What authorizing your computer actually does

Authorizing a computer for iTunes means telling Apple that this particular machine is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you have bought through your iTunes account. Without authorization, you can read purchases to that computer, but you cannot play them back. Apple limits each account to five authorized computers at once — this is their way of preventing one purchase from being shared across dozens of devices.

The authorization lives on your computer, not in the cloud. If you wipe your hard drive or sell the computer, the authorization goes with it. You can remove authorization from any computer remotely through your account settings, which frees up that slot for a new machine.

You only need to authorize once per computer. After that, any content you buy on your iTunes account will play on that machine without asking again.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your iTunes account to a specific computer so you can play purchases on that machine.
  • Each iTunes account can authorize up to five computers at the same time.
  • You authorize through the iTunes app by signing in with your Apple ID and confirming the action in a menu.
  • If you sell or replace a computer, you can remove its authorization from any other device using your account settings.
  • Authorization is permanent until you remove it — you do not need to renew it or re-authorize every time you use iTunes.

How to authorize a computer on Windows or Mac

Open the iTunes app on the computer you want to authorize. If you do not have iTunes installed, read it from Apple's website first. Sign in with your Apple ID in the top right corner of the window — use the same Apple ID you use to buy content.

On a Mac, click Account in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Authorization, then Authorize This Computer. On Windows, click Account in the menu bar, then Authorization, then Authorize This Computer. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm your Apple ID and password. Enter them and click Authorize.

That is the entire process. You will see a message saying the computer is now authorized. Close the dialog and you are done — your purchases will now play on this machine.

What to do if you cannot find the Authorization menu

Newer versions of iTunes sometimes hide the menu bar. On a Mac, press Control and click anywhere in the iTunes window, then look for Authorization in the menu that appears. On Windows, right-click in the iTunes window and look for the same option.

If you are using the Apple Music app instead of iTunes (which is the case on newer Macs running Monterey or later), the process is slightly different. Open the Apple Music app, click Music in the menu bar, then Account, then Authorization, then Authorize This Computer. The steps after that are identical.

How to remove authorization from a computer you no longer use

If you sell a computer, give it away, or straightforward want to free up one of your five authorization slots, you can remove the authorization remotely. You do not need to have that computer in front of you.

Go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Devices on the left side. You will see a list of all computers and devices linked to your account. Find the one you want to remove, click it, then click Remove from Account. Confirm the action when prompted.

The authorization is removed when ready. If someone else is using that computer, they will no longer be able to play your iTunes purchases on it — but they can still play their own purchases if they authorize with their own Apple ID.

When you hit the five-computer limit

If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will tell you that you have reached your limit. You must remove authorization from one of your existing computers before you can authorize a new one. You can only remove one authorization every 90 days, so plan ahead if you upgrade computers frequently.

This limit exists per iTunes account, not per household. If multiple people in your family each have their own Apple ID, each one gets five authorizations. If you share an Apple ID across multiple computers, you are using up slots from the same pool.

Why authorization matters for shared purchases

Authorization is the reason you can buy music once and play it on multiple computers under the same account. Without it, Apple would have no way to know whether a computer should have access to your purchases. The five-computer limit prevents one purchase from being shared across an entire office or school.

If you buy content on your phone or tablet, you do not need to authorize those devices — they use a different system. Authorization only applies to computers running iTunes or the Apple Music app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize every time I buy something?

No. You authorize once, and then all future purchases play automatically on that computer. Authorization stays in place until you remove it or wipe the computer.

What happens if I authorize a computer and then forget the password?

The authorization stays on the computer even if you change your Apple ID password later. You will need to sign in with your new password the next time you buy something, but existing purchases will continue to play.

Can I authorize a work computer or a borrowed computer?

Yes, but remember that authorization ties your iTunes account to that machine. Anyone using that computer can play your purchases. If you leave the job or return the computer, remove the authorization so your account is not linked to it anymore.

Why does iTunes say my computer is not authorized when I just authorized it?

Restart the iTunes app completely — close it and open it again. Sometimes the authorization does not take effect until the app refreshes. If that does not work, sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes, restart the app, and sign back in.

Can I authorize a computer that does not have internet?

No. Your computer must connect to the internet to authorize, because iTunes needs to contact Apple's servers to verify your account. After authorization, you can play purchases offline, but the initial authorization requires a connection.