Solving the Not Authorized to Play Problem

Solving the "Not Authorized to Play" Problem

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If you use iTunes on only one computer, you never have to think about authorization because it is handled for you automatically. If you use five or fewer computers, it still isn't a problem because after you sign in to your account on each machine, you don't have to bother with it again. Only when you use six or more computers to play music you have purchased from the iTunes Music Store do you need to concern yourself with this topic.

As you learned in the previous chapter, you can play music you have purchased on up to five computers at the same time. If you try to play purchased music and see the This Computer Is Not Authorized to Play This Music message, you need to authorize the computer before you can play the purchased music. If you already have five computers authorized, you need to deauthorize at least one before you can authorize another. (If you need help doing these tasks, refer to Chapter 26, "Working with Purchased Music.")

The challenge can sometimes be remembering how many and which computers you have authorized. The "how many" part is easy. Just access the Apple Account Information screen for your account. The Computer Authorizations section will tell you how many computers are currently authorized to play music for the account (to learn how to access this screen, refer to "Viewing the Music You Have Purchased" on page 405).

The "which ones" part is a bit more difficult. The easiest way to tell is to try playing purchased music from each computer you might have authorized. If it plays, the computer is authorized.