🗓️ August 18, 2025, By ✍️ Karly Wood
Authorizing your MacBook is essential if you want to authorize MBP for download purchased books or sync your entire Apple Books library. Without this step, you may run into issues like “Cannot authorise computer on macOS Books app,” which stops you from accessing your purchased content.
By learning how to authorize a machine on your Apple account, you ensure your MacBook has permission to download and read your books seamlessly. The process is quick, secure, and only takes a few clicks, making sure your Apple Books collection stays accessible across all your Apple devices.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Books app on your MacBook. |
| 2 | From the top menu, click Account. |
| 3 | Select Authorizations. |
| 4 | Click Authorize This Computer. |
| 5 | Enter your Apple ID and Password. |
| 6 | Click Authorize to complete the process. |
Step 1: Open the Apple Books App
- On your MacBook, launch the Books app (it’s built into macOS).
- Make sure you’re signed in with your Apple ID that you used for your book purchases.
Step 2: Access the Account Menu
- In the top menu bar, click Account.
- From the dropdown, select Authorizations.
- Choose Authorize This Computer.
Step 3: Sign In With Apple ID
- A pop-up will appear asking for your Apple ID and password.
- Enter the same Apple ID you use for Apple Books purchases.
- Click Authorize.
Step 4: Confirmation
- Once successful, your MacBook will be added to the list of authorized devices.
- You can now download purchased books and access your library without errors.
Step 5: Manage Authorizations
- Apple allows up to 5 authorized computers on a single Apple ID.
- If you reach this limit, you may need to deauthorize one computer before adding a new one.
- To do this: Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
Troubleshooting Tips
- If the Authorize option is missing or greyed out, ensure you’re signed in with the correct Apple ID.
- Restart your MacBook and try again.
- Update macOS to the latest version via System Settings > General > Software Update.
- If the issue persists, deauthorize all computers from your Apple ID account and reauthorize your MacBook.
By following these steps, you can quickly authorize your MacBook for Apple Books and enjoy seamless access to your purchases.
