What authorizing your computer on iTunes actually does

Authorizing your computer on iTunes means telling Apple that this specific machine is allowed to play music, movies, and other content you've bought from the iTunes Store using your Apple ID. Without authorization, you can read purchases to the computer, but you won't be able to play them.

Apple limits authorization to five computers per Apple ID at any one time. This is a copy-protection measure — it prevents you from sharing one purchase with dozens of people. When you authorize a computer, you're essentially saying "I own or regularly use this machine, and I want to play my iTunes purchases on it."

You only need to authorize once per computer. After that, any content you buy with that Apple ID will play on that machine without asking again. If you sell the computer or stop using it, you can deauthorize it remotely from any other authorized computer or from your Apple account online.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorizing a computer lets you play iTunes purchases on that machine; without it, the content won't play even though it's downloaded.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID, and authorization stays active until you manually deauthorize the machine.
  • The authorization process takes less than a minute and requires only your Apple ID and password.
  • If you've reached your five-computer limit, you must deauthorize an old computer before authorizing a new one.

How to authorize a computer on a Mac

Open iTunes or the Music app (depending on which macOS version you're running — Music replaced iTunes in macOS Catalina and later). In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Account, then select Authorize This Computer.

A window will appear asking for your Apple ID and password. Type both in and click Authorize. That's the entire process. You'll see a confirmation message, and your computer is now authorized. You can close the window and start playing your purchases when ready.

How to authorize a computer on Windows

Open iTunes. In the menu bar at the top (you may need to press Alt to see it if it's hidden), click Account, then select Authorize This Computer.

Enter your Apple ID and password in the window that appears, then click Authorize. Windows will confirm the authorization, and you're done. Your computer can now play all iTunes purchases tied to that Apple ID.

What to do if you've already authorized five computers

Apple's five-computer limit is per Apple ID, not per household. If you've authorized five machines and want to authorize a sixth, you must deauthorize one of the old computers first.

You can deauthorize a computer in two ways. If you still have access to the machine, open iTunes or Music, go to Account, and click Deauthorize This Computer. If you no longer own the computer or can't access it, sign in to your Apple ID account on Apple's website, go to your account settings, find the "Devices" or "Computers and devices" section, and deauthorize it from there. Once you've freed up a slot, you can authorize your new computer.

Why authorization sometimes fails

The most common reason authorization fails is an incorrect Apple ID or password. Double-check that you're using the correct Apple ID — it's usually an email address — and that Caps Lock is not on when you type your password.

If you've recently changed your Apple ID password, your computer may still be trying to use the old one. Sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes or Music (go to Account and select Sign Out), then sign back in with your current password. After that, try authorizing again.

If you're on a corporate or school network with strict firewall rules, authorization might be blocked. Try connecting to a different network — a mobile hotspot from your phone, for example — and attempt authorization again. If it works on the other network, your organization's IT department may need to adjust firewall settings.

Deauthorizing all computers at once

If you want to deauthorize all five computers in one action — for example, if you're selling your computer and want a fresh start — you can do this only through your Apple ID account online, not through iTunes itself.

Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and navigate to the account settings or security section. Look for "Devices" or "Computers and devices." You'll see a list of all authorized machines. Select Deauthorize All or remove each one individually. After you deauthorize all computers, you can authorize your current machine as if it were the first time.

What happens after you authorize

Once a computer is authorized, you won't see any ongoing reminders or notifications. The authorization straightforward works in the background. Any music, movies, TV shows, or books you've bought with that Apple ID will play without interruption.

Authorization doesn't expire on its own. It stays active until you manually deauthorize the computer or until you deauthorize all computers at once. If you stop using a computer, it's good practice to deauthorize it so you don't waste one of your five slots, but there's no penalty if you don't.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize my computer if I only stream music?

No. Authorization is only required for content you've purchased from the iTunes Store. If you use Apple Music, Spotify, or other streaming services, you don't need to authorize anything — streaming works differently and doesn't have the five-computer limit.

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized, authorizing it again does nothing — it's already on your list. If you want to re-authorize after deauthorizing, you'll go through the same process, but the end result is the same: one authorization per machine.

What if I forgot which computers I've authorized?

Sign in to appleid.apple.com, go to your account settings, and look for "Devices" or "Computers and devices." You'll see a complete list of all five authorized machines, including their names and the dates they were authorized. This is also where you can deauthorize any of them.

Can someone else authorize their computer using my Apple ID?

Yes, but they'll need your Apple ID and password. If you share your password with someone, they can authorize their computer on your account, which counts toward your five-computer limit. If you later want to remove their computer, you can deauthorize it remotely from your Apple ID account online.