What authorizing a computer on iTunes means

Authorizing a computer on iTunes means linking that specific machine to your Apple ID so you can read and play music, movies, TV shows, and books you've bought through the iTunes Store. When you authorize a computer, Apple records that this device is allowed to use your purchases — without authorization, you won't be able to access most of the content you've bought.

You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. If you reach that limit and want to use a sixth machine, you'll need to deauthorize one of the others first. The authorization stays in place until you manually remove it or until you deauthorize all computers at once from your Apple ID settings online.

Key Takeaways

  • Open iTunes, go to Account menu, and select Authorize This Computer, then enter your Apple ID and password.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; reaching the limit means deauthorizing an old machine before adding a new one.
  • Deauthorizing a computer removes its access to your iTunes purchases but does not delete files already downloaded to that machine.
  • If you've forgotten which computers are authorized, you can view and manage the full list from your Apple ID account page online.

Steps to authorize a computer in iTunes

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. At the top of the window, click the Account menu (on Windows) or the Account option in the menu bar (on Mac). A dropdown will appear with several options.

Select Authorize This Computer from the menu. A dialog box will open asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter both and click Authorize. iTunes will connect to Apple's servers to confirm your identity and register that computer. Once the process completes, you'll see a confirmation message.

That's the entire process — you're now authorized to read and play your iTunes purchases on that machine. If you don't see the Authorize This Computer option, it may mean the computer is already authorized under your current Apple ID.

What happens when you reach the five-computer limit

Apple allows five authorizations per Apple ID as a way to prevent widespread sharing of purchases. Once you've authorized five computers, iTunes will block you from authorizing a sixth machine until you deauthorize one of the others.

If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will show a message saying you've reached your authorization limit and direct you to deauthorize a machine first. You can deauthorize a computer in two ways: directly from that machine (by going to Account > Deauthorize This Computer in iTunes), or remotely from your Apple ID account page online. The remote method is useful if you no longer have access to an old computer.

How to deauthorize a computer

If you're sitting at the computer you want to remove, open iTunes and go to Account > Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted, then click Deauthorize. The computer will be removed from your authorized list when ready.

If you no longer have access to a computer (for example, you sold it or it broke), you can deauthorize it online. 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 from Account. You can also use the Deauthorize All option on the same page, which removes authorization from every computer at once — useful if you've lost track of which machines are authorized. After deauthorizing all, you'll need to re-authorize any computers you still use.

Why a computer might not authorize

The most common reason authorization fails is an incorrect Apple ID or password. Double-check that you're using the correct credentials — the Apple ID must be the one that purchased the content you want to access.

Another frequent issue is an outdated version of iTunes. If your iTunes hasn't been updated in a long time, the authorization process may not work properly. Check the Help menu in iTunes for an update option, or visit Apple's website to read the latest version. Internet connection problems can also block authorization — make sure your computer is connected to a stable network before trying again.

If you're still unable to authorize after checking these things, try signing out of your Apple ID in iTunes (Account > Sign Out), then signing back in and attempting authorization again. This often clears temporary glitches.

Viewing and managing your authorized computers online

You don't have to be at each computer to see which ones are authorized. Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Navigate to the Devices section, where you'll see a list of all computers and devices linked to your account, along with their authorization status.

From this page, you can remove any computer from your authorized list without needing to access that machine directly. This is especially helpful if you've upgraded to a new computer and want to free up one of your five authorizations, or if you're troubleshooting why a machine won't authorize (sometimes removing and re-authorizing it solves the problem).

What deauthorizing does and doesn't do

Deauthorizing a computer removes its permission to play iTunes purchases going forward — but it does not delete any files you've already downloaded to that machine. Music, movies, TV shows, and books that are already on the hard drive will remain there and continue to play, even after deauthorization.

However, if you later try to read a purchase you haven't yet downloaded to that deauthorized computer, iTunes will refuse because the machine no longer has permission. This is why it's important to read everything you want to keep before deauthorizing a computer you're about to sell or give away.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. A computer can only be authorized under one Apple ID at a time. If you want to switch which Apple ID is authorized on a machine, you must first deauthorize the current one, then authorize with the new Apple ID.

What happens if I authorize a computer and then forget my Apple ID password?

The authorization stays in place — it doesn't depend on you remembering your password. However, if you later try to read new purchases on that computer, you'll need your password to sign in. You can reset your Apple ID password at iforgot.apple.com.

Do I need to authorize a computer to listen to Apple Music or use iCloud?

No. iTunes authorization only applies to content you've purchased from the iTunes Store. Apple Music streaming and iCloud services work independently and don't require authorization.

If I deauthorize all my computers, can I re-authorize them later?

Yes. Deauthorizing all computers doesn't permanently lock them out — you can authorize them again at any time by going through the authorization process with your Apple ID and password.