What authorizing a computer means
Authorizing a computer for iTunes means telling Apple that this specific device is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you have purchased through your Apple account. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your account — not to your computer. Authorization is the step that links your account to that particular machine so it can actually play what you bought.
Without authorization, you can still read your purchases to the computer, but iTunes will refuse to play them. You will see an error message instead. Authorization is free and takes less than a minute. You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple account.
You need to authorize a new computer the first time you try to play purchased content on it. You also need to re-authorize if you reinstall iTunes, upgrade your operating system, or if your authorization somehow expires (which happens rarely, but Apple can revoke it if your account is compromised).
Key Takeaways
- Authorization links your Apple account to a specific computer so iTunes can play your purchased music and videos on that machine.
- You authorize through the Account menu in iTunes itself — you do not need to visit a website or call Apple.
- You can authorize up to five computers under one Apple account, and you can remove authorization from any computer remotely.
- If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it first so your account is not locked to a machine you no longer own.
How to authorize a computer in iTunes
Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. In the menu bar at the top of the window, click Account (on Windows) or iTunes (on Mac). A dropdown menu will appear.
Look for the option that says Authorize This Computer or Authorize Computer — the exact wording depends on your iTunes version and operating system. Click it. A small window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Type in the email address you use for your Apple account and your password, then click the Authorize button.
iTunes will connect to Apple's servers, confirm that your account is valid, and add this computer to your list of authorized devices. The window will close and you will be back at the main iTunes screen. You can now play any purchased content on this computer. The whole process takes about 10 seconds.
What to do if you cannot find the Authorize option
If the Authorize This Computer option is grayed out or missing entirely, it usually means this computer is already authorized under your current Apple ID. Try playing a purchased song or video to confirm — if it plays without an error, authorization is already active.
If you see an error message when you try to play something, the authorization may have expired or been revoked. Try authorizing again using the steps above. If the Authorize option still does not appear, restart iTunes completely — close it entirely and open it again — then check the Account menu once more.
On very old versions of iTunes (before version 12), the menu location may be different. Look under Store instead of Account. If you are using iTunes on a computer that is more than ten years old, you may want to check Apple's support page for your specific version.
How to deauthorize a computer
If you are selling a computer, giving it away, or straightforward want to free up one of your five authorization slots, you need to deauthorize it. Open iTunes on that computer, go to the Account menu (or iTunes on Mac), and look for Deauthorize This Computer. Click it and enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.
If you no longer have access to the computer — for example, you sold it and no longer own it — you can deauthorize it remotely. On any authorized computer, go to Account, then look for an option like View My Account or Account Settings. Click it and sign in with your Apple ID. You should see a section showing all your authorized computers. Find the one you want to remove and click Deauthorize or a similar button next to it.
Apple also lets you deauthorize all five computers at once from your account settings, though this is rarely necessary. If you do this, you will have to re-authorize each computer you still use.
Why authorization matters for shared computers
If multiple people use the same computer, each person needs their own Apple ID authorized on that machine. When you try to play purchased content, iTunes checks whether your specific Apple ID is authorized — not just whether any account is authorized. This means your roommate cannot play music you bought, and you cannot play music they bought, unless you both authorize your accounts on the shared computer.
This is also why you should deauthorize before selling a computer. If you leave your account authorized, the new owner can play all your purchased music and videos without paying for them. More importantly, your account remains linked to their machine, which creates a security risk if they use it for anything suspicious.
What happens if you reach your five-computer limit
Apple allows you to authorize five computers under one Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will tell you that you have reached your limit and will not let you proceed. You will have to deauthorize one of your existing computers first.
If you have lost track of which computers you have authorized — perhaps you upgraded machines years ago and forgot to deauthorize the old ones — you can deauthorize all five at once and start fresh. Go to your account settings on any authorized computer, find the option to deauthorize all computers, and confirm. Then authorize only the computers you currently use. You can do this once per year, so use it sparingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to authorize a computer to buy things on iTunes?
No. You can browse the iTunes Store and buy music, movies, or apps on any computer without authorization. Authorization is only needed to actually play or use what you have purchased. You can read your purchases to an unauthorized computer, but iTunes will refuse to open them.
What if I forgot my Apple ID password?
You will need to reset it before you can authorize. Go to Apple's account recovery page on any web browser, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you have a new password, return to iTunes and try authorizing again.
Can I authorize a computer that is not mine?
Technically yes, but you should not. If you authorize your Apple ID on someone else's computer, they can play all your purchased content and potentially see your account details. Only authorize computers you own or computers in your household where you trust everyone who uses them.
Does authorization expire?
Not normally. Once you authorize a computer, it stays authorized until you deauthorize it or until Apple revokes it (which is rare and usually happens only if your account is compromised). You do not need to re-authorize every year or every time you update iTunes.
What if I lost my old computer and cannot deauthorize it?
You can deauthorize it remotely from any other authorized computer. Sign into your account settings in iTunes, find the list of authorized computers, and remove the lost one from there. This frees up that slot so you can authorize a new computer.