What authorizing your PC for iTunes means and why you need to do it

Authorizing your PC for iTunes means telling Apple that this computer is allowed to play music, audiobooks, and video you've bought from the iTunes Store. Without authorization, you can read your purchases to the computer, but iTunes will refuse to play them. Apple limits each account to authorize up to five computers at once — this is their way of preventing one purchase from being shared across dozens of devices.

You only need to authorize once per computer. After that, any content you've bought with that Apple ID will play on that machine without asking again. If you sell the computer or give it away, you should deauthorize it first so the authorization slot opens up for a new device.

Key Takeaways

  • Open iTunes, go to Account menu, and select Authorize This Computer to complete the process in under a minute.
  • You must sign in with the same Apple ID you used to buy the content you want to play.
  • Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers, and you can deauthorize a computer remotely from any device.
  • If you've forgotten your Apple ID password, you'll need to reset it through Apple's account recovery page before you can authorize.

Step-by-step authorization on Windows

Open iTunes on your PC. If you don't have it installed, read it from Apple's website — the current version works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Once iTunes is open, look at the menu bar at the top of the window.

Click Account in the menu bar. A dropdown menu will appear. Select Authorize This Computer from the list. iTunes will open a dialog box asking you to sign in with your Apple ID and password. Enter the credentials for the Apple ID that purchased the content you want to play — this is important, because iTunes only authorizes that specific account.

Click Authorize after you've entered your password. iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized and show you how many computers you have authorized in total (for example, "This computer is authorized. You have authorized 2 of 5 computers"). Close the dialog and you're done. Your purchases will now play on this PC.

What to do if authorization fails

If iTunes shows an error message when you try to authorize, the most common cause is an incorrect password. Double-check that you're using the right Apple ID — it's usually an email address — and that your password is typed correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure Caps Lock is off.

If you've forgotten your password, go to iforgot.apple.com and follow Apple's account recovery steps. You'll need access to a recovery email or phone number linked to your account. Once you've reset your password, return to iTunes and try authorizing again with the new password.

If the error persists and you're certain your password is correct, restart iTunes completely and try once more. Close iTunes entirely (not just minimize it), wait a few seconds, and reopen it. Then go back to Account and select Authorize This Computer.

Deauthorizing a computer you no longer use

If you're selling your PC, giving it away, or straightforward want to free up an authorization slot, you should deauthorize it. Open iTunes, click Account in the menu bar, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted, and iTunes will remove the authorization from that machine.

You can also deauthorize a computer remotely without having access to it. Sign into your Apple ID account on any web browser, go to your account settings, find the list of authorized devices, and click the remove button next to the computer you want to deauthorize. This is useful if you've already sold the computer or no longer have it.

The five-computer authorization limit explained

Apple allows each Apple ID to authorize up to five computers. This includes both PCs and Macs — if you've authorized three Macs, you can only authorize two more computers total, whether they're Windows PCs or additional Macs. The limit resets once per year if you deauthorize all your computers, but you cannot manually reset it before then.

If you've hit the five-computer limit and try to authorize a sixth machine, iTunes will tell you that you've reached the maximum. You'll need to deauthorize one of your existing computers first. Choose the one you use least or no longer own, deauthorize it, and then authorize the new computer.

Authorizing when you've changed your Apple ID password

If you recently changed your Apple ID password, your previously authorized computers will continue to play your purchases without interruption. However, the next time you try to authorize a new computer or re-authorize an existing one, you must use your new password. iTunes will not accept the old password.

This is also true if you've enabled two-factor authentication on your Apple ID. When you authorize a computer, iTunes will ask for your password and may send a verification code to a trusted device. Enter the code when prompted to complete authorization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize my PC if I only listen to music from Apple Music or Spotify?

No. Authorization is only required for content you've purchased from the iTunes Store — songs, albums, audiobooks, or videos you bought and own. Streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify do not require authorization. You can play them on any device you're signed into.

What happens if I authorize a computer and then someone else uses it?

Anyone who uses that computer can play the purchases associated with your Apple ID. They cannot buy new content or change your account settings, but they can listen to your music and watch your videos. If you're concerned about this, deauthorize the computer before handing it over to someone else.

Can I authorize the same computer twice with different Apple IDs?

Yes. A single computer can be authorized for up to five different Apple IDs. Each ID counts as one authorization toward the five-computer limit for that account. This is useful in households where multiple people buy content from the iTunes Store.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely. Once you authorize a computer, it stays authorized until you manually deauthorize it or until you deauthorize all computers at once. There is no expiration date, and you do not need to re-authorize every year.

What if I lost access to the email address associated with my Apple ID?

You can still authorize a computer if you remember your Apple ID password. However, if you've forgotten the password and no longer have access to the email address, you'll need to recover your account through Apple's support page. You may be asked to verify your identity using a recovery phone number or other security information.