What authorizing a computer in iTunes actually does

Authorizing a computer in iTunes lets you play music, movies, and TV shows you bought from the iTunes Store on that specific device. When you buy content from Apple, it's locked to your Apple ID. Authorization is how you tell iTunes "this computer belongs to me and I should be able to play my purchases here."

Without authorization, you can still see your library and read the files, but you won't be able to play them. The files sit there greyed out. Authorization removes that barrier for up to five computers at a time under the same Apple ID — that's Apple's limit to prevent one person from sharing purchases across dozens of devices.

If you've never bought anything from iTunes, you don't need to authorize anything. Authorization only matters if you own iTunes purchases and want to listen or watch them on a new computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your iTunes purchases to a specific computer so you can actually play the files you bought.
  • You can authorize up to five computers under one Apple ID, and you can deauthorize old computers to free up a slot.
  • The authorization process takes less than a minute and requires your Apple ID and password.
  • If you forget to deauthorize a computer before selling or giving it away, you can remotely deauthorize all five from your account settings.

How to authorize a computer on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. In the menu bar at the top, click Account (on Mac) or Edit (on Windows), then select Authorize This Computer. A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password.

Type in your Apple ID (usually an email address) and the password you use to sign into your Apple account. Click Authorize. That's it — the computer is now authorized and you can play your purchases when ready.

If you don't see the Authorize option in the menu, the computer may already be authorized under your account. You can check by going to Account or Edit and looking for View My Account. Sign in and scroll down to see which computers are currently authorized.

When you need to deauthorize a computer

You should deauthorize a computer before you sell it, give it away, or stop using it. This frees up one of your five authorization slots so you can authorize a different computer later. To deauthorize, open iTunes, go to Account or Edit, and click Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password again, and you're done.

If you can't access the computer anymore — you lost it, it broke, or you forgot to deauthorize before selling it — you can remotely deauthorize all five computers at once. Go to Account, click View My Account, sign in, and scroll to the section that says iTunes in the Cloud or Manage Your Devices. Look for a button that says Deauthorize All. This wipes the slate clean, and all five slots become available again. You'll need to re-authorize any computers you still own and use.

What happens if you hit the five-computer limit

If you've already authorized five computers and try to authorize a sixth, iTunes will stop you and tell you that you've reached your limit. You won't be able to play purchases on the new computer until you deauthorize one of the old ones.

This limit resets once per year. If you deauthorize a computer and then try to re-authorize it within the same calendar year, it counts as a new authorization and uses up one of your five slots. Apple's reasoning is to prevent people from constantly swapping computers to share purchases with others.

Authorization and Apple Music or subscription services

If you subscribe to Apple Music instead of buying individual songs, authorization works differently. Apple Music streams to you rather than storing files on your computer, so you don't need to authorize anything — you just sign in with your Apple ID and stream. The same goes for TV+ or other Apple subscriptions.

Authorization only applies to content you own outright: songs, albums, movies, and TV shows you purchased from the iTunes Store. Rented movies also don't require authorization because they expire after a set time anyway.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If you see an error message when you try to authorize, the most common cause is that your Apple ID or password is wrong. Double-check that you're using the correct email address and that caps lock isn't on. If you've forgotten your password, you can reset it on Apple's account page before trying again.

Another common issue is that your computer's clock is set to the wrong date or time. iTunes checks this to verify your authorization, and if it's way off, authorization can fail. Go into your system settings, check the date and time, and correct them if needed. Then try authorizing again.

If you're still stuck, sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes completely, restart the program, and sign back in. Sometimes this clears up authorization glitches that a straightforward restart won't fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize every computer I own?

Only if you want to play iTunes purchases on it. If you only use a computer for email or web browsing and don't listen to music you bought, you don't need to authorize it. Authorization is only required to play content you own.

Can someone else authorize a computer with my Apple ID?

Yes, if they have your Apple ID and password. This is why you should never share your password. If someone else authorizes a computer without permission, you can deauthorize all five computers remotely and then re-authorize only your own devices.

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

The authorization stays active on that computer even if you forget your password later. You can still play your purchases. You only need your password again if you want to authorize a different computer or deauthorize this one.

Does authorization transfer if I move my iTunes library to a new computer?

No. The old computer stays authorized under your account until you deauthorize it. The new computer is treated as a separate device and needs its own authorization. You'll use up two of your five slots unless you deauthorize the old computer first.