I wanted to watch my favorite shows on Apple TV, but my MacBook wouldn’t let me. It said I wasn’t authorized. That was frustrating. I thought signing in with my Apple ID was enough, but it turns out, Apple has an extra step. I had to authorize my MacBook to access my content.
At first, I wasn’t sure how to do it. The settings weren’t obvious, and I kept clicking around. After some trial and error, I figured it out. If you’re stuck like I was, don’t worry. I’ll walk you through the exact steps so you can fix it fast.
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I Need My MacBook to Work with Apple TV—Here’s How I Fixed It
I wanted to stream Apple TV on my MacBook, but it wouldn’t play anything. After some trial and error, I figured out how to authorize it. Follow these steps, and you’ll be watching in no time.
Opening the Apple TV App Like a Pro
First things first—I needed to find the Apple TV app. Here’s how you can do it too:
- Click on the Apple TV app in your Dock.
- If it’s not there, check the Applications folder in Finder.
- Still can’t find it? Search for “Apple TV” using Spotlight (Command + Space).
Signing In So Everything Works Smoothly
I thought I was signed in, but I wasn’t. Here’s how to make sure:
- Click Account in the top menu bar.
- Select Sign In and enter your Apple ID.
- Type in your password and click Continue.
Now, Apple TV knows it’s really you. But there’s one more step.
Authorizing My MacBook the Right Way
Signing in isn’t enough—I had to authorize my MacBook. Here’s what I did:
- Click Account in the menu bar.
- Hover over Authorizations and select Authorize This Computer.
- Enter my Apple ID and password again.
That’s it! My MacBook was now authorized, and I could finally stream Apple TV without issues.
Keeping Track of Authorized Devices
I didn’t want to hit Apple’s five-device limit, so I checked how many were already authorized. Here’s how:
- Open the Apple TV or Music app.
- Click Account in the menu bar.
- Select Account Settings and sign in if asked.
- Look under Apple ID Summary for Computer Authorizations.
I saw I had three devices authorized, so I was good to go. If you have five, you’ll need to remove one.
Fixing Common Authorization Problems Fast
Even after authorizing, I ran into a few hiccups. Here’s how I fixed them.
I Hit the Five-Device Limit
- Open Account Settings.
- Select Deauthorize This Computer for any device I didn’t use.
- If I couldn’t access an old device, I clicked Deauthorize All (this can only be done once a year).
The “Authorize” Button Was Missing
- I checked if I was signed in with the right Apple ID.
- If not, I signed out and back in.
Apple TV Kept Asking Me to Authorize Again
- I deauthorized my MacBook.
- Then, I authorized it again.
After these quick fixes, my MacBook was fully authorized and ready to stream Apple TV without interruptions.
I Didn’t Stop at Apple TV—I Authorized Apple Music and Books Too
I realized my MacBook needed authorization for more than just Apple TV. If you use Apple Music or Apple Books, here’s how to set them up the right way.
- Open the Music or Books app.
- Click Account in the top menu bar.
- Hover over Authorizations and select Authorize This Computer.
- Enter your Apple ID and password when asked.
Now, all my Apple content works on my MacBook without interruptions.
I Had Trouble Finding the Account Menu—Here’s Where It Is
I kept looking for the Account menu, but it wasn’t where I expected. If you’re lost too, here’s where to find it:
- Open the Apple TV, Music, or Books app.
- Look at the top menu bar—it’s next to “File” and “Edit”.
- Click Account to access authorizations and settings.
Once I found it, managing my devices became much easier.
I Deauthorized All Devices When I Had No Other Choice
One of my old laptops was still authorized, but I no longer had access to it. I had to deauthorize all devices at once. Here’s how:
- Open Apple TV, Music, or Books.
- Click Account in the menu bar.
- Go to Account Settings and sign in.
- Select Deauthorize All Computers.
This option worked, but I could only do it once a year. After that, I had to authorize my MacBook again from scratch. It was a quick fix, but I made sure to deauthorize old devices sooner next time.