How To Fix A Computer That’s Not Authorized To Play ITunes Music

Check iTunes Account Status

When you encounter the issue of a computer not authorized to play iTunes music, the first step is to check the status of your iTunes account. This is crucial as it determines whether your computer is allowed to access and play your purchased music. Follow these steps to verify your iTunes account status:

1. Launch the iTunes application on your computer.
2. Click on the “Account” tab located at the top of the iTunes window.
3. Select “Authorizations” from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the “Authorize This Computer” option. If your computer is already authorized, the option will be grayed out.
5. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.
6. Click on the “Authorize” button to confirm the authorization process.

After authorizing your computer, restart the iTunes application and check if you are able to play your music. If the issue persists, proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

Update iTunes Software

Outdated software can often be the cause of various issues, including the computer not being authorized to play iTunes music. To ensure that your iTunes software is up to date, follow these steps:

1. Open the iTunes application on your computer.
2. Click on the “Help” menu at the top of the iTunes window.
3. Select “Check for Updates” from the drop-down menu.
4. If an update is available, click on the “Download iTunes” button to begin the update process.
5. After the download is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated version of iTunes.
6. Once the installation is finished, restart the iTunes application.

Updating iTunes to the latest version can often resolve authorization issues and provide compatibility with the latest music files and features. Check if the computer is now authorized to play iTunes music. If not, try the next troubleshooting step.

Authorize Computer in iTunes

If your computer is not authorized to play iTunes music, you can manually authorize it through the iTunes application. Here are the steps to authorize your computer:

1. Launch the iTunes application on your computer.
2. Click on the “Account” tab located at the top of the iTunes window.
3. Select “Authorizations” from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the “Authorize This Computer” option. If your computer is already authorized, the option will be grayed out.
5. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.
6. Click on the “Authorize” button to complete the authorization process.

After authorizing your computer, restart the iTunes application and check if you can now play your iTunes music. If the issue persists, proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

Deauthorize Other Computers

If you have reached the maximum limit of authorized computers on your iTunes account, you may encounter the issue of a computer not being authorized to play iTunes music. In such cases, you can deauthorize other computers to make room for the current one. Follow these steps to deauthorize other computers:

1. Open the iTunes application on your computer.
2. Click on the “Account” tab at the top of the iTunes window.
3. Select “Authorizations” from the drop-down menu.
4. Choose the “Deauthorize This Computer” option. If the option is grayed out, it means that the computer is already deauthorized.
5. Confirm the deauthorization by clicking on the “Deauthorize” button.
6. If you don’t have access to other authorized computers, you can use the “Deauthorize All” option, but be aware that it will remove authorization from all the computers linked to your account.

After deauthorizing the other computers, restart the iTunes application and try playing your iTunes music on the current computer. If the issue still persists, move on to the next troubleshooting step.

Reset iTunes Keychain

If you’re facing the issue of a computer not being authorized to play iTunes music, resetting the iTunes Keychain could potentially resolve the problem. The iTunes Keychain stores the authorization information for your computer. Follow these steps to reset the iTunes Keychain:

1. Quit the iTunes application if it’s currently open.
2. Go to the “Utilities” folder on your Mac, or the “Accessories” folder on your Windows computer.
3. Open the “Keychain Access” application.
4. In the search box within the Keychain Access window, type “iTunes” to filter the search results.
5. Locate the “com.apple.iTunes” entry in the list of Keychain items.
6. Right-click (or Control+click) on the “com.apple.iTunes” entry and select “Delete” or “Move to Trash”.
7. Enter your computer’s admin password when prompted.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Launch the iTunes application again and authorize your computer using your Apple ID and password.

After resetting the iTunes Keychain and authorizing your computer, check if you can now play your iTunes music. If you’re still experiencing authorization issues, proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

Check Music File Formats

If you’re unable to play iTunes music on your computer, it’s essential to ensure that the music files are in a compatible format. iTunes supports various audio file formats, such as MP3, AAC, ALAC, and WAV. Follow these steps to check the file formats of your iTunes music:

1. Open the iTunes application on your computer.
2. Navigate to your music library by clicking on the “Library” tab in the top left corner.
3. Select the songs or albums you’re having trouble playing.
4. Right-click on the selected music or album and choose “Get Info” from the context menu.
5. In the pop-up window, go to the “File” tab.
6. Check the “Kind” field to see the file format of the selected music.
7. If the file format is not supported by iTunes, you may need to convert the files to a compatible format using a third-party audio conversion tool.

