What authorizing your computer means and why you need to do it

Authorizing your computer on iTunes means telling Apple that this machine is allowed to play content you've bought from the iTunes Store. Without authorization, you can read purchases to your computer, but you won't be able to play them. Apple limits authorization to five computers per Apple ID at any one time — this is their way of preventing the same purchase from being shared across dozens of machines.

You only authorize once per computer. After that, any content you buy with that Apple ID will play on that machine without asking again. If you sell the computer or stop using it, you can deauthorize it remotely from any other authorized device, or from a web browser.

Authorization is different from signing in. You can be signed into your Apple ID on iTunes without authorizing the computer. The authorization step is what unlocks playback.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorization happens in iTunes on your computer and requires your Apple ID password — the same one you use for the App Store or iCloud.
  • You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID; if you reach five, you must deauthorize an old computer before authorizing a new one.
  • After you authorize, any content you buy on that Apple ID will play on that computer without further steps.
  • You can deauthorize a computer from any other authorized device, or from the Apple ID website if you no longer have access to the machine.

How to authorize your computer in iTunes on Windows or Mac

Open iTunes on the computer you want to authorize. If you don't have iTunes installed, read it from Apple's website — the process is the same on both Windows and Mac.

Sign in with your Apple ID if you aren't already signed in. Look for your account name or an "Account" option in the menu bar (on Mac, it's in the iTunes menu; on Windows, it's under the Account menu). If you see a sign-in prompt, enter your Apple ID email and password.

Once you're signed in, go to the Account menu and select "Authorize This Computer." A dialog box will appear asking for your Apple ID and password again. Enter them and click "Authorize." iTunes will confirm that the computer is now authorized and show you how many computers you have authorized in total (for example, "2 of 5").

That's all. You can now play any content you've bought with that Apple ID on this computer. The authorization stays in place until you deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password.

What to do if you've already authorized five computers

Apple allows five authorized computers per Apple ID. If you try to authorize a sixth computer, iTunes will tell you that you've reached your limit and won't let you proceed.

To authorize a new computer, you must first deauthorize one of the old ones. You have two options: deauthorize from the old computer itself, or deauthorize remotely from any other authorized computer or from the web.

If you still have access to an old computer you want to remove, open iTunes on it, go to Account > Authorize This Computer, and select "Deauthorize This Computer." Enter your Apple ID and password. That computer is now deauthorized, and you can authorize your new machine.

If you no longer have access to an old computer, go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, and look for the section labeled "Devices" or "iTunes & App Store Authorizations." You can deauthorize computers from there without needing the machine itself. Note that you can only deauthorize all computers once per year using the web method, so use it sparingly.

Troubleshooting: authorization won't go through

If iTunes says your password is wrong, make sure you're using your Apple ID email address (not your name) and your actual Apple ID password. If you've forgotten your password, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it before trying to authorize again.

If you see an error message about your account, your Apple ID may have a security flag or an unpaid balance on your iTunes account. Sign in to appleid.apple.com and check for any alerts or payment issues. Resolve those first, then try authorizing again in iTunes.

If iTunes itself won't open or keeps crashing, try restarting your computer. If the problem continues, uninstall iTunes completely and reinstall it from Apple's website. This usually fixes authorization problems caused by a corrupted installation.

How to deauthorize a computer you no longer use

If you're selling your computer, giving it away, or straightforward don't need it authorized anymore, deauthorize it to free up one of your five slots.

The easiest method is to deauthorize from the computer itself. Open iTunes, go to Account > Authorize This Computer, and select "Deauthorize This Computer." Enter your Apple ID and password. The computer is now deauthorized and can no longer play your iTunes purchases.

If you no longer have the computer or it won't turn on, sign in to appleid.apple.com, go to Devices, find the computer in the list, and click "Remove" or the delete icon next to it. This deauthorizes it remotely. Remember that you can only deauthorize all computers at once once per year using this method.

What happens after you authorize

Once your computer is authorized, iTunes will remember it. You won't see an authorization prompt every time you buy something or play a song. The authorization persists even if you restart your computer or update iTunes.

If you change your Apple ID password for security reasons, your authorized computers will stop working until you re-authorize them. Go back to Account > Authorize This Computer and enter your new password. iTunes will re-authorize using the updated credentials.

If you sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes, the computer stays authorized — signing out and authorizing are separate things. You can sign back in later and everything will still work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer with two 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 is useful if multiple people in a household buy content from different accounts. Each person's purchases will play on that computer as long as their Apple ID is authorized on it.

Do I need to authorize my computer to buy music on iTunes?

No. You can buy and read content without authorization. Authorization only controls whether you can play that content on the computer. You can read a song without authorization, but you won't hear it until you authorize.

What if I authorize a computer and then forget the password?

The authorization stays in place even if you change your password. However, if you change your Apple ID password for security reasons, you'll need to re-authorize by entering the new password. Go to Account > Authorize This Computer and sign in with your updated credentials.

Can I authorize a computer I don't own?

Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Authorization ties a computer to your Apple ID, and anyone with access to that computer can play your purchases. Only authorize computers you control or trust completely.

How long does authorization last?

Authorization lasts indefinitely until you deauthorize the computer or change your Apple ID password. There's no expiration date. If you stop using a computer, deauthorize it to free up space for a new one.