How do I allow iTunes to authorize my computer?

iTunes uses authorization as a way to limit the number of computers that can play content purchased from the iTunes Store. By default, iTunes will allow you to authorize 5 computers per account. Once you’ve reached the authorization limit, you’ll need to deauthorize one of your other computers before adding a new one.

What is authorization?

When you purchase content from the iTunes Store, such as music, movies, apps, and more, the files you download contain DRM (digital rights management) restrictions. This prevents the files from being played on unlimited devices.

To play your purchased content, iTunes needs to authorize the computer. This ties your iTunes account credentials to that specific machine. Once authorized, that computer can play and sync any content purchased with your iTunes account.

Check your current authorizations

Before authorizing a new computer, you’ll want to check how many computers are currently authorized on your iTunes account. Here’s how:

1. Open iTunes on your Windows PC or Mac.
2. Click on Account in the menu bar at the top.
3. Select View My Account.
4. This will open a page in your web browser logged in to your iTunes account. Click on Settings in the sidebar.
5. Under iTunes in the Cloud, it will show Authorized Computers. This lists any devices currently authorized.

If you’ve already reached the 5 computer limit, you’ll need to deauthorize one before being able to authorize the new computer.

Deauthorizing a computer

To deauthorize a computer from your iTunes account:

1. Open iTunes on the computer you want to deauthorize.
2. Click on Account in the menu bar and select Deauthorize This Computer.
3. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.
4. Click the Deauthorize button to confirm.

This will remove that specific computer from your list of authorized devices. You can then use that authorization slot to add your new computer instead.

Keep in mind that deauthorizing a computer will remove the authorization from any content purchased from that iTunes library. You’ll need to authorize the computer again in order to play that purchased content.

Authorizing your new computer

Once you’ve confirmed an available authorization slot, follow these steps to authorize your new computer on iTunes:

1. Open iTunes on your new computer.
2. Click on Account in the menu bar and choose Authorize This Computer.
3. Enter your Apple ID and password.
4. Click the Authorize button.

iTunes will communicate with Apple’s servers to add your new computer to the list of authorized devices. As long as you have an available authorization slot, this process usually completes instantly.

Once authorized, that computer will be able to play any content purchased from your iTunes account. This includes music, movies, apps, and books. You can also set up iTunes Match and sync your iPod or iOS device from this computer.

Troubleshooting tips

Here are some troubleshooting steps if you run into any problems authorizing your computer on iTunes:

• Make sure you’re logged into iTunes with the correct Apple ID. Double check your account under the Account menu.
• Check your internet connection. iTunes needs an internet connection to communicate with Apple’s authorization servers.
• Try restarting your computer and iTunes app if you run into any connection issues.
• If you reached your authorization limit, double check that you successfully deauthorized another computer first.
• You can also try signing out of the iTunes Store under your Account settings. Then sign back in and try authorizing again.

Reauthorizing your computer

If you plan to reinstall macOS or Windows on your computer, you’ll need to reauthorize iTunes once you’ve set back up your machine. Follow the same authorization steps as if it were a new computer:

1. Open iTunes and make sure you’re logged into the correct Apple ID.
2. Select Account > Authorize This Computer.
3. Enter your password when prompted.

This will authorize your clean installation of macOS or Windows to access your purchased iTunes content.

Authorizing after a local data loss

If you lose data on your local hard drive, your computer may show up as “authorized” but be unable to play purchased content. This is because the internal authorization records got erased. Follow these steps to restore authorization:

1. Open iTunes and go to Account > Deauthorize This Computer.
2. Sign out of the iTunes & App Store under Account settings.
3. Sign back into the iTunes & App Store.
4. Go to Account > Authorize This Computer.

This will re-authorize your computer to access your purchased content after a local data loss.

Authorizing after a new install of iTunes

Whenever you install a major new version of iTunes, your computer will typically need to be reauthorized. Follow the same process as authorizing a new computer:

1. Open the newly updated version of iTunes.
2. Make sure you’re logged into your Apple ID account.
3. Go to Account > Authorize This Computer.
4. Enter your password to authorize this installation of iTunes.

Keep in mind you can always deauthorize your computer later if needed.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need to authorize my computer?

Authorization is how Apple limits each iTunes account to 5 active computers at a time. This prevents unlimited copies of purchased content being played across unlimited devices. Authorization ties your iTunes purchases to specific authorized machines.

What happens when I deauthorize a computer?

Deauthorizing removes that specific computer from being able to play content purchased under your iTunes account. You’ll need to authorize it again to reinstate access on that machine. Deauthorizing also frees up one of your 5 computer authorization slots.

Can I authorize more than 5 computers?

Unfortunately no – Apple limits each iTunes account to 5 authorized computers max. If you want to authorize a 6th computer, you’ll first need to deauthorize one of your existing 5.

Do I have to re-download my purchases after authorizing?

No, you shouldn’t have to re-download anything after authorizing a computer. As long as the purchased content is associated with your iTunes account, it will play once authorized regardless of which machine you download it on.

Why does it say I’ve reached my authorization limit?

If you see a message about reaching your authorization limit, it means you already have 5 computers tied to your iTunes account. You’ll need to deauthorize one of those 5 before being able to authorize another computer.

How do I reset all my authorizations?

You can quickly deauthorize all computers at once from your iTunes account settings. Just go to Settings > Authorized Computers and click the Deauthorize All button. This will reset your list of authorized devices back to zero.

Summary

Here’s a quick rundown of the key things to know about authorizing computers on iTunes:

• Authorization gives a computer access to content purchased under your iTunes account.
• iTunes allows up to 5 authorized computers per account.
• Deauthorize old computers you no longer use to free up authorization slots.
• Authorizing a computer is easy – just choose Account > Authorize.
• You may need to reauthorize after major events like reinstalling macOS/Windows, new iTunes versions, or data loss.
• Check your authorized computers list anytime under Account settings.

Following the steps in this guide, you should now understand how to authorize a new computer to access your purchased iTunes content. Just remember to deauthorize old computers first if needed to stay under the 5 device limit.

Conclusion

Authorization gives iTunes the ability to limit purchased content to 5 specific computers per account. This prevents unlimited copies of files from being accessed across unlimited devices. By following the authorization steps when adding a new computer, you can make sure it has permission to play your iTunes content.

The key points are:

• Check your authorized computers list to see available slots.
• Deauthorize unused computers to open authorization slots.
• Authorize your new computer by choosing Account > Authorize This Computer.
• You may need to periodically reauthorize computers after major events like OS reinstalls or new iTunes versions.
• Troubleshoot authorization issues by checking your Apple ID, internet connection, and authorization limits.

With this understanding of the iTunes authorization system, you can now comfortably add new computers and manage your list of authorized devices.