Ensure that all your iTunes music files are in a compatible format. If you come across any unsupported file formats, convert them to a compatible format and try playing them again. If the issue persists, move on to the next troubleshooting step.

Remove and Re-import Music Library

If you’re still facing the issue of a computer not being authorized to play iTunes music, removing and re-importing your music library can help resolve any corrupt or conflicting files that may be causing the problem. Follow these steps to remove and re-import your music library:

1. Open the iTunes application on your computer.
2. Back up your existing iTunes library by going to “File” and selecting “Library” > “Export Library”. Save the exported library file to a preferred location.
3. Exit the iTunes application.
4. Locate the iTunes music folder on your computer. The default location for the iTunes music folder is typically in the “Music” folder on Mac or “My Music” folder on Windows.
5. Move the entire iTunes music folder to a different location on your computer or an external storage device.
6. Launch the iTunes application again.
7. Go to “File” and select “Library” > “Import Playlist”. Choose the exported library file saved earlier.
8. Wait for iTunes to complete the import process, which may take some time depending on the size of your music library.
9. Authorize your computer if prompted.

After re-importing your music library, check if you are now able to play your iTunes music without any authorization issues. If the problem persists, proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

Disable Restrictive Security Software

In some cases, overly restrictive security software can interfere with the authorization process in iTunes, preventing your computer from playing iTunes music. To troubleshoot this issue, you may need to temporarily disable or adjust the settings of your security software. Here’s how:

1. Identify the security software that is installed on your computer. Common examples include antivirus programs, firewalls, and anti-malware software.
2. Access the settings or preferences of the security software. This is usually done by right-clicking on the software’s icon in the system tray or accessing it through the control panel.
3. Look for any options related to blocking or restricting access to certain applications or processes.
4. Temporarily disable or adjust the settings to allow iTunes full access. This may involve disabling a feature, adding iTunes as an exception, or turning off the security software altogether.
5. After making the necessary changes, restart your computer to ensure that the new settings take effect.
6. Launch the iTunes application and attempt to play your music again.

If disabling or adjusting the security software resolves the authorization issue and allows you to play iTunes music, consider consulting the documentation or support resources for your security software to find a more permanent solution that maintains both security and compatibility with iTunes.

Reset Hosts File

The hosts file on your computer contains information that maps domain names to IP addresses. In some cases, an incorrect or modified hosts file can interfere with the authorization process in iTunes, causing the issue of a computer not being authorized to play iTunes music. To resolve this, you can reset the hosts file to its default state. Here’s how:

1. Close the iTunes application.
2. Open the Finder window on your Mac or the File Explorer window on your Windows computer.
3. Navigate to the following location:
   • On Mac: /private/etc/
   • On Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\
4. Locate the “hosts” file in that directory.
5. Copy the hosts file to a safe location to create a backup, in case you need to revert the changes later.
6. Delete the original hosts file from the directory.
7. Restart your computer.
8. Launch the iTunes application and attempt to play your music again.

By resetting the hosts file, you are restoring it to the default configuration and removing any potential unauthorized modifications. If the hosts file was causing the authorization issue, this step should allow your computer to play iTunes music without any problems. If the issue persists, proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

Contact Apple Support

If you have followed all the troubleshooting steps mentioned above and are still experiencing authorization issues with iTunes, it may be time to reach out to Apple Support for further assistance. The Apple Support team is well-equipped to provide specific guidance and solutions tailored to your situation. Here’s how you can contact Apple Support:

1. Visit the Apple Support website at https://support.apple.com/.
2. Select your country or region to access the appropriate support page.
3. Click on the “Contact Support” option, usually located at the top or bottom of the page.
4. Choose the product category (in this case, iTunes) and select the specific issue related to authorization or playback.
5. Based on your location and preference, you will be presented with available support options such as phone, chat, or email. Choose the option that best suits your needs.
6. Provide the relevant details and describe the issue you are facing.
7. Follow the instructions provided by the Apple Support representative to further troubleshoot the problem or receive personalized assistance.

Apple Support is dedicated to helping customers resolve their technical issues promptly and efficiently. Contacting them will ensure that you receive expert advice and guidance to resolve the issue of a computer not authorized to play iTunes music.