What authorizing a computer actually does

Authorizing a computer on iTunes means telling Apple that this particular device is allowed to play the music, movies, TV shows, and books you bought from the iTunes Store. Without authorization, you can still use the device normally — you just cannot play the content you purchased on that specific machine.

Apple limits each account to five authorized computers at once. This is their way of preventing one person from sharing purchases across dozens of devices. When you authorize a computer, you are linking it to your Apple ID, not to a specific person. Anyone who uses that computer can play your iTunes purchases on it.

The authorization stays active until you either deauthorize the computer yourself or until you deauthorize all computers at once (which you can do once per year through your account settings).

Key Takeaways

  • Authorizing a computer lets you play iTunes purchases on that device; without it, you own the content but cannot listen or watch on that machine.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID, and anyone using an authorized computer can play your purchases.
  • The authorization process takes less than a minute and requires only your Apple ID and password.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it first so it no longer counts toward your five-computer limit.

How to authorize a computer on a Mac

Open the iTunes app or the Music app (depending on which macOS version you have — Music replaced iTunes in macOS Catalina and later). Click the menu at the top left of your screen and select "Account" or look for your profile icon.

Choose "Authorizations" or "Authorize This Computer" from the dropdown. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. The computer is now authorized, and you can play all your iTunes purchases on it when ready.

If you do not see an "Authorizations" option, your computer may already be authorized under that Apple ID. You can check by going to Account > View My Account and scrolling to see which computers are currently authorized.

How to authorize a computer on Windows

Open iTunes on your Windows computer. Click "Account" in the menu bar at the top (if you do not see a menu bar, press Ctrl + B to show it). Select "Authorizations" and then "Authorize This Computer."

A window will open asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter both and click "Authorize." Your computer is now authorized, and you can play your purchases.

If you are using a newer version of iTunes or have already authorized this computer, you may see a message saying it is already authorized. In that case, you do not need to do anything else.

What happens if you reach your five-computer limit

Once you have authorized five computers, you cannot authorize a sixth one until you deauthorize one of the others. You will see an error message telling you that you have reached the maximum number of authorized computers.

To deauthorize a computer you no longer use, open iTunes or Music on that computer, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, and enter your Apple ID password. That computer is now deauthorized and no longer counts toward your limit.

If you no longer have access to a computer you want to deauthorize — for example, you sold it or it was stolen — you can deauthorize all five computers at once through your Apple ID account settings on Apple's website. This action can only be done once per year, so use it carefully.

Why authorization matters for shared households

If you live with family members or roommates who share devices, authorization determines who can actually use your purchases. When you authorize a computer, anyone logged into that computer can play your iTunes content, even if they are not logged in under your Apple ID.

This is useful if you want your household to share music or movies. It is also important to understand if you are concerned about privacy — authorizing a shared computer means other people in your home can access your purchases without needing your password.

If you want to keep your purchases private, do not authorize shared devices. You can still play your content on those devices by logging into your Apple ID within the iTunes or Music app each time, but other users will not have automatic access.

Deauthorizing when you sell or replace a computer

Before you sell, donate, or recycle a computer, deauthorize it. This frees up one of your five authorization slots and prevents the new owner from playing your iTunes purchases.

If the computer still works and you have access to it, open iTunes or Music, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, and enter your password. If the computer is already gone or broken, log into your Apple ID on the web, go to Account Settings, find the Devices section, and deauthorize it from there.

Deauthorizing does not delete anything from the computer or affect the new owner's ability to use the device — it only removes their access to your iTunes purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize my iPhone or iPad to play iTunes purchases?

No. iPhones and iPads do not need authorization the way computers do. As long as you are signed into your Apple ID on the device, you can play your iTunes purchases. The five-computer limit applies only to Mac and Windows computers.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You will need to reset it before you can authorize a computer. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you have a new password, you can authorize the computer normally.

Can I authorize a computer without the internet?

No. Your computer needs an active internet connection to contact Apple's servers and complete the authorization. Once authorized, you can play your purchases offline, but the initial authorization requires internet access.

Will authorizing a computer let other people use my Apple ID?

Authorizing a computer does not give other people your Apple ID or password. It only means they can play your iTunes purchases on that specific device. They cannot access your email, photos, or other Apple services unless you give them your full Apple ID credentials.

What if I authorize a computer and then change my Apple ID password?

The authorization stays active. Changing your password does not deauthorize computers. However, if someone else uses that computer and tries to read new purchases, they will need to enter your updated password.