the computer where you rented them. Rentals won't work on other authorized computers.

How authorization works with family sharing

If you use Family Sharing, one person (the family organizer) sets up the account. Other family members can access shared purchases on any authorized computer without needing their own authorization.

To set this up, the organizer authorizes the computer with their Apple ID. Then other family members can sign in on that same computer and play the shared content. Each person still needs their own Apple ID, but they don't need to authorize separately.

If a family member wants to use a different computer, that computer needs to be authorized with the organizer's Apple ID. This is why family sharing works best when one person manages the authorizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize my iPhone or iPad instead of a computer?

No. iTunes authorization only applies to computers running iTunes software. iPhones and iPads use a different system — they automatically play your purchases when you sign in with your Apple ID. You don't need to authorize them separately.

What happens to my authorization if I reinstall Windows or macOS?

Reinstalling your operating system erases the authorization. When you reinstall iTunes and sign in, you'll need to authorize the computer again. This counts as a new authorization, so if you've already authorized five computers, you may need to deauthorize an old device first.

Can someone else use my authorized computer to play my purchases?

Yes, anyone who uses that computer can play your purchases. This is why you should only authorize computers you personally control. If you share a computer with family members and want to protect your account, consider using separate user accounts on the computer itself.

Do I need to re-authorize if I update iTunes?

No. Updating iTunes keeps your authorization active. You only lose authorization if you reinstall your operating system or manually deauthorize the computer.

How do I know which computers I've authorized?

Sign in to appleid.apple.com with your Apple ID. Go to the Security section and look for "Devices." This shows all computers and devices connected to your account. You can see which ones are authorized and remove any you no longer use.