What Authorizing a Computer in iTunes Does

Authorizing a computer in iTunes lets you play music, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks you bought from the iTunes Store on that specific device. Without authorization, you will see a message asking you to authorize before you can play purchased content. Authorization links your Apple ID to the computer, so iTunes knows you own the rights to use that media there.

You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. If you reach that limit and want to use a sixth computer, you will need to deauthorize one of the existing computers first. The authorization stays active until you manually deauthorize the computer or until you change your Apple ID password.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization connects your Apple ID to a computer so you can play iTunes Store purchases on that device.
  • You authorize through the Account menu in iTunes on Windows or the iTunes menu on Mac.
  • You can authorize up to five computers under one Apple ID at the same time.
  • If you forget to deauthorize before selling or giving away a computer, you can remotely deauthorize all computers from your Apple ID settings online.

How to Authorize a Computer on Windows

Open iTunes on your Windows computer. At the top of the window, click the Account menu. If you do not see a menu bar, press Ctrl + B to show it. From the Account menu, select Authorizations, then click Authorize This Computer.

A window will open asking for your Apple ID and password. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID, then type your password. Click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that your computer is now authorized. The process takes a few seconds. You can now play any iTunes Store purchases on this computer.

How to Authorize a Computer on Mac

Open iTunes on your Mac. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click iTunes (not File or Edit). Select Account from the dropdown menu, then choose Authorizations. Click Authorize This Computer.

Enter your Apple ID email address or phone number and your password when prompted. Click Authorize. Your Mac is now authorized to play iTunes Store purchases. The authorization is when ready and will remain active until you deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password.

What to Do If You Reach Five Authorized Computers

iTunes limits you to five authorized computers per Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, you will see a message saying you have reached the authorization limit. To authorize the new computer, you must first deauthorize one of the existing five.

Open iTunes on any of your authorized computers. Go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password, then click Deauthorize. That computer is now removed from your list. You can then authorize your new computer using the steps above. If you cannot access one of your five computers to deauthorize it, you can deauthorize all computers at once through your Apple ID account online — see the section below.

How to Deauthorize All Computers at Once Online

If you have sold a computer, given one away, or straightforward cannot access one of your five authorized computers, you can deauthorize all of them remotely. Go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser and sign in with your Apple ID email and password.

Click Devices in the left sidebar. Find the section labeled iTunes in the Cloud or Media & Purchases (the exact name varies by region). Look for an option to deauthorize all computers — it may say Deauthorize All or Remove All Devices. Click it and confirm. All five of your authorized computers will be deauthorized when ready. You can then authorize your current computer fresh using the steps above.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

If you see an error message when trying to authorize, the most common cause is an incorrect Apple ID or password. Double-check that you are using the correct email address or phone number and that your password is typed correctly. If you have recently changed your Apple ID password, you may need to sign out of iTunes and sign back in before authorization will work.

If iTunes itself will not open or keeps crashing, try restarting your computer first. On Windows, you can also try uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes from the Microsoft Store or Apple's website. On Mac, restart in Safe Mode by holding Shift while your computer starts up, then try authorizing again. If you still cannot authorize after these steps, contact Apple Support — they can manually remove your computer from the authorization list if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

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

What happens if I deauthorize a computer but still have iTunes purchases on it?

You will not be able to play those purchases on that computer anymore. The files remain on the hard drive, but iTunes will block playback and ask you to authorize. This is why you should deauthorize only computers you no longer use or are about to sell.

Do I need to authorize my iPhone or iPad?

No. iPhones and iPads use a different system. They sync with an authorized computer, but they do not need separate authorization themselves. As long as the computer is authorized, content will sync to your phone or tablet.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely until you deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password. If you change your password for security reasons, you will need to re-authorize all your computers with the new password.

Can someone else use my authorized computer to play my iTunes purchases?

Yes. Once a computer is authorized under your Apple ID, anyone using that computer can play your iTunes Store purchases. This is why you should only authorize computers you personally control and deauthorize them before selling or giving them away.