What authorizing your computer means

Authorizing your computer on iTunes means telling Apple that this specific device is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you've bought through your iTunes account. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your account — not to the device itself. Authorization is the link that lets your computer actually open and play that content.

Without authorization, you can still see your purchases in iTunes, but you won't be able to listen to them or watch them. You can authorize up to five computers at once on a single Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, you'll have to deauthorize one of the others first.

You need to authorize each computer separately, even if you use the same Apple ID on multiple devices. A phone or iPad doesn't need authorization the same way — only computers running iTunes or the Music app on Windows need this step.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your computer to your Apple ID so you can play content you've bought through iTunes.
  • You authorize a computer by opening iTunes or the Music app, going to Account settings, and selecting Authorize This Computer.
  • You can authorize up to five computers on one Apple ID at the same time.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it first so that slot opens up for a new device.

How to authorize on a Mac

On a Mac running macOS Monterey or newer, open the Music app (not iTunes — Apple replaced iTunes with Music on newer Macs). Click Music in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Account, then Authorize This Computer.

A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Type in the same Apple ID you used to buy the content you want to play. Click Authorize. That's it — your Mac is now authorized.

If you're on an older Mac running macOS Monterey or earlier, you'll use iTunes instead of Music. Open iTunes, click Account in the menu bar, then select Authorize This Computer. The steps are the same from there.

How to authorize on Windows

On Windows, open iTunes (you can search for it in the Start menu if you don't see it on your desktop). Click Account in the menu bar at the top, then select Authorize This Computer.

Type in your Apple ID and password when prompted. Use the same Apple ID that purchased the content you want to play. Click Authorize and you're done.

If you don't see an Account menu, look for a menu that says your name or shows a person icon. On some versions of iTunes for Windows, the Account option is nested under a different menu — clicking on your name or profile icon will reveal it.

What to do if you've already authorized five computers

Apple limits you to five authorized computers per Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth and get an error message, you need to deauthorize one of the others first.

To deauthorize a computer you no longer use, open iTunes or Music on that computer, go to Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password. That computer is now deauthorized, and you can authorize a new one in its place.

If you can't access one of your old computers — for example, you sold it or it broke — you can deauthorize all five at once through your Apple ID account online. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click Media & Purchases, then Manage Your Purchases, and look for the option to deauthorize all computers. You can then authorize your current devices fresh. This option is usually available once per year.

Why authorization matters for shared libraries

If multiple people in your household use the same computer and the same Apple ID, authorization lets them all play the same purchased content. The person whose Apple ID made the purchase doesn't have to be logged in — the computer itself is authorized to play that content.

However, if each person has their own Apple ID, only the person who bought the content can play it on an authorized computer. You can't share iTunes purchases across different Apple IDs on the same computer unless you authorize it under the account that made the purchase.

What happens if you don't authorize

If your computer isn't authorized, iTunes or Music will show your purchases in your library, but you'll see an error message when you try to play them. The error usually says something like "This computer is not authorized to play this content."

Authorization is free and takes less than a minute. It's not a subscription or a recurring fee — once you authorize a computer, it stays authorized until you deauthorize it or until you sign out of your Apple ID on that device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize my iPhone or iPad?

No. iPhones and iPads don't need authorization the way computers do. They use a different system — as long as you're signed into your Apple ID on the device, you can play your purchases. Only computers running iTunes or the Music app need authorization.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

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

Can I authorize a computer that's not connected to the internet?

No. Your computer needs an internet connection to contact Apple's servers and complete the authorization. Once it's authorized, you can play your purchases offline, but the authorization itself requires internet access.

If I authorize a computer, can someone else use it to play my purchases?

Yes. Once a computer is authorized under your Apple ID, anyone who uses that computer can play your iTunes purchases, even if they're logged in under a different account. This is why you should only authorize computers you trust.

What's the difference between authorizing and signing in?

Signing in means logging into your Apple ID account on the device. Authorization is a separate step that tells Apple this specific computer is allowed to play your purchases. You can be signed in without being authorized, or authorized without being actively signed in.