What authorizing a computer means and why iTunes requires it

Authorizing a computer tells Apple that you own or regularly use that machine and want to play music, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks you've bought through iTunes on it. Without authorization, you can read your purchases to the computer, but iTunes will refuse to play them. Apple limits you to five authorized computers at a time per Apple ID to prevent widespread sharing of paid content.

The authorization process is straightforward and takes less than a minute. You'll need your Apple ID and password, and the computer must be connected to the internet. Once authorized, anyone using that computer can play your iTunes purchases—but only your purchases, not someone else's library.

If you've recently bought a new computer, inherited one, or set up a fresh user account, you'll need to authorize it before iTunes will let you listen to or watch anything you've paid for.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your Apple ID to a specific computer so iTunes will play your purchases on that machine.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; authorizing a sixth one automatically deauthorizes the oldest.
  • The authorization process requires your Apple ID password and takes place entirely within iTunes or the Music app.
  • You can deauthorize a computer remotely through your Apple ID account if you no longer own it or want to free up a slot.

How to authorize a computer on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes (or the Music app on Mac running Monterey or later). From the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Account (on Mac) or Edit (on Windows), then select Authorizations, then Authorize This Computer.

A dialog box will appear asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter both and click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized and show you how many of your five slots are in use. The process is complete—you can now play any iTunes purchase tied to that Apple ID on this computer.

If you don't see the Account or Edit menu, make sure iTunes is fully open and not minimized. On some older Windows versions, you may need to click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper left corner of iTunes instead.

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

Apple allows five authorized computers per Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth one, iTunes will tell you that you've hit the limit and won't let you proceed. You have two options: deauthorize a computer you no longer use, or wait until Apple's automatic deauthorization kicks in.

To deauthorize a computer manually, open iTunes on that machine, go to Account or Edit > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, enter your Apple ID and password, and confirm. That computer will when ready lose access to your iTunes purchases, and the slot will become available for a new machine.

If you no longer have access to a computer you authorized (you sold it, it broke, or you forgot where it is), you can deauthorize it remotely. Visit , sign in with your Apple ID, scroll to Devices, find the computer in the list, and click Remove. This will deauthorize it without needing the machine itself.

Understanding what happens after authorization

Once a computer is authorized, iTunes will play your purchases whenever you open the app or Music app and select a song, movie, or show you've bought. You don't need to re-enter your password each time—the authorization is stored on the computer itself.

If someone else uses a different user account on the same computer, they will also be able to play your iTunes purchases, because authorization is tied to the machine, not to a specific user account. If you want to prevent this, you'll need to deauthorize the computer and keep your iTunes library on a separate account or device.

Authorizations last indefinitely until you deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password. If you change your password for security reasons, you may need to re-authorize some computers—iTunes will prompt you to do so the next time you try to play a purchase.

Deauthorizing all computers at once

If you've lost track of which computers you've authorized or want to start fresh, Apple lets you deauthorize all five at the same time through your Apple ID account online. Visit , sign in, go to Devices, and look for the option to Deauthorize All or Remove All Devices (the exact wording varies by region and account type).

This action will when ready revoke authorization on every computer linked to your Apple ID. You'll then need to re-authorize each machine you actually use. This is useful if you suspect someone has unauthorized access to your account or if you're selling multiple old computers and want to make sure none of them can still play your purchases.

Be aware that deauthorizing all computers is a one-time action per year—Apple limits how often you can do this to prevent abuse. If you need to deauthorize all computers more than once in a year, you may need to contact Apple Support.

Troubleshooting authorization problems

If iTunes says your computer is already authorized but won't play your purchases, try signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in. Open iTunes, go to Account or Edit, click Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then sign back in with your Apple ID and password. This refreshes the authorization without requiring you to deauthorize and re-authorize the computer.

If you see an error message saying "This computer is not authorized to play protected AAC audio files" or similar, the authorization may have become corrupted. Deauthorize the computer (go to Account or Edit > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer), restart iTunes, and then re-authorize it using the same menu path.

If you've forgotten your Apple ID password, you won't be able to authorize a new computer. Visit to reset your password, then return to iTunes and authorize the computer. If you're still having trouble after these steps, contact Apple Support—they can manually review your account and help restore access to your purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers, and each computer can be authorized by up to five different Apple IDs. This means multiple people can use the same computer and each play their own iTunes purchases. However, they'll each use one of their five authorization slots.

What happens to my iTunes purchases if I deauthorize a computer?

The purchases themselves stay in your iTunes library and in your account—they're not deleted. You straightforward won't be able to play them on that computer anymore. If you re-authorize the computer later, you'll be able to play them again when ready.

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

No. You can read purchases to any computer using your Apple ID, even if it's not authorized. Authorization is only required to actually play the files once they're downloaded.

Can I authorize a computer without the internet?

No. The computer must be connected to the internet to authorize. iTunes needs to contact Apple's servers to register the authorization. Once authorized, the computer can play purchases offline.

What if I sell my computer—do I need to deauthorize it?

Yes, you should deauthorize it before selling or giving it away. This prevents the new owner from playing your iTunes purchases. You can deauthorize it remotely through your Apple ID account online, or by signing into iTunes on the computer one last time before handing it over.