Authorizing Your Computer in iTunes Lets You Play Purchased Content

Authorization in iTunes is Apple's way of confirming that you own the computer you're using and that you have the right to play music, movies, and TV shows you've bought. When you authorize a Mac or Windows PC, iTunes stores a record that links your Apple ID to that machine. Without authorization, you can read your purchases but won't be able to play them.

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at any given time. If you reach that limit and want to authorize a sixth machine, you'll need to deauthorize one of the existing computers first. The process takes less than a minute and requires only your Apple ID and password.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization links your Apple ID to a specific computer so you can play purchased music, movies, and TV shows on that machine.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; reaching the limit means deauthorizing an old computer before adding a new one.
  • The authorization process happens inside iTunes and requires your Apple ID credentials but no additional setup or waiting period.
  • If you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it from that machine or from another authorized computer to free up a slot.

Steps to Authorize a Computer in iTunes on Mac

Open iTunes on your Mac. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Account, then select Authorizations, then Authorize This Computer. A window will appear asking for your Apple ID and password.

Enter the email address associated with your Apple ID and your password, then click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that your computer is now authorized. You'll see a message stating the number of computers you have authorized out of the five allowed. Close the window and you're done — you can now play your purchased content on this Mac.

Steps to Authorize a Computer in iTunes on Windows

Open iTunes on your Windows PC. Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper left corner, then select Account. From the dropdown, choose Authorizations, then Authorize This Computer.

A dialog box will open asking for your Apple ID email and password. Type both in, then click Authorize. iTunes will confirm authorization and show you how many of your five allowed computers are now authorized. You can close the window and begin playing your purchases when ready.

How to Deauthorize a Computer You No Longer Use

If you've reached your five-computer limit or you're selling or replacing a machine, you need to deauthorize the old computer. The easiest way is to do it from the computer itself while you still have access to it. Open iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, enter your Apple ID and password, and confirm.

If you no longer have access to the computer — for example, if you've already sold it — you can deauthorize it remotely. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, scroll to the Devices section, find the computer you want to remove, and click Remove. This frees up one authorization slot so you can authorize a different machine.

What Happens If You Don't Authorize Your Computer

If you try to play a purchased song, movie, or TV show on an unauthorized computer, iTunes will stop playback and ask you to authorize. You won't be able to listen or watch until you complete the authorization process. Downloaded content sits on your drive but remains locked.

Authorization is separate from downloading. You can read purchases to an unauthorized computer without a problem — the restriction only applies when you try to actually play them. This means you can move files around and organize them, but you won't hear or see anything until the computer is authorized.

Troubleshooting Authorization Problems

If iTunes says you've already authorized a computer but you're still getting playback errors, try deauthorizing and authorizing again. Sometimes the authorization record gets corrupted, and a fresh authorization fixes it. Make sure you're using the correct Apple ID — if you've changed your ID or you're using a different one than the original purchase account, authorization will fail.

If you see a message that you've reached your five-computer limit, check your Apple ID account online to see which computers are currently authorized. You may find old machines you forgot about. Deauthorize any you no longer use, then authorize your current computer. If you're still having trouble, restart iTunes and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. A single computer can be authorized with up to five different Apple IDs, so multiple people in a household can each play their own purchases on the same Mac or PC. Each person's authorization counts toward their own five-computer limit, not a shared one.

What happens to my authorization if I reinstall iTunes or my operating system?

Reinstalling iTunes does not remove your authorization — it stays tied to the computer itself. However, if you completely wipe your hard drive and reinstall your operating system, the authorization is lost and you'll need to authorize again. iTunes stores authorization data in system files that get erased during a full wipe.

Do I need to authorize my computer to read purchases from iTunes?

No. You can read any purchase to any computer using your Apple ID, whether it's authorized or not. Authorization is only required to actually play the content. This means you can grab a file on a friend's computer and move it to yours later.

Can I authorize a computer if I don't have an Apple ID?

No. Authorization requires an Apple ID and password. If you don't have one, you can create a free Apple ID at appleid.apple.com. You'll need a valid email address and a password you create yourself.