Authorizing a Computer on iTunes Lets You Play Purchased Content

To play music, movies, TV shows, or audiobooks you bought from iTunes on a specific computer, you must first authorize that computer in iTunes. Authorization links your Apple ID to the device and tells Apple you own the right to play that content there. Without authorization, iTunes will block playback of anything you purchased.

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at any given time. If you reach that limit and want to authorize a sixth computer, you must deauthorize one of the existing five first. The process takes less than a minute and requires only your Apple ID password.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization connects your Apple ID to a computer so iTunes recognizes you own the right to play purchased content on that device.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; authorizing a sixth requires deauthorizing one of the existing five first.
  • The authorization process happens inside iTunes and requires your Apple ID and password.
  • Deauthorizing a computer removes it from your list but does not delete files already on that computer.

How to Authorize a Computer in iTunes on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. Click the Account menu at the top of the window, then select Authorizations, then Authorize This Computer. A dialog box will appear asking for your Apple ID and password.

Enter your Apple ID (the email address associated with your iTunes account) and your password, then click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized. You will see a message stating the number of computers you have authorized so far—for example, "You have authorized 2 of 5 computers."

Once authorized, you can play any content you purchased with that Apple ID on that computer. The authorization remains active until you manually deauthorize the computer or until you deauthorize all computers at once from your Apple ID account settings online.

What Happens When You Reach Your Five-Computer Limit

If you have already authorized five computers and try to authorize a sixth, iTunes will tell you that you have reached your limit. At that point, you must deauthorize one of the existing computers before you can authorize the new one.

To deauthorize a computer, open iTunes on that computer, click Account, select Authorizations, then click Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. The computer will be removed from your authorized list when ready.

If you no longer have access to a computer you authorized—for example, you sold it or it was stolen—you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account on Apple's website. Sign in to appleid.apple.com, go to the Devices section, find the computer you want to remove, and click the X next to it.

Deauthorizing All Computers at Once

iTunes also lets you deauthorize all five computers in one action. This is useful if you have lost track of which computers you authorized or if you want to start fresh. Open iTunes, click Account, select Authorizations, then click Deauthorize All Computers.

Enter your Apple ID and password. All computers will be removed from your authorized list when ready. After you deauthorize all computers, you can then authorize up to five new ones. Note that you can only deauthorize all computers once per year, so use this option carefully.

Why Authorization Matters for Your Purchased Content

Apple uses authorization to prevent unauthorized sharing of purchased content. When you buy music or a movie through iTunes, you are buying the right to play it on your own devices, not the right to share it with everyone. Authorization ensures that only computers linked to your Apple ID can play your purchases.

If you share a computer with family members or roommates, each person can use their own Apple ID to authorize the computer. That way, each person can play their own purchases on the shared device. However, only the person who purchased the content can play it—authorization is tied to the Apple ID that made the purchase, not to the computer itself.

Troubleshooting Authorization Problems

If iTunes tells you that authorization failed, first check that you are using the correct Apple ID and password. Make sure your internet connection is working, because authorization requires a connection to Apple's servers. If your password is correct but authorization still fails, try signing out of iTunes and signing back in.

If you see an error message saying your account has been locked or disabled, visit iforgot.apple.com to reset your password or unlock your account. Once you have regained access to your Apple ID, try authorizing the computer again.

If a computer shows as authorized in iTunes but will not play purchased content, try deauthorizing and then reauthorizing it. Close iTunes completely, reopen it, and repeat the authorization process. This often resolves playback issues caused by a stale authorization.

What Happens to Your Files When You Deauthorize

Deauthorizing a computer does not delete any music, movies, or other files stored on that computer. The files remain on the hard drive exactly as they were. However, once you deauthorize the computer, iTunes on that machine will no longer play any content you purchased with your Apple ID.

If you deauthorize a computer by mistake, you can straightforward authorize it again using the same Apple ID and password. As long as you have not yet authorized five other computers, you can reauthorize it when ready. Your files will still be there, and playback will resume.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers, and each computer can be authorized by multiple Apple IDs. This is common in households where family members have separate iTunes accounts. Each person's purchases will play only when that person's Apple ID is used to authorize the computer.

What if I sold my old computer and forgot to deauthorize it?

You can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com. Sign in, go to Devices, find the old computer, and click the X to remove it. This frees up one of your five authorization slots without needing access to the computer itself.

Do I need to authorize a computer to read purchases I made?

No. You can read purchased content to any computer using your Apple ID, even if that computer is not authorized. However, you must authorize the computer before you can play the content in iTunes. Authorization is required only for playback, not for downloading.

Will authorizing a computer give other users access to my purchases?

Only if they use your Apple ID to sign in to iTunes. If other users on the same computer sign in with their own Apple IDs, they cannot play your purchases. Each person's content is tied to the Apple ID that purchased it, not to the computer.

Can I authorize a computer on a different network or from a different location?

Yes. Authorization requires only an internet connection and your Apple ID credentials. You can authorize a computer from anywhere—at home, at work, or while traveling. The location does not matter, only that the computer can reach Apple's servers.