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

Authorizing your computer on iTunes means telling Apple that this machine is allowed to play content you've bought from the iTunes Store. Without authorization, you can read purchases to the computer, but you won't be able to play them. Apple limits you to authorizing up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID — this is their way of preventing one purchase from being shared across dozens of machines.

You only need to authorize once per computer. After that, any content you've bought with that Apple ID will play on the authorized machine without asking for permission again. If you sell the computer or give it away, you can remove the authorization remotely so the new owner can't access your purchases.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization happens in the Account menu in iTunes on Windows or Mac, or through Settings on iPhone and iPad.
  • You can authorize up to five computers under one Apple ID, and you can deauthorize any of them from any other authorized device.
  • If you've hit the five-computer limit, you must deauthorize an old computer before authorizing a new one.
  • Authorization is tied to your Apple ID, not to the computer itself, so signing out of that ID removes the authorization.

How to authorize on a Mac or Windows PC running iTunes

Open iTunes and sign in with your Apple ID if you're not already signed in. Look at the top menu bar — on a Mac it says "Account", and on Windows it's in the menu that appears when you press Alt. Click Account, then look for "Authorizations" in the dropdown menu. You'll see "Authorize This Computer" as an option.

Click it. iTunes will ask you to enter your Apple ID and password. Type them in and click Authorize. The computer is now authorized, and you'll see a confirmation message. That's all there is to it. You can now play any content you've bought from the iTunes Store on this machine.

How to authorize on iPhone or iPad

On iPhone and iPad, authorization happens automatically the first time you read a purchase from the iTunes Store using your Apple ID. You don't need to do anything — just read the content and it will work.

If you want to check whether a device is authorized, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then Media & Purchases. If you see your Apple ID listed there, the device is authorized. If you don't see it, tap "Sign In" and enter your credentials.

What to do if you've already authorized five computers

Apple's limit is five computers per Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth machine, iTunes will tell you that you've reached your limit. You have two choices: deauthorize an old computer, or wait until the calendar year ends and Apple resets your authorization count.

To deauthorize a computer you no longer use, sign in to that machine, open iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, and enter your Apple ID password. If you no longer have access to the old computer, you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account settings on Apple's website — go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, scroll to the Security section, and look for "Manage your Authorizations" or a similar option. The exact wording changes with updates, but it's always in the security area.

How to deauthorize a computer you're selling or giving away

Before you hand over the machine, sign in to iTunes with your Apple ID one last time. Go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer and enter your password. This removes the authorization from that specific machine so the new owner can't play your purchases.

If you've already sold the computer and can't access it, use the remote deauthorization method described above through appleid.apple.com. You can deauthorize any of your five authorized computers from any other authorized device, so you don't need the original machine in front of you.

What happens if you sign out of your Apple ID

If you sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes, the computer loses its authorization automatically. This means if you later sign back in with a different Apple ID, that new account will need to authorize the computer separately. The old account's purchases won't play anymore.

This is useful if you're handing a computer to someone else — signing out removes all your authorization without needing to open the Authorizations menu. However, it also means you'll lose access to your own purchases on that machine, so only do this if you're sure you won't need them anymore.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If iTunes says you're already authorized but content still won't play, try signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in. Sometimes the authorization cache gets stuck, and re-entering your credentials refreshes it. Go to Account > Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then sign back in with your Apple ID and password.

If you see a message saying your authorization is invalid or expired, your computer's clock may be set to the wrong date or time. Check your system clock — go to System Preferences on Mac or Settings on Windows and make sure the date and time are correct. iTunes uses your system clock to verify authorization, and if it's wildly off, authorization fails. Once you've corrected the time, try playing the content again.

If you're still having trouble, make sure you're using the same Apple ID you used to buy the content. Content bought under one Apple ID won't play on a computer authorized under a different one. You can authorize the same computer under multiple Apple IDs if needed — just sign out and sign in with the other account, then authorize again.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. You can sign out of one Apple ID in iTunes and sign in with another, then authorize that computer under the second ID. Both accounts' purchases will play on that machine. However, you can only be signed in to one Apple ID at a time in iTunes, so you'll need to switch accounts if you want to access content from both.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

Go to iforgot.apple.com and follow the steps to reset your password. You'll need access to the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID. Once you've reset it, you can sign back into iTunes and authorize your computer.

Do I need to authorize my computer if I only stream music?

No. Authorization is only required for content you've bought or downloaded. If you only use iTunes to stream music through a subscription service like Apple Music, authorization doesn't explore. Streaming works as long as you're signed in to your Apple ID.

Can I authorize a computer that's not connected to the internet?

No. Authorization requires an internet connection so iTunes can contact Apple's servers and verify your Apple ID. Make sure your computer is online before you try to authorize it.

What happens to my authorization if I change my Apple ID password?

Your authorization stays active. Changing your password doesn't deauthorize the computer. However, the next time you try to play purchased content, iTunes may ask you to sign in again with your new password. Just enter it and you'll be able to play the content normally.