How to Authorize Computers in Apple Music or iTunes

This article explains how to authorize a computer for Apple Music or iTunes so that you can listen to your music on multiple devices.

How to Authorize a Computer to Play Apple Music or iTunes Media

To authorize another computer to play your Apple Music or iTunes purchases, follow these steps:

1. Open Apple Music or iTunes on a computer you want to authorize.

2. Go to the menu bar and select Account.

3. Select Authorizations in the drop-down menu.

4. Choose Authorize This Computer.

5. Input your Apple ID and password when prompted to do so.

Now, Apple Music or iTunes on that computer can access and play all the content you purchased with your Apple ID—and only that content.

What Does Apple Music and iTunes Authorization Do?

Authorizing a PC or Mac in iTunes or Apple Music grants the computer access to and permission to play any media you purchased using your Apple ID. Apple allows you to authorize up to five computers to use content purchased with a single Apple ID. The computer you initially buy the media is the first computer of the five authorized to play it.

How to Deauthorize a Computer

Because you can only authorize five computers at a time, you may occasionally need to free up one of your activations or prevent the playback of your files on another computer. For example, if you sell or give away a computer, deauthorize it first by going to Account on the Apple Music or iTunes menu bar and then to Authorizations. Choose Deauthorize This Computer from the slide-out menu.

How to Deauthorize Computers You No Longer Have

If you no longer have access to a computer that you previously authorized with your Apple ID (because it doesn't work or you sold it, for example), and it takes up one of the five authorization slots that you now need, deauthorize all computers under that Apple ID. This will free up all five of those slots so you can reauthorize your computers.

1. Open Apple Music or iTunes.

2. Select Account on the right side of the screen.

3. In the Apple ID Summary section, select Deauthorize All next to Computer Authorizations.

At this point, that computer is no longer authorized to play your Apple Music or iTunes purchases—nor are any others. Go to each computer that you want to be authorized and reauthorize it.