How to Authorize and Deauthorize a Computer with Apple Music or iTunes

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Grace
July 31, 2026

To access your iTunes Store and Apple Account purchases, you’ll first need to authorize it. On a Mac, authorization is handled through the Apple Music app or Apple TV app; on Windows, you can authorize via iTunes or the Apple Music app for Windows.

You can authorize up to 5 computers (Mac and PC combined) at a time under a single Apple ID. If you have reached your five-computer limit and want to add a new device, you will need to deauthorize one of your existing computers first.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to authorize and deauthorize your Mac or PC with Apple Music or iTunes.

computer not authorized Apple Music

Contents

You can only authorize the computer you have direct access to. Authorization can’t be done remotely from another device like another computer, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

To authorize or deauthorize your Mac:

  1. Open the Music app on your Mac.
  2. Click Account > Authorizations, then select Authorize This Computer.
  3. Enter your Apple ID and Password, and click the Authorize button. You’ll see a confirmation message once your Mac is authorized.
  4. To deauthorize your Mac, click Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
Authorize or Deauthorize a Mac

With Apple Music

  1. Open the Apple Music app.
  2. Click your profile name at the bottom of the sidebar.
  3. Select Authorize Machine. Enter your credentials and confirm.
  4. To deauthorize your Windows PC, click your profile name and select Deauthorize Machine.
Authorize or Deauthorize a Windows PC

On iTunes

  1. Open iTunes on your Windows computer. Make sure that you’re signed in with your Apple ID.
  2. At the top of the iTunes window, select Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer.
  3. Enter your Apple ID and password and click Authorize. Your Windows computer is successfully authorized.
  4. To deauthorize your PC, select Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer from the top menu.
authorize computer itunes

If you need to deauthorize a computer that you no longer have access to, you’ll need to deauthorize all your devices and then reauthorize the ones you still have.

Keep in mind that the “Deauthorize All” option only appears in your Account Settings if you have 2 or more authorized computers attached to your Apple ID. If you only have 1 computer authorized, the option will not be visible in your account settings.

In addition, you can only deauthorize all your computers once a year.

Deauthorize All Devices on Mac

  1. Open the Apple Music app (Windows/Mac) or iTunes (Windows).
  2. Click Account > Account Settings from the top menu.
  3. Enter your Apple ID and password
  4. Scroll down and click Authorized Devices.
  5. Click Deauthorize All.
Deauthorize All Devices on Mac

Deauthorize All Devices on Windows PC

  1. Open the Apple Music app and click your profile image at the bottom of the sidebar.
  2. Select View My Account.
  3. You can see the current number of authorized computers here. Click Deauthorize All next to Computer Authorizations.
Deauthorize All Devices on Windows PC

Apple Music allows users to download tracks, albums, and playlists for offline playback. However, once you deauthorize your computer, the downloaded content will no longer be accessible.

If you wish to save Apple Music songs permanently on your computer, you can use a smart Apple Music downloader – Pazu Apple Music Converter. This reliable and efficient tool enables you to download Apple Music playlists, albums, and songs in popular formats like MP3, AAC, and FLAC for offline playback on any device.

In addition to downloading your favorite playlists and tracks, Pazu Apple Music Converter also maintains the original audio quality, ID3 tags, and metadata, ensuring that no essential information is lost. An outstanding feature of Pazu Apple Music Converter is its exceptional download and convert speed. It works nearly 10 times faster than similar software, saving you valuable time when downloading large music collections. Plus, Pazu Apple Music Converter integrates with the Apple Music web player. This allows you to search for and select music directly within its interface, eliminating the need for iTunes or the Music app.

Key Features:

  • Download Apple Music songs, albums, and playlists
  • Adjustable output options: MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and AIFF
  • 10x faster music download speed
  • Keep original audio quality
  • Preserve ID3 tags & metadata
  • Unlimited downloads
  • User-friendly interface

The following tutorial will show you how to download Apple Music to MP3 and get Apple Music for free. 

Step 1. Launch Pazu Apple Music Converter

Download, install and run Pazu Apple Music Converter on your Mac or Windows.

Apple Music Converter

Step 2. Choose the output format

The default format is M4A. Apple Music Converter also supports MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and AIFF. Click the gear icon to change the output format or output folder.

Apple Music Converter settings

Step 3. Choose a playlist, artist, or album to download

Search for or go to the playlist, artist, or album that you want to download. Click the “Add songs” button.

Download Apple Music songs

Step 4. Download Apple Music songs

Uncheck any songs you don’t want to download, then click the “Convert” button. Once downloaded, you can play them anywhere you want, even after canceling your Apple Music subscription.

convert Apple Music to MP3

FAQ on Computer Authorization

Do you need to authorize a computer to use Apple Music on the Web?

No, Apple Music browser streaming doesn’t require hardware authorization.

Can I authorize multiple Apple IDs on a single computer?

Yes. A single Mac or PC can be authorized for multiple Apple IDs. This allows different family members to access their respective DRM-protected purchases on a shared household computer.