How to Authorize Your Computer for Apple Music

What Authorizing Your Computer Means

Authorizing a computer for Apple Music means linking that device to your Apple ID so it can stream music and access your library. When you authorize a Mac or Windows PC, Apple Music remembers that device as trusted, and you can play your music without re-entering your password every time. You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at once — if you reach that limit, you must deauthorize an old device before adding a new one.

Authorization is different from straightforward signing in. Signing in gets you access to the app; authorizing tells Apple's servers that this specific computer is allowed to play protected content from your library. Without authorization, you may see error messages when trying to play songs, or the app may ask you to authorize before playing anything.

Key Takeaways

• You authorize a computer through the Music app (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) by going to Account menu and selecting "Authorize This Computer."
• You need your Apple ID and password to authorize, and the computer must be connected to the internet.
• Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers at once; deauthorize old devices if you reach that limit.
• Authorization lasts until you manually deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password.
• If you forget to deauthorize a computer before selling or giving it away, you can deauthorize it remotely from another device.

How to Authorize on a Mac

Open the Music app on your Mac. If you don't see it in your Dock, open Finder, go to Applications, and double-click Music. Once the app is open, look at the menu bar at the very top of your screen — you'll see "Music" as the first menu option after the Apple logo.

Click on "Music" in the menu bar, then scroll down to find "Account." Click "Account," and a submenu will appear. Select "Authorize This Computer." A window will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password. Type in the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID, then enter your password. Click "Authorize." The app will confirm that your computer is now authorized, and you can close the window.

If you have two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID (which is common for security), you may see an additional prompt asking you to verify your identity. Check your iPhone, iPad, or another trusted device — Apple will send a notification asking you to approve the authorization. Tap "Allow" on that device, and your Mac will complete the process.

How to Authorize on Windows

On a Windows PC, you'll use iTunes to authorize, not a separate Music app. Open iTunes — if you don't have it, read it from Apple's website. Once iTunes is open, look at the menu bar at the top. Click on "Account," and a dropdown menu will appear.

From the Account menu, select "Authorize This Computer." A dialog box will open asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter your Apple ID (the email address or phone number you use) and your password, then click "Authorize." Windows will confirm the authorization, and you're done.

Like on Mac, if you have two-factor authentication enabled, you'll need to approve the authorization on another trusted device. You'll see a prompt on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac asking you to allow the authorization. Approve it, and iTunes will finish the process on your Windows computer.

What to Do If You Reach Your Five-Computer Limit

Apple allows each account to authorize five computers at the same time. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, you'll see an error message saying you've reached your limit. To add a new computer, you must deauthorize one of the old ones first.

On Mac, go to Music > Account > Deauthorize This Computer, then enter your Apple ID and password. On Windows, go to Account > Deauthorize This Computer in iTunes and do the same. Choose which computer you use least often, or one you no longer own, and deauthorize that one. After deauthorizing, you can when ready authorize your new computer.

If you've sold a computer or no longer have access to it, you can deauthorize it remotely. On any authorized computer, go to Account and look for an option to "Deauthorize All" (Mac) or manage your authorized computers (Windows). Some versions of iTunes and Music also let you deauthorize devices through your Apple ID account on Apple's website — sign in at appleid.apple.com, go to Security, and look for a list of authorized devices.

When Authorization Expires or Stops Working

Authorization stays active until you manually deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password. If you change your password for security reasons, all your authorized computers will be logged out, and you'll need to authorize them again the next time you try to play music.

If you see an error message saying your computer is not authorized, even though you authorized it before, try signing out and back in. On Mac, go to Music > Account > Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then go back to Account and sign in with your Apple ID. On Windows, do the same in iTunes. After signing back in, try playing a song — the app may re-authorize automatically, or you may need to go through the authorization step again.

If the problem persists, restart your computer and make sure you're connected to the internet. Then try authorizing again. If you still see errors, check that you're using the correct Apple ID — sometimes people have multiple Apple IDs and forget which one they used for their music library.

Deauthorizing Before You Sell or Give Away a Computer

Before selling, donating, or giving away a computer, always deauthorize it first. This removes your Apple ID from that device and prevents the new owner from accessing your music library or making purchases under your account.

On Mac, open Music, click Music in the menu bar, select Account, and click "Deauthorize This Computer." Enter your Apple ID and password. On Windows, open iTunes, click Account, and select "Deauthorize This Computer," then enter your credentials. After deauthorizing, you can safely hand over the computer.

If you forgot to deauthorize before giving away the computer, don't panic. Sign in to your Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com from any other device. Look for a section called "Devices" or "Security," find the computer you want to remove, and select the option to deauthorize or remove it. This will remotely log out your Apple ID from that computer and prevent anyone else from using your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to authorize my computer if I only use Apple Music on my phone?

No. Authorization is only needed for computers running the Music app (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Your iPhone or iPad does not require authorization — you straightforward sign in with your Apple ID in the Music app settings. Computers need authorization because they can store and play protected audio files locally.

What happens if I authorize a computer and then never use it?

Nothing bad happens. The authorization stays active until you deauthorize it or change your Apple ID password. It doesn't use up any resources or slow down your account. However, if you've reached your five-computer limit and want to authorize a new device, you'll need to deauthorize the unused one first.

Can someone else use my authorized computer to play my music?

Yes, anyone with access to your authorized computer can play your Apple Music library and any music you've purchased. If you share a computer with family members and want to keep your library private, consider using separate user accounts on that computer, or deauthorize it when you're not using it.

Why does Apple Music ask me to authorize when I already signed in?

The app may ask you to authorize if your authorization expired (usually because you changed your Apple ID password), or if there was a connection error during your last session. straightforward go to Account and authorize again — it only takes a few seconds and requires your Apple ID and password.

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Each computer can only be authorized once per Apple ID. If you try to authorize it again, the app will tell you it's already authorized. If you want to switch to a different Apple ID on the same computer, deauthorize it first, then authorize it with the new Apple ID.