What authorizing a computer actually does

Authorizing a computer for iTunes means telling Apple that a specific device is allowed to play music, movies, and TV shows you've bought under your account. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your account. Without authorization, another computer can't play those purchases — even if someone knows your password.

You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. Once a computer is authorized, anyone using that computer can play your iTunes purchases without needing your password. This is why authorization matters: it's the difference between "this computer can play my stuff" and "this computer cannot."

Deauthorizing a computer removes that permission. This is useful when you sell a computer, give it away, or stop using it. If you've authorized five computers and buy a sixth one, you'll need to deauthorize an old one before you can authorize the new one.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorizing a computer lets it play iTunes purchases tied to your Apple ID without needing your password each time.
  • You can authorize up to five computers under one Apple ID at the same time.
  • The authorization process takes less than a minute and requires your Apple ID and password.
  • Deauthorizing removes permission and should be done before you sell or give away a computer.
  • If you forget to deauthorize a computer before selling it, you can deauthorize it remotely from another device.

How to authorize a computer on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. If you don't have iTunes installed, read it from Apple's website first. Once iTunes is open, look at the top menu bar — on a Mac it appears at the very top of the screen, and on Windows it appears just below the title bar.

Click Account in the menu (on Windows, you may need to click Edit first, then look for Account). A dropdown menu will appear. Select Authorizations, then click Authorize This Computer. A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter both and click Authorize. iTunes will confirm the authorization was successful.

That's the entire process. The computer is now authorized and can play any iTunes purchases under your account. You don't need to do anything else — the authorization stays active until you deauthorize the computer or until you deauthorize all computers at once from your account settings.

How to authorize a computer using a different Apple ID

If someone else owns the computer and has their own Apple ID, they should authorize it with their own account, not yours. Each person should authorize computers with their own Apple ID so their purchases are protected.

If you're setting up a family computer where multiple people will use iTunes, each person can authorize it separately with their own Apple ID. They just repeat the same steps — open iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer, and enter their own Apple ID and password. The computer will then be authorized for all of them.

What to do if you've hit the five-computer limit

If you try to authorize a sixth computer and get a message saying you've reached your limit, you need to deauthorize one of your existing computers first. Think about which computers you no longer use or plan to replace.

To deauthorize a computer you still have access to, open iTunes on that computer, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, enter your Apple ID and password, and click Deauthorize. That computer is now removed from your list, and you can authorize a new one.

If you no longer have access to a computer (you sold it, it broke, or you gave it away), you can deauthorize it remotely. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, scroll down to the Devices section, find the computer you want to remove, and click the X next to it. This counts as one deauthorization. You can deauthorize all five computers at once from this page, but you'll need to wait 90 days before you can authorize five new ones.

Why authorization matters for shared computers

If you share a computer with family members or roommates, authorization prevents anyone from needing your password to listen to your music or watch your shows. Once a computer is authorized under your account, anyone sitting at that computer can access your iTunes library.

This also means you should deauthorize a computer before selling it or giving it away. If you don't, the new owner can play all your iTunes purchases without knowing your password. Deauthorizing removes that access when ready.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If iTunes says your computer is already authorized but you can't play purchases, make sure you're signed into iTunes with the correct Apple ID. Click Account and look at the top of the menu — it should show which account is currently signed in. If it's the wrong account, sign out and sign in with the account that made the purchases.

If you get an error message during authorization, check that your Apple ID and password are correct. If you've changed your password recently, use the new one. If you're still stuck, try signing out of iTunes completely (Account > Sign Out), then signing back in and trying to authorize again.

If a computer shows as authorized but you can't play a specific song or movie, that purchase may have been made under a different Apple ID. Check the purchase history on your account to confirm which ID bought it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize every computer I use?

Only if you want to play iTunes purchases on it. If you only use iTunes to buy things or manage your library, authorization isn't required. You only need it to actually play music, movies, or TV shows you've bought.

Can someone else authorize my computer without my password?

No. Authorization requires your Apple ID and password, so only someone who knows both can authorize a computer under your account. This is why you should never share your password with people you don't trust completely.

What happens to my authorization if I change my Apple ID password?

Your authorization stays active. Changing your password doesn't deauthorize computers. However, the next time you try to play an iTunes purchase, iTunes may ask you to sign in again with your new password.

Can I authorize a computer if I don't remember my Apple ID password?

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

If I authorize a computer, can the person using it see my other Apple ID information?

No. Authorization only gives access to iTunes purchases. They can't see your email, payment methods, or other account details unless you're signed into other Apple services on that computer.