What authorizing iTunes means and why you need to do it

Authorizing iTunes means telling your computer that it is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you bought from the iTunes Store using your Apple ID. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your account. Your computer needs permission to unlock and play that content — that permission is the authorization.

Without authorization, you can still see the files on your computer, but iTunes will refuse to play them. You will see an error message instead. Authorization is how Apple makes sure you are not sharing your purchases with people who did not buy them.

You can authorize up to five computers at once on a single Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will ask you to deauthorize one of the others first. This limit exists to prevent one person from sharing their iTunes library across dozens of devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorizing iTunes links your computer to your Apple ID and unlocks the content you bought from the iTunes Store.
  • You authorize through the Account menu in iTunes, not through System Preferences or any other Apple app.
  • One Apple ID can authorize up to five computers, and you can deauthorize a computer remotely from any other authorized device.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it first so it no longer counts against your five-computer limit.

How to authorize a computer for the first time

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. At the top of the window, click the Account menu. If you do not see an Account menu, look for a menu that says iTunes (on Mac) or Edit (on Windows) — the location varies by operating system version.

From the Account menu, select Authorizations, then click Authorize This Computer. A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Type them in and click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized and tell you how many computers you have authorized so far.

The authorization takes effect when ready. You can now play any iTunes content you own on that computer. If you bought something years ago and never authorized any computer to play it, this is the step that unlocks it.

What to do if you forgot your Apple ID password

If you do not remember your Apple ID password, you cannot authorize the computer through iTunes. You will need to reset your password first through Apple's website.

Go to iforgot.apple.com in a web browser. Enter your Apple ID (usually your email address) and follow the steps to verify your identity. Apple will ask you to answer security questions or receive a code by email or phone. Once you reset your password, return to iTunes and use the new password to authorize.

If you do not remember which email address is your Apple ID, check any device where you are already signed into iCloud or iTunes. Open System Preferences (Mac) or Settings (Windows), look for Apple ID or iCloud, and your email address will be listed there.

How to deauthorize a computer you no longer use

If you sell a computer, give it away, or straightforward want to free up one of your five authorization slots, you need to deauthorize it. You can do this from any other computer that is already authorized on the same Apple ID.

Open iTunes on an authorized computer. Click the Account menu, select Authorizations, then click Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password. iTunes will remove the authorization from that computer.

If you no longer have access to the computer you want to deauthorize — for example, you sold it and cannot get it back — you can deauthorize all five computers at once from Apple's website. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, scroll to the Devices section, find the computer you want to remove, and click Remove. Note that you can only deauthorize all computers once per year, so use this option only if you truly cannot access the computer itself.

Why iTunes says your content is not authorized

If you see a message that says your music or movie is not authorized, it usually means one of three things: the computer is not authorized, your authorization expired, or you are trying to play content on a different Apple ID than the one that bought it.

First, check whether the computer is authorized. Go to Account > Authorizations and look for an option that says Authorize This Computer. If you see that option, the computer is not authorized yet. If you see Deauthorize This Computer instead, the computer is already authorized, and the problem is something else.

If the computer is authorized but the content still will not play, try signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in. In iTunes, click Account > Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then click Account > Sign In and enter your Apple ID again. This refreshes your authorization and often fixes the problem.

How authorization works across different devices

Authorization is specific to computers running iTunes. Your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch do not need to be authorized in the same way — they use a different system called iCloud to access your purchases.

If you buy music on your iPhone, you can play it on any of your five authorized computers without doing anything extra. If you buy music on a computer, you can play it on your iPhone as long as you are signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID. The five-computer limit applies only to computers, not to phones or tablets.

If you use iTunes on Windows and also on Mac, each counts as a separate computer toward your five-computer limit. A Windows laptop and a Mac laptop are two different authorizations, even if they belong to the same person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize a computer if I do not have the password?

No. You must know your Apple ID password to authorize any computer. If you have forgotten it, reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you try to authorize. You will need to answer security questions or verify your identity by email or phone.

What happens if I authorize more than five computers?

iTunes will not let you. When you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will tell you that you have reached your limit and ask you to deauthorize one of the others first. You must remove one before you can add another.

Do I need to authorize if I only listen to music from Apple Music?

No. Apple Music is a subscription service, not a purchase, so it does not require authorization. You only need to authorize if you have bought music, movies, TV shows, or books from the iTunes Store and want to play them on that computer.

Can I deauthorize a computer without the password?

You cannot deauthorize a computer from that computer itself without the password. However, you can deauthorize it from any other authorized computer, or you can deauthorize all five computers at once from appleid.apple.com. Keep in mind that you can only deauthorize all computers once per year.

What if I authorize a computer and then forget about it?

It stays authorized until you deauthorize it or until you deauthorize all five computers at once. If you authorize a computer and then sell it without deauthorizing first, it will still count against your five-computer limit. You can deauthorize it remotely from any other authorized computer or from your Apple ID account online.