What authorizing a computer in iTunes actually does

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

Think of it as a lock that prevents someone else from using your iTunes purchases on their computer. You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. If you try to use a sixth computer, you'll have to deauthorize one of the others first.

This matters most if you buy music, movies, TV shows, or audiobooks from the iTunes Store. If you only stream music through Apple Music or listen to podcasts, authorization is less relevant to your daily use — but the setting still exists in your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your iTunes purchases to a specific computer so you can actually play them there.
  • You authorize through the Account menu in iTunes on Windows or Mac, or through Settings on an iPhone or iPad.
  • You can authorize up to five computers under one Apple ID at the same time.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it first so you can use your five slots on new devices.
  • Authorization is separate from signing in — you can be signed into your Apple ID without having authorized that device to play your purchases.

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 look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Account (on Windows). From the dropdown, select Authorizations, then Authorize This Computer.

A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter both and click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized. That's it — you can now play any iTunes purchases tied to that Apple ID on this device.

If you don't see an Authorizations option in the Account menu, your version of iTunes may be older. Update iTunes from the Apple website or through your computer's software update tool, then try again.

How to authorize on iPhone or iPad

On an iPhone or iPad, you don't authorize through iTunes — you authorize through Settings. Open Settings, tap Media & Purchases (or iTunes & App Store on older iOS versions), then tap your Apple ID at the top. Select View Apple ID, then scroll down and tap Authorize This Device.

You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password or use Face ID or Touch ID to confirm. Once you do, the device is authorized. You'll now be able to play iTunes purchases on that iPhone or iPad.

What happens when you reach your five-computer limit

If you've already authorized five computers and try to authorize a sixth, iTunes will tell you that you've hit your limit. You'll need to deauthorize one of the other computers first. This is intentional — Apple limits it to five to prevent widespread sharing of purchased content.

To deauthorize a computer you no longer use, open iTunes on that computer, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, enter your Apple ID password, and confirm. If you no longer have access to that computer (you sold it, it broke, or you gave it away), you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account settings on Apple's website under Devices.

When you sell or give away a computer

Before you hand over a computer to someone else, deauthorize it. If you don't, the new owner will be able to play all your iTunes purchases on that device — and you'll still be using one of your five authorization slots.

If you've already sold the computer and forgot to deauthorize it, you can still remove it from your account. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, click Devices, find the computer in the list, and click Remove. This frees up that authorization slot so you can authorize a new device.

The difference between signing in and authorizing

These are two separate things, and the confusion between them trips up a lot of people. Signing in means you've entered your Apple ID and password so the device knows who you are. Authorizing means you've given that device permission to play your iTunes purchases.

You can be signed into your Apple ID on a computer without having authorized it — in that case, you can read your purchases, but you won't be able to play them. You'll see an error message when you try. The fix is straightforward: authorize the computer using the steps above.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If you see an error when you try to authorize, the most common cause is an outdated version of iTunes. Update iTunes and try again. On Mac, go to the App Store and check for updates. On Windows, open iTunes, go to Help > Check for Updates.

If you're still having trouble, make sure you're using the correct Apple ID — the one you actually used to buy the content. If you've changed your Apple ID password recently, sign out of iTunes completely, then sign back in with your new password before authorizing. If you're on a work or school network, your network's security settings might be blocking authorization; try again on a different network if you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize a computer that isn't mine?

Technically yes, but you shouldn't. When you authorize a computer, anyone using that device can play all your iTunes purchases. Only authorize computers you own or have full control over. If you're at a friend's house and want to listen to your music, sign in to your Apple ID instead — don't authorize their computer.

What happens to my authorization if I reset my computer?

The authorization stays on the computer, not in your account. If you reset or reinstall your operating system, you'll need to authorize again. Before you reset, deauthorize the computer first, then authorize it again after the reset is complete.

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized under your Apple ID, authorizing it again does nothing. If you want to switch it to a different Apple ID, deauthorize it first, then authorize it under the new account.

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

No. Apple Music is a streaming service, so you just need to be signed into your Apple ID. Authorization only matters for content you've purchased from the iTunes Store. However, if you read Apple Music songs to listen offline, authorization doesn't affect that either.

What if I lost access to one of my authorized computers?

You can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account on appleid.apple.com. Sign in, go to Devices, find the computer, and click Remove. This frees up that slot so you can authorize a new device. You can do this once per year if needed.