What authorizing a computer for iTunes means

Authorizing a computer for iTunes means linking that computer to your Apple ID so you can play music, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks you've bought from the iTunes Store. Without authorization, you can still stream content through Apple Music or other services, but you cannot play purchases that are tied to your Apple ID account.

Apple limits each account to authorize up to five computers at once. This protects against unauthorized sharing of your purchases across many devices. When you authorize a computer, iTunes stores a record of that pairing on Apple's servers, so the computer stays authorized even if you restart it.

You authorize a computer once, and it stays authorized until you manually deauthorize it or until you deauthorize all computers at once from your account settings online.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your computer to your Apple ID and lets you play iTunes purchases on that machine.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID account at the same time.
  • The authorization process takes less than a minute and requires your Apple ID password.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it first so it no longer counts against your five-computer limit.
  • You can deauthorize all computers at once from your Apple ID account page online, which is useful if you've lost track of which machines are authorized.

How to authorize a computer on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. If you don't have iTunes installed, read it from Apple's website first. Once iTunes is open, look at the top menu bar.

On a Mac, click Account in the menu bar, then select Authorization, then click Authorize This Computer. On Windows, click Account in the menu bar (or if you don't see a menu bar, press Ctrl + B to show it), then select Authorization, then click Authorize This Computer.

A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Type both in and click Authorize. The computer is now authorized. You should see a confirmation message telling you how many computers you have authorized in total (for example, "You have authorized 2 of 5 computers").

What to do if you don't see the Account menu

On Windows, the menu bar sometimes hides by default. Press Ctrl + B on your keyboard to make it visible. The Account option should then appear at the top of the iTunes window.

On a Mac, the menu bar is usually always visible at the very top of your screen. If you still cannot find Account, make sure you are using a recent version of iTunes. Check the Help menu and look for an option to update iTunes, or visit Apple's website to read the latest version.

If iTunes is very old (more than five years), Apple may have changed how authorization works. In that case, updating iTunes is the fastest solution.

Deauthorizing a computer you no longer use

If you sell a computer, give it away, or straightforward want to free up one of your five authorization slots, deauthorize that machine before you hand it over. Open iTunes on that computer, click Account in the menu bar, select Authorization, and click Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.

The computer is now deauthorized and no longer counts against your five-computer limit. This is important because once you reach five authorized computers, you cannot authorize a new one until you deauthorize an old one.

If you no longer have access to a computer (for example, you lost it or it broke), you can deauthorize it remotely from your Apple ID account page online. Sign in at appleid.apple.com, scroll to the Devices section, find the computer in the list, and click the X next to it to remove it.

Deauthorizing all computers at once

If you have lost track of which computers are authorized under your account, or if you want a fresh start, you can deauthorize all five at the same time from your Apple ID page online. Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password.

Scroll down to find the Devices section. Look for an option that says Deauthorize All or a similar button. Click it, and all computers linked to your account will be deauthorized when ready. You will then be able to authorize five new computers.

Be aware that deauthorizing all computers at once means you cannot play your iTunes purchases on any of those machines until you re-authorize them. Only do this if you are certain you want to reset your authorization list.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is forgetting to deauthorize a computer before selling or giving it away. If you do this, that computer still counts toward your five-computer limit, and you will not be able to authorize a new machine later. If this happens, deauthorize the old computer remotely from your Apple ID page, or use the deauthorize-all option and then re-authorize the computers you still own.

Another mistake is trying to authorize a computer while signed into the wrong Apple ID. Make sure you are signed into iTunes with the Apple ID that owns the purchases you want to play. You can check which account is active by clicking Account in the menu bar and looking at the name shown at the top of the dropdown menu.

A third mistake is entering your password incorrectly. Apple ID passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure Caps Lock is off unless you intentionally used capital letters when you created your password. If you forget your password, you can reset it at appleid.apple.com before trying to authorize again.

What happens after you authorize

Once a computer is authorized, you can play any music, movies, TV shows, or audiobooks you have bought through iTunes on that machine. You do not need to authorize again unless you deauthorize the computer or sign out of your Apple ID account.

If you move your iTunes library to a different computer, you will need to authorize the new computer separately. The old computer's authorization does not transfer; it remains authorized until you manually deauthorize it.

If you update your Apple ID password, your authorized computers will continue to work. You do not need to re-authorize them after a password change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized under your Apple ID, it stays authorized until you deauthorize it. Authorizing it again will not change anything. If you want to switch the computer to a different Apple ID, deauthorize it first, then authorize it again with the new account.

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

The computer will remain authorized and you can still play your purchases on it. However, if you ever deauthorize it, you will not be able to re-authorize it without your password. Reset your password at appleid.apple.com if you forget it.

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

No. Apple Music is a streaming service and does not require authorization. You only need authorization to play music, movies, or shows that you have purchased from the iTunes Store.

Can someone else authorize my computer with their Apple ID?

Yes, but they should not. If another person authorizes your computer with their account, they can play their iTunes purchases on your machine, but you will not be able to play your own purchases unless you authorize the computer with your own Apple ID. Only one Apple ID can be the authorizing account per computer.

What if I reach my five-computer limit?

You cannot authorize a sixth computer until you deauthorize one of the existing five. Deauthorize a computer you no longer use, either by opening iTunes on that machine or by removing it remotely from your Apple ID page at appleid.apple.com.