What authorizing iTunes means

Authorizing iTunes means telling Apple that a specific device — your Mac, Windows PC, or iPhone — is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you bought from the iTunes Store using your Apple ID. Without authorization, you can read the content, but you cannot actually play it.

Apple limits each Apple ID to authorize up to five computers at once. This protects against piracy: it prevents one person from buying a song once and sharing it with dozens of devices. When you authorize a device, Apple's servers recognize it as legitimate and unlock the content you own.

You authorize a device once, and it stays authorized until you manually remove it or until you deauthorize all devices at once. You do not need to re-authorize every time you use iTunes or buy something new. The authorization persists across sessions and updates.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorizing a device lets you play iTunes purchases on that specific Mac, Windows PC, or iPhone using your Apple ID.
  • Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers, but iPhones and iPads do not count toward that limit.
  • You authorize once per device through iTunes settings or System Settings, and it remains active until you deauthorize it.
  • If you sell or give away a device, deauthorize it first so your Apple ID is no longer tied to it.
  • Deauthorizing a device does not delete your purchases — it only removes that device's permission to play them.

How to authorize on a Mac

Open the iTunes app or Music app (depending on your macOS version). Click the Account menu at the top of the screen, then select "Authorization" and choose "Authorize This Computer." Enter your Apple ID email and password when prompted, then click "Authorize."

On newer Macs running macOS Catalina or later, the Music app replaced iTunes. The steps are the same: open Music, go to Account in the menu bar, select "Authorization," and click "Authorize This Computer." Your Mac will connect to Apple's servers to register the authorization.

Once authorized, you can play any iTunes purchases linked to that Apple ID on that Mac without entering your password again.

How to authorize on a Windows PC

Open iTunes on your Windows computer. Click the Account menu at the top, select "Authorization," then click "Authorize This Computer." Type your Apple ID email and password, then click "Authorize."

If you do not see an Account menu, look for a menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner of the iTunes window. Click it, then find "Account" in the dropdown. Windows versions of iTunes sometimes hide this menu in different locations depending on your Windows version.

After authorization completes, your Windows PC is registered with Apple and can play your iTunes purchases without requiring your password each time.

How to authorize on an iPhone or iPad

iPhones and iPads authorize automatically when you sign in with your Apple ID in Settings. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap "Media & Purchases." Make sure you are signed in with the Apple ID you used to buy the content. Your device is now authorized to play that content.

Unlike computers, iPhones and iPads do not count toward your five-device authorization limit. You can authorize as many iOS devices as you want with the same Apple ID. This means you can have five computers plus unlimited iPhones and iPads all playing your purchases.

How to deauthorize a device

On a Mac or Windows PC, open iTunes or Music, click Account in the menu bar, select "Authorization," then click "Deauthorize This Computer." Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.

If you are selling or giving away a device and cannot access it, you can deauthorize all your computers at once. Sign into your Apple ID on the Apple website, go to Account Settings, find "Devices," and click "Deauthorize All." This removes authorization from every computer linked to your Apple ID. You can then re-authorize your current devices one at a time.

What happens if you do not authorize

If you buy a song, movie, or TV show on iTunes but do not authorize the device you want to play it on, you will see an error message when you try to open the file. The content downloads to your device, but the DRM protection (digital rights management) prevents playback without authorization.

This is different from streaming services like Apple Music, which do not require authorization — you just need to be signed in with your Apple ID. Authorization only applies to content you purchased and own outright, not to content you stream.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same device twice?

No. Once a device is authorized, authorizing it again does nothing. If you want to switch Apple IDs on a device, deauthorize it first, then authorize it with the new Apple ID.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

Go to iforgot.apple.com and follow the steps to reset your password. You will need access to your recovery email or phone number. Once you reset it, you can use the new password to authorize your device.

Do I lose my purchases if I deauthorize a device?

No. Deauthorizing only removes that device's permission to play your purchases. Your purchases remain in your iTunes library and on your Apple ID account. You can re-authorize the device later or authorize a different device to play the same content.

Why does iTunes say I have reached my authorization limit?

You have authorized five computers with your Apple ID. Deauthorize one you no longer use, or deauthorize all computers and re-authorize only the ones you currently own. Remember that iPhones and iPads do not count toward this limit.

Can someone else use my iTunes purchases on their device?

Only if you authorize their device with your Apple ID. However, they will need your Apple ID and password to do this. Once authorized, they can play your purchases, but you should deauthorize their device if they return it or you no longer want them to have access.