What Authorizing Your Computer in iTunes Does

Authorizing your computer in iTunes lets you play music, movies, and TV shows you bought from the iTunes Store on that specific device. When you buy content from Apple, it's tied to your Apple ID. Authorization confirms that your computer is allowed to access and play that content. Without authorization, you'll see a message asking you to authorize before you can listen or watch.

You can authorize up to five computers per Apple ID at any given time. If you reach that limit and want to authorize a new computer, you'll need to deauthorize an old one first. Authorization is separate from signing in — you can be signed into your Apple ID without having authorized the computer to play your purchased content.

Key Takeaways

  • Open iTunes, go to Account menu, and select Authorize This Computer to authorize in one step.
  • You will need your Apple ID and password to complete authorization.
  • Each Apple ID can authorize up to five computers, and you can deauthorize remotely if you no longer use a device.
  • Authorization lasts until you manually deauthorize the computer or until you deauthorize all computers at once from your Apple ID settings.

Steps to Authorize Your Computer

Open iTunes on your computer. If you don't have iTunes installed, read it from Apple's website first. Once iTunes is open, look at the menu bar at the top of the window.

Click on Account in the menu bar. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select Authorize This Computer from the list. A dialog box will pop up asking for your Apple ID and password.

Type in your Apple ID (usually your email address) and your password, then click Authorize. iTunes will confirm that your computer is now authorized. You should see a message saying something like "This computer is authorized" or showing the number of computers you have authorized under this Apple ID.

Once authorization is complete, you can play any music, movies, or TV shows you purchased from the iTunes Store on that computer. The process takes less than a minute.

What to Do If You Don't See the Authorize Option

If the Authorize This Computer option is grayed out or missing, your computer may already be authorized. Check by going to Account menu again — if you see Deauthorize This Computer instead, authorization is already active.

If you're using a newer Mac with Apple Music or the Music app instead of iTunes, the authorization process is slightly different. Open the Music app, go to Music in the menu bar, then select Preferences. Click the General tab, then look for an Authorize button. The steps are the same from there — enter your Apple ID and password.

On Windows computers running iTunes, the menu bar may be hidden. Press Ctrl + B to show it, then follow the same Account menu steps.

How to Deauthorize a Computer

If you sell a computer, give it away, or straightforward want to free up one of your five authorization slots, you can deauthorize it. Open iTunes, click Account, and select Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted, and the computer will be deauthorized when ready.

You can also deauthorize computers remotely without having access to them. Go to Account, then select View My Account. Sign in with your Apple ID. Scroll down to find Manage Devices or Computers and Devices (the exact wording varies). You'll see a list of all computers you've authorized. Click the Remove button next to any computer you want to deauthorize.

If you've forgotten your password or can't access a computer you authorized, you can deauthorize all computers at once from your Apple ID account page. Look for an option that says Deauthorize All. This removes authorization from every computer linked to your account, and you can then reauthorize the ones you actually use.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

If you see an error message saying "The iTunes Store is unable to process the authorization request," your internet connection may be the problem. Check that you're connected to the internet, then try again. If you're on a corporate network or behind a firewall, those can sometimes block authorization — try connecting to a different network if possible.

If you enter your password and nothing happens, make sure Caps Lock is off and that you're using the correct Apple ID. Your Apple ID is usually the email address associated with your iTunes account, not a username. If you've changed your password recently, use the new one.

If you've already authorized five computers and want to authorize a sixth, you must deauthorize one first. There's no way around the five-computer limit. Deauthorize the computer you use least, then authorize the new one.

How Long Authorization Lasts

Once you authorize a computer, it stays authorized until you manually deauthorize it or until you deauthorize all computers at once. There's no expiration date — authorization doesn't expire after a certain number of months or years.

If you change your Apple ID password, your authorized computers will continue to work. You don't need to reauthorize them. However, if someone else signs into your Apple ID on a new computer, that computer will need to be authorized separately before it can play your purchased content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I authorize the same computer twice?

No. Once a computer is authorized under your Apple ID, authorizing it again does nothing — it's already on your list. If you want to authorize it under a different Apple ID, you must first deauthorize it under the current ID, then authorize it under the new one.

What happens if I authorize a computer and then sell it?

The new owner will not be able to play your purchased content on that computer unless they sign in with your Apple ID. To prevent this, deauthorize the computer before you sell it. You can do this remotely from your Apple ID account page if you no longer have access to the computer itself.

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

No. Apple Music is a streaming service, so you don't need authorization to listen. Authorization is only required for content you purchased from the iTunes Store — music, movies, and TV shows you bought, not rented or streamed.

Can I authorize a computer without an internet connection?

No. Your computer must be connected to the internet to complete authorization. iTunes needs to contact Apple's servers to verify your Apple ID and register the computer. Once authorization is complete, you can play purchased content offline.

What if I forgot which computers I've authorized?

Sign into your Apple ID account on Apple's website, go to Manage Devices or Computers and Devices, and you'll see a list of every computer you've authorized. The list shows the device name and when it was authorized, so you can identify which ones you still use.