What authorizing a computer on iTunes means

Authorizing a computer on iTunes means telling Apple that this particular device is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you've bought from the iTunes Store. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your Apple ID. If you try to play that content on a computer that isn't authorized, iTunes will block it.

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at any given time. This limit exists so you can't share your purchases across dozens of devices or give your login to friends. Once you authorize a computer, anyone using that computer can play your iTunes purchases without needing your password — which is convenient for a household, but also a security choice you're making.

Authorization is different from signing in. You can be signed into your Apple ID on a computer without authorizing it, and you can authorize a computer without staying signed in. Understanding the difference matters because it affects both what content plays and who can access your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorizing a computer lets it play iTunes purchases linked to your Apple ID, and you can authorize up to five computers total.
  • The authorization process takes two minutes and requires your Apple ID and password entered directly on that computer.
  • Once authorized, any user of that computer can play your iTunes content without your password, so only authorize computers you trust.
  • You can deauthorize a computer remotely from another device, which is important if you sell a computer or lose access to it.
  • Authorizing a computer is separate from signing in to your Apple ID and does not give that computer access to your email, photos, or other personal data.

How to authorize a computer in three steps

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. If you don't have iTunes installed, read it from Apple's website — the process is the same on Windows and Mac. You need the full iTunes process, not just Apple Music or the TV app.

Go to the Account menu at the top of the iTunes window. On a Mac, this is in the menu bar. On Windows, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper left if the menu bar isn't visible. Select Sign In and enter your Apple ID and password. This is the account that owns the iTunes purchases you want to play.

Once you're signed in, go back to Account and select Authorize This Computer. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm. Click Authorize. That's it — the computer is now authorized, and you'll see a message confirming the authorization date and how many computers you have authorized in total.

You don't need to stay signed in after authorizing. You can sign out of your Apple ID on that computer, and the authorization will remain active. This is actually safer if other people use the computer, because they won't have access to your account settings or purchase history.

Why you should only authorize computers you own or trust

When a computer is authorized, anyone sitting at that computer can play your iTunes purchases. They can't buy things or change your password, but they can listen to your music and watch your movies without entering your Apple ID. If you authorize a work computer, a friend's computer, or a shared family device, you're giving everyone on that computer access to your content.

This is usually fine for a home computer or a device you use alone. It becomes a problem if you authorize a computer you don't control anymore — like a work laptop after you leave a job, or a computer you sell. That's why deauthorizing is important.

If you're authorizing a computer in a shared household, talk to the other people who use it first. They'll be able to play your purchases, and you should know that. If you're uncomfortable with that level of access, you can keep the computer unauthorized and enter your password each time you want to play something — it's slower, but more private.

How to deauthorize a computer

You can deauthorize a computer in two ways: from that computer itself, or remotely from any other device.

To deauthorize from the computer: Open iTunes, go to Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. The computer is now deauthorized and won't play iTunes purchases anymore.

To deauthorize remotely: Go to appleid.apple.com on any web browser and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Devices in the left menu, find the computer you want to deauthorize, and click Remove. This works even if you no longer have physical access to the computer — useful if you've sold it, given it away, or lost it.

Apple also has a nuclear option: you can deauthorize all five computers at once from appleid.apple.com. Go to Devices, scroll to the bottom, and click Deauthorize All. This is helpful if you've lost track of which computers you've authorized, but it means you'll have to re-authorize any computers you still use.

What happens if you authorize too many computers

You can authorize five computers per Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth, iTunes will tell you that you've reached your limit and won't let you proceed. You'll have to deauthorize one of the existing computers first.

This limit resets once per year. If you deauthorize a computer and then want to re-authorize it within the same year, you can. But if you've hit your limit and can't remember which computers you authorized, your only option is to deauthorize all five and start over — which means you'll need to re-authorize any computers you still actively use.

The five-computer limit is per Apple ID, not per person. If you share an Apple ID with family members, all five slots count toward the household total. This is one reason many families now use Family Sharing instead, which lets each person have their own Apple ID while sharing purchases.

Authorization versus Family Sharing

If you live with other people and want them to access your iTunes purchases, you have two options: authorize a shared computer, or set up Family Sharing.

Authorizing a shared computer is simpler to set up. Anyone on that computer can play your content. But it's less organized — everyone's purchases mix together, and you can't see who bought what. It also uses up one of your five authorization slots.

Family Sharing lets up to six people each have their own Apple ID while sharing purchases. Each person keeps their own account, their own purchase history, and their own privacy settings. It requires a bit more setup, but it's cleaner if you have multiple people in the household. You can read about Family Sharing on Apple's support site if this sounds like a better fit for your situation.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If iTunes says you're already authorized but you can't play purchases, try signing out and signing back in. Go to Account, select Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then sign back in with your Apple ID and password. Sometimes the authorization status doesn't refresh properly.

If you get an error message when trying to authorize, check that you're using the correct Apple ID — the one that actually owns the iTunes purchases. If you're using a different Apple ID, those purchases won't play on this computer. You can authorize the same computer with multiple Apple IDs, but each one counts as a separate authorization against your five-computer limit.

If you've deauthorized all your computers and now can't remember your Apple ID password, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it. You'll need access to a recovery email or phone number associated with your account. Once you've reset your password, you can sign in and re-authorize your computers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. You need the Apple ID password to authorize a computer, and there's no way around it. If you've forgotten the password, reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you try to authorize. If someone else owns the Apple ID, you'll need to ask them for the password or have them authorize the computer themselves.

What happens to my authorization if I change my Apple ID password?

Your authorization stays active. Changing your password doesn't deauthorize computers. However, if you're signed into iTunes on that computer, you may be signed out automatically and need to sign back in with your new password.

Can I authorize a computer I don't own?

Technically yes, but you shouldn't. Authorizing a computer gives anyone using it access to your iTunes purchases. Only authorize computers you own or have long-term access to. If you're at a friend's house or a library, don't authorize — just sign in temporarily to play something, then sign out when you're done.

Do I need to authorize a computer to use Apple Music?

No. Apple Music is a streaming service, so you can play it on any device where you're signed into your Apple ID. Authorization only matters for content you've purchased from the iTunes Store. If you're only using Apple Music, you don't need to authorize anything.

What if I sell my computer — will the buyer be able to play my iTunes purchases?

Yes, unless you deauthorize it first. Before you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it from that computer or remotely from appleid.apple.com. Once it's deauthorized, your purchases won't play on it anymore. The new owner can then authorize it with their own Apple ID.