What authorizing a computer on iTunes actually does

Authorizing a computer on iTunes means telling Apple that this specific device is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you've bought from the iTunes Store. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your Apple ID. Without authorization, a different computer can't play that content — even if you log in with the same Apple ID.

Think of it like a library card. Your Apple ID is the card itself. Authorization is the library saying "we've verified this computer belongs to you, so it can check out your purchases." You can authorize up to five computers at once under one Apple ID. Once you hit five, you have to deauthorize an old computer before you can authorize a new one.

This matters most if you have music or movies you bought years ago, or if you're setting up a computer someone else will use. Modern streaming services like Apple Music work differently — they don't require authorization — but anything you own outright through iTunes still does.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization lets a computer play content you bought through iTunes under your Apple ID, and you can authorize up to five computers total.
  • You authorize through the Account menu in iTunes on Windows or Mac, or through Settings on an iPad or iPhone.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorizing it frees up one of your five slots and prevents the new owner from playing your purchases.
  • You can deauthorize all five computers at once from your Apple ID account page online, which is useful if you've lost track of which devices you own.

How to authorize a computer on a Mac

Open iTunes on the Mac you want to authorize. Click the Account menu at the top of the screen, then select Sign In if you're not already logged in. Enter your Apple ID email and password, then click Sign In again.

Once you're signed in, go back to the Account menu and look for Authorize This Computer. Click it. A window will pop up asking you to confirm your Apple ID and password one more time. Enter them and click Authorize. You'll see a message saying the computer is now authorized, along with the date it will expire (usually one year from that date, though you can re-authorize before then).

If you don't see "Authorize This Computer" in the Account menu, you're already authorized on that Mac. You can check by going to Account and looking for View My Account — it will show you how many computers you have authorized.

How to authorize a computer on Windows

Open iTunes on the Windows computer you want to authorize. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) near the top left, then select Account. Choose Sign In if you're not already logged in, then enter your Apple ID email and password.

After you sign in, click the menu icon again, go to Account, and select Authorize This Computer. Confirm your Apple ID and password in the window that appears, then click Authorize. You'll see a confirmation message with the authorization expiration date.

The steps are nearly identical to Mac — the only difference is where the menu button is located on the screen. If you're not sure whether a Windows computer is already authorized, sign in to your account and look for View My Account under the Account menu.

How to authorize an iPad or iPhone

On an iPad or iPhone, you don't authorize through iTunes — you authorize through the Settings app. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Music (or TV if you're authorizing for video content), then tap Sign In if you're not already logged in.

Once you're signed in with your Apple ID, the device is automatically authorized. You don't need to take any additional steps. If you want to check which devices are authorized under your Apple ID, you'll need to visit appleid.apple.com on a web browser and look at your devices list.

How to deauthorize a computer you no longer use

If you're selling, giving away, or recycling a computer, deauthorize it first. This frees up one of your five authorization slots and prevents the new owner from playing your iTunes purchases.

On a Mac, open iTunes, click Account, then select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. On Windows, the process is the same: click the menu icon, go to Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer.

If you can't access the computer anymore — it's broken, lost, or you forgot the password — you can deauthorize it remotely. Go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, click Devices, find the computer in the list, and click Remove. You can deauthorize all five computers at once this way if you need to start fresh.

What happens if you don't deauthorize before selling a computer

If you sell or give away a computer without deauthorizing it, the new owner can play any music or movies you bought through iTunes as long as they don't change the Apple ID. They won't be able to buy new content under your account, but they can listen to what's already there.

More importantly, that computer still counts toward your five-authorization limit. If you later buy a new computer and try to authorize it, you'll hit the limit and won't be able to authorize the new one until you deauthorize the old one. This is why deauthorizing before you hand over a computer matters — it protects both your account and your ability to use new devices.

Deauthorizing all computers at once

If you've lost track of which computers you've authorized, or if you've owned many devices over the years, you can wipe the slate clean. Go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Devices on the left side, then find Deauthorize All at the bottom of the page.

Click it, confirm your choice, and all five of your authorized computers will be deauthorized when ready. You can then re-authorize only the computers you actually use right now. This is especially useful if you've forgotten which old devices are still taking up slots, or if you're concerned about an old computer you no longer have access to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize more than five computers?

No. Apple limits you to five authorized computers under one Apple ID at a time. If you try to authorize a sixth, you'll get an error message telling you to deauthorize one first. You can deauthorize and re-authorize as often as you want, but only five can be active at once.

Do I need to authorize a computer to use Apple Music?

No. Apple Music is a streaming service and doesn't require authorization. You only need authorization for content you bought and own through the iTunes Store. If you're only streaming music, you can skip this step entirely.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You'll need to reset it before you can authorize a computer. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you've set a new password, you can authorize normally.

Does authorization expire?

Yes. Authorization lasts one year from the date you authorize. After a year, iTunes will ask you to re-authorize the computer. You can re-authorize before the year is up if you want — just go to Account and select Authorize This Computer again.

Can someone else use my iTunes purchases on an authorized computer?

Yes, as long as they're using the same user account on that computer. If multiple people use the same Mac or Windows computer under different user accounts, each account will need to be authorized separately to play your iTunes purchases.