What authorizing a computer for iTunes actually does

Authorizing a computer for iTunes means telling Apple that this specific device is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you've bought from the iTunes Store using your Apple ID. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your account. Without authorization, you can read the file to any computer, but you can't actually play it — the file sits there locked. Authorization unlocks it.

Apple limits you to five authorized computers at a time. This is to prevent one person from buying a song once and sharing it with dozens of devices. If you authorize a sixth computer, you have to deauthorize one of the old ones first. You can deauthorize all five at once through your Apple ID account online, but only once per year.

You need to authorize each computer separately. If you have a Mac and a Windows PC, you authorize both. If you buy a new computer, you authorize that one too. The authorization stays tied to your Apple ID, not to the device itself — if someone else logs into your account on that computer, they can also play your iTunes purchases.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization unlocks iTunes purchases so you can actually play them on that computer, not just read them.
  • You can authorize up to five computers at once, and you must deauthorize an old one before adding a sixth.
  • Authorization is tied to your Apple ID, so anyone who logs into your account on that computer can play your purchases.
  • You authorize a computer once in iTunes settings, and it stays authorized until you manually deauthorize it or sign out of your Apple ID.

How to authorize a computer on Mac

Open the iTunes app or Music app (depending on your macOS version — Music replaced iTunes in macOS Catalina and later). Click the menu at the top left of your screen and select "Account" or "Sign In". If you are not already signed in with your Apple ID, sign in now. You will see your Apple ID email address in the menu once you are logged in.

Go back to that same menu and look for "Authorize This Computer" or "Authorize Computer". Click it. A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID email and password. Enter both and click "Authorize". The computer is now authorized. You should see a message saying authorization was successful, and you can now play any iTunes purchases tied to that Apple ID.

How to authorize a computer on Windows

Open iTunes (Apple still calls the Windows version iTunes, not Music). At the top of the window, click "Account" in the menu bar. If you are not signed in, click "Sign In" and enter your Apple ID email and password. Once you are logged in, go back to the Account menu.

Click "Authorize This Computer". A dialog box will appear asking for your Apple ID email and password again. Enter both and click "Authorize". You will see a confirmation message. The computer is now authorized and can play your iTunes purchases.

What to do if you see an authorization error

If iTunes says your computer is not authorized but you just authorized it, sign out of your Apple ID completely and sign back in. Sometimes the authorization does not register until you refresh your login. Go to Account, click Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then sign back in with your Apple ID.

If you get an error message saying you have already authorized five computers, you need to deauthorize one before you can authorize this one. You can deauthorize a computer from any authorized computer by going to Account and selecting "Deauthorize This Computer". Or you can deauthorize all five at once through your Apple ID account on Apple's website — go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, scroll to "Devices", and look for the option to deauthorize all computers.

If you forgot your Apple ID password, you will need to reset it before you can authorize. Go to iforgot.apple.com and follow the steps to reset your password, then try authorizing again.

When you need to deauthorize a computer

Deauthorize a computer when you sell it, give it away, or stop using it. This frees up one of your five authorization slots so you can authorize a new device. You can deauthorize from that computer itself by opening iTunes or Music, going to Account, and clicking "Deauthorize This Computer". You will need to enter your Apple ID password.

If you no longer have access to the computer — it broke, you sold it, or you forgot where it is — you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com. Sign in, go to Devices, find the computer in the list, and remove it. This counts as one of your yearly deauthorizations if you deauthorize all computers at once, but removing individual devices does not use up that limit.

Why iTunes authorization matters for your purchases

Without authorization, iTunes purchases are useless. You can read the file, but it will not play. The file itself is encrypted — locked with a digital key that only unlocks when you play it on an authorized computer using the same Apple ID that bought it. This is Apple's way of preventing unlimited sharing while still letting you use your purchases on multiple devices you own.

Authorization also means you do not have to stay connected to the internet to play your purchases. Once a computer is authorized, it can play your iTunes music and videos offline. If authorization expires or you deauthorize the computer, those files lock again and will not play until you authorize a different computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized, authorizing it again does nothing. If you want to re-authorize after deauthorizing, you follow the same steps and it works, but you cannot have the same computer authorized twice at the same time.

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

The files stay on your computer, but they will not play. You can still see them in iTunes or Music, but when you try to play one, you will get an error. You can authorize a different computer and play them there instead, or re-authorize the original computer.

Do I need to authorize my iPhone or iPad for iTunes?

No. iPhones and iPads do not need authorization the way computers do. They sync with an authorized computer, and that computer's authorization is what matters. You can play iTunes purchases on your phone or tablet as long as you are signed into the same Apple ID.

Can someone else use my iTunes purchases on their computer?

Only if they sign into your Apple ID on their computer and authorize it. If they use their own Apple ID, they cannot play your purchases. This is why you should not authorize computers you do not own or control.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely until you deauthorize the computer or sign out of your Apple ID on it. You do not need to re-authorize every year or every month. It stays active as long as the computer is authorized.