What authorizing a computer means and why you need to do it

Authorizing a computer with iTunes means telling Apple that this particular 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 each Apple ID to authorize up to five computers at once. This protects against unauthorized sharing of your purchases across too many devices. When you authorize a computer, iTunes stores a record linked to your Apple ID, and that computer can then play any content you've bought.

You only need to authorize once per computer. After that, the authorization stays active unless you deauthorize it later or reach the five-computer limit.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization connects 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, and authorization lasts until you manually deauthorize the computer or sign out.
  • The authorization process takes less than a minute and requires only your Apple ID and password.
  • If you've reached the five-computer limit, you must deauthorize an old computer before authorizing a new one.

How to authorize a computer on Windows

Open iTunes on your Windows machine. In the menu bar at the top, click Account, then select Authorizations, then click Authorize This Computer.

A window will appear asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter both and click Authorize. iTunes will connect to Apple's servers to verify your account, and the authorization will complete within seconds. You'll see a confirmation message telling you the computer is now authorized and how many computers you have authorized in total.

If you don't see the Account menu, check that you're looking at the menu bar and not a right-click menu. On some Windows versions, the menu bar is hidden by default—press Ctrl + B to show it.

How to authorize a computer on Mac

Open iTunes on your Mac. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Account, then select Authorizations, then click Authorize This Computer.

Enter your Apple ID and password in the window that appears, then click Authorize. The process completes in seconds, and you'll see a message confirming the authorization and showing your total number of authorized computers.

If you're using a newer Mac with Apple Music or the Music app instead of iTunes, the process is slightly different—look for Music in the menu bar instead, then follow the same path through Account and Authorizations.

What to do if you've reached the five-computer limit

If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will tell you that you've hit the limit. You cannot authorize any new computers until you deauthorize one of the existing five.

To deauthorize a computer, open iTunes on that machine, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, and enter your Apple ID and password. That computer will when ready lose the ability to play your purchased content, and the authorization slot becomes available for a new computer.

If you no longer have access to one of your authorized computers—for example, you sold it or it was stolen—you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account settings on Apple's website, though this option is usually available only once per year.

Why authorization sometimes fails

Authorization requires an internet connection. If your computer cannot reach Apple's servers, the authorization will not complete. Check that you're connected to the internet and try again.

If you enter your Apple ID or password incorrectly, iTunes will reject the authorization. Double-check both, paying attention to capitalization in your password. If you've forgotten your password, you can reset it through your Apple ID account page before attempting authorization again.

Occasionally, iTunes itself needs to be updated for authorization to work properly. If you're seeing repeated errors, check the Help menu for updates and install any available version.

How to check which computers are authorized to your account

You can see a list of all computers authorized to your Apple ID by visiting appleid.apple.com, signing in with your Apple ID, and looking for the Devices section. This shows every computer and device linked to your account.

From iTunes itself, you can also see the authorization status by going to Account > View My Account, signing in if prompted, and scrolling to the Computer Authorizations section. This tells you how many of your five slots are in use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize every time I use iTunes?

No. Once you authorize a computer, it stays authorized until you deauthorize it or sign out of your Apple ID on that machine. You won't be prompted to authorize again unless you reinstall iTunes, switch Apple IDs, or the authorization expires.

Can I authorize a computer that isn't mine?

Technically yes, but you shouldn't. Authorizing a computer gives anyone using that machine the ability to play all your purchased content. Only authorize computers you own or control.

What happens to my authorization if I upgrade my operating system?

Authorization usually survives an operating system upgrade. However, if you perform a complete wipe and reinstall, you'll need to authorize the computer again. iTunes will treat it as a new machine.

Can I authorize a computer without an internet connection?

No. iTunes must connect to Apple's servers to verify your Apple ID and complete the authorization. You'll need internet access at the moment you authorize.

What if I lost access to a computer I authorized?

Visit appleid.apple.com, sign in, go to Devices, find the computer in the list, and remove it. This deauthorizes it remotely and frees up that authorization slot for a new computer. You can do this once per year.