Can I convert Apple Music songs to MP3?

It depends on where the songs came from. iTunes Store purchases (bought individually, not through the subscription): yes — these are DRM-free M4A files. iTunes can convert them directly to MP3. Apple Music subscription tracks (streaming/downloaded for offline listening): no — these have FairPlay DRM encryption. iTunes refuses to convert DRM-protected files. To get these songs as MP3, you must either buy them from the iTunes Store (making them DRM-free), or use a screen-recording-based audio capture tool that records the playback output.

How do I convert purchased iTunes songs to MP3?

Open iTunes (or the Music app on Mac). Go to Preferences → General → Import Settings. Set Import Using to MP3 Encoder and choose quality (256 kbps recommended to match iTunes Store source quality). Click OK. Now select the purchased songs in your library — hold Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) to select multiple. Go to File → Convert → Create MP3 Version. iTunes creates MP3 copies alongside the originals. The original M4A files remain untouched. This works because iTunes Store purchases have been DRM-free since 2009.

What is the difference between iTunes purchases and Apple Music subscription tracks?

iTunes Store purchases are songs you buy individually. You pay once (typically $0.99-$1.29 per song) and own a DRM-free M4A file permanently. These files can be freely converted, copied, and played on any device — even after you cancel Apple Music. Apple Music subscription tracks are songs you stream. You pay monthly for access to the entire catalogue, but you do not own the files. Downloaded subscription tracks are M4P files with FairPlay DRM — they only play in the Apple Music app while your subscription is active. Cancel the subscription and these files stop working.

What bitrate should I use when converting to MP3?

iTunes Store purchases are 256 kbps AAC. Convert these to 256 kbps MP3 — matching the source bitrate ensures no perceptