What authorizing your computer means and why iTunes requires it

Authorizing your computer for iTunes means telling Apple that this machine is allowed to play music, videos, and other content you've bought from the iTunes Store. When you buy something from iTunes, Apple attaches it to your Apple ID. Without authorization, your computer can't play that content—even though you own it.

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at any given time. This limit exists so you can't share purchased content across dozens of machines. If you reach five and need to authorize a new computer, you'll have to deauthorize an old one first.

The authorization process is straightforward and takes less than a minute. You'll need your Apple ID and password, and your computer must be connected to the internet.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your computer to your Apple ID so iTunes can verify you own the content you're trying to play.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; authorizing a sixth requires deauthorizing one first.
  • The authorization process happens in the iTunes app (on older Macs or Windows PCs) or in the Music app (on newer Macs with macOS Catalina or later).
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it before you hand it over to prevent it from counting against your five-computer limit.

How to authorize a computer on Windows or older Mac systems

Open iTunes on your computer. In the menu bar at the top of the window, click Account (on Windows) or Account (on Mac). A dropdown menu will appear.

Select Authorize This Computer from the menu. A dialog box will open asking for your Apple ID and password. Type in the email address associated with your Apple ID and your password, then click Authorize. Your computer is now authorized.

If you don't see an Account menu, check that you're using iTunes version 12.1 or later. You can check your version by clicking Help in the menu bar and looking for About iTunes.

How to authorize a computer on newer Macs (macOS Catalina and later)

On newer Mac computers, iTunes was replaced by the Music app. Open the Music app from your Applications folder or Launchpad. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Music, then select Preferences (or Settings on the newest versions).

Click the General tab. You'll see a button labeled Authorize This Computer. Click it, then enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. Click Authorize to finish.

If you're not sure which macOS version you have, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select About This Mac. The version number appears under "System Version."

What to do if you've already authorized five computers

If you try to authorize a sixth computer and see an error message, you've hit the five-computer limit. You'll need to deauthorize one of your existing computers before you can authorize the new one.

Think about which computer you use least often or no longer own. If you've sold or given away a computer, deauthorizing it is especially important—it frees up a slot and prevents someone else from using your purchased content.

To deauthorize a computer, open iTunes or the Music app on that machine, go to Account (or Music > Preferences), and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password. That computer is now deauthorized, and you can authorize a new one.

If you no longer have access to a computer you want to deauthorize—for example, you sold it and didn't deauthorize it first—you can deauthorize all your computers at once through your Apple ID account online. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, scroll to the Security section, and look for Manage your Devices or Devices and security. From there you can deauthorize computers remotely, though this action has a cooldown period of 90 days before you can authorize new computers again.

Why authorization sometimes fails

The most common reason authorization fails is an incorrect Apple ID or password. Double-check that you're typing them correctly, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters. If you've forgotten your password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com.

Another common issue is an outdated version of iTunes or the Music app. Make sure your software is up to date by checking for updates in your system settings or the app store. A computer that isn't connected to the internet also cannot authorize—make sure you have an active internet connection before trying.

If you see a message saying your account has been locked or disabled, contact Apple Support directly. This usually means Apple detected unusual activity on your account and temporarily restricted it for security.

What happens after you authorize

Once your computer is authorized, you can play any music, audiobooks, or video you've bought from the iTunes Store on that machine. You can also sync content from your Apple device to that computer without restrictions.

Authorization stays in place until you deauthorize the computer or until you change your Apple ID password. If you change your password for security reasons, you'll need to authorize your computers again with the new password.

You don't need to re-authorize every time you use iTunes or the Music app—authorization is permanent until you remove it. You also don't need to authorize to listen to Apple Music streaming content or to access music in your iCloud library; authorization only applies to content you've purchased.

Deauthorizing before you sell or donate a computer

If you're planning to sell, donate, or recycle a computer, deauthorize it before you hand it over. This removes your Apple ID from that machine and frees up one of your five authorization slots.

To deauthorize, open iTunes or the Music app, go to Account (or Music > Preferences), and click Deauthorize This Computer. You'll be asked to confirm with your Apple ID and password. After deauthorization, the new owner won't be able to play your purchased content, and you'll be able to authorize a different computer later.

If you're wiping the computer clean before selling it, deauthorize first—deauthorization is separate from erasing the hard drive and doesn't require the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Apple Music is a streaming service, so you don't need authorization to listen to it. Authorization only applies to music, videos, and other content you've purchased from the iTunes Store. You do need to be signed into your Apple ID to access your Apple Music library.

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized, authorizing it again does nothing. If you want to change which Apple ID is authorized on a computer, you must deauthorize it first, then authorize it with the new Apple ID.

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

You can deauthorize all your computers at once through your Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com. Go to Devices and security, find the option to deauthorize computers, and confirm. After 90 days, you can authorize new computers again. This cooldown exists to prevent unauthorized access to your account.

Will authorizing my computer share my purchases with other users on that machine?

Authorization is tied to your Apple ID, not to individual user accounts on your computer. Other users on the same computer can play your purchased content if they have access to the iTunes or Music app, but they cannot read or sync it to their own devices without your Apple ID password.

Do I need to authorize a computer to read content I've purchased?

Yes. You must authorize a computer before you can read or play any content you've bought from the iTunes Store on that machine. Streaming services like Apple Music don't require authorization.