What authorizing a computer means and why you need to do it
Authorizing a computer for Apple Music means telling Apple that this particular device is allowed to play music you've purchased or subscribed to through your Apple account. When you set up Apple Music on a new computer, the system requires authorization to confirm the device belongs to someone with legitimate access to your account.
You authorize a computer the first time you open Apple Music or iTunes and sign in with your Apple ID. The authorization happens automatically in most cases — you won't see a separate "authorize" button. However, if you've reached your device limit (up to five computers per Apple ID), you'll need to deauthorize an older computer before the new one will work.
Authorization is different from straightforward logging in. Logging in gives you access to your account; authorization tells Apple's servers that this specific computer is trusted to stream and read your music library. Without authorization, you can sign in but won't be able to play protected content.
Key Takeaways
- Authorization happens automatically when you sign into Apple Music with your Apple ID on a new computer.
- You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID, and you must deauthorize an old computer before adding a sixth.
- To deauthorize a computer you no longer use, open Music or iTunes, go to Account settings, and select "Deauthorize This Computer."
- If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset it through your Apple account recovery page before attempting to authorize a new device.
How to authorize a computer on first sign-in
When you open Apple Music or iTunes on a computer for the first time, the app will prompt you to sign in with your Apple ID. Enter your Apple ID email address and password, then click "Sign In." The system will automatically authorize that computer to your account.
On a Mac running macOS Monterey or later, open the Music app from your Applications folder. On a Windows PC, read and install iTunes from Apple's website. In both cases, the authorization process is the same: sign in with your Apple ID credentials, and the computer becomes authorized when ready. You should see your account name appear in the app's menu bar or settings area, confirming the authorization worked.
The authorization is now active and will remain so until you manually deauthorize the computer or until you deauthorize it remotely through your Apple account settings. You can now stream music, read songs for offline listening, and access your library on that computer.
Deauthorizing a computer you no longer use
If you've reached the five-computer limit and need to add a new device, you must deauthorize an old computer first. The fastest way is to do this directly on the computer you want to remove — open Music or iTunes, click the menu (on Mac) or Edit (on Windows), find Account settings, and look for an option that says "Deauthorize This Computer." Click it, enter your Apple ID password when prompted, and that computer is removed from your authorized list.
If you no longer have access to a computer you want to deauthorize — for example, you sold it or it was stolen — you can deauthorize it remotely. Visit your Apple ID account page at appleid.apple.com, sign in, go to Security settings, and look for "Devices." Find the computer in the list and select "Remove" or a similar option. This removes the authorization without needing the physical machine.
After deauthorizing, you can authorize a new computer by signing into Apple Music or iTunes on that device with your Apple ID. The new authorization takes effect when ready.
What to do if authorization fails
If you sign into Apple Music but the app won't let you play music, the computer may not have completed authorization. First, check that you're signed in with the correct Apple ID — the one you use for your Apple Music subscription. Open the app's settings or preferences, find the Account section, and verify the email address matches your subscription account.
If you're signed in correctly but still can't play music, try signing out and signing back in. On a Mac, click Music in the menu bar, then Account, then Sign Out. On Windows, click Edit, then Preferences, then Account, then Sign Out. Wait a few seconds, then sign back in with your Apple ID. This often completes the authorization process if it stalled the first time.
If the problem persists, restart your computer entirely. Sometimes the authorization request gets stuck in the background and needs a fresh start. After restarting, open Apple Music again and sign in. If you still see an error, check that your internet connection is stable — authorization requires a live connection to Apple's servers.
Understanding the five-computer limit
Apple allows you to authorize up to five computers per Apple ID. This limit exists to prevent one account from being shared across too many devices. Once you've authorized five computers, you cannot authorize a sixth until you deauthorize one of the existing five.
The limit applies to computers, not to other devices like iPhones or iPads — those use a different authorization system. A Mac and a Windows PC both count toward the five-computer limit, so if you've authorized three Macs and two Windows PCs, you've used all five slots.
If you're unsure which computers you've authorized, you can check your list on the Apple ID website. Sign in at appleid.apple.com, go to Security, and look at your Devices section. This shows all computers, phones, and tablets linked to your account. You can remove any device from this list at any time.
Authorizing a computer on a shared network
If you share a computer with other people in your household, each person can sign into Apple Music with their own Apple ID. When the second person signs in, that computer becomes authorized to their account as well. The computer can now play music from both accounts.
However, only one person can be signed into the Music app at a time. To switch accounts, sign out of the current account and sign in with a different Apple ID. The computer remains authorized to both accounts, so switching is quick — you won't need to re-authorize.
If you want to prevent other people on the computer from accessing your music library, you can create a separate user account on the computer itself (a Windows or Mac user account, not an Apple ID). Each computer user account can have its own Apple Music sign-in, keeping libraries separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to authorize my iPhone or iPad for Apple Music?
No. iPhones and iPads use a different system — they authorize through iCloud when you sign in with your Apple ID in Settings. Computers running Music or iTunes are the only devices that require the separate authorization step described here.
What happens if I authorize a computer and then sell it?
The new owner can sign into Apple Music with their own Apple ID, but the computer will still be authorized to your account until you deauthorize it. You should deauthorize it before selling or giving away the computer. If you forget, you can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account page.
Can I authorize the same computer twice with different Apple IDs?
Yes. A single computer can be authorized to multiple Apple IDs. Each person signs in with their own account, and the computer becomes authorized to that account. You can switch between accounts by signing out and signing in with a different Apple ID.
How long does authorization take?
Authorization is usually when ready — it happens as soon as you sign in and your computer connects to Apple's servers. If it takes more than a few seconds, your internet connection may be slow. Restart the app or your computer if authorization seems stuck.
What if I forgot my Apple ID password?
Visit iforgot.apple.com and follow the steps to reset your password. You'll need access to a recovery email address or phone number linked to your account. Once you've reset your password, you can sign into Apple Music on your computer with the new password, and authorization will complete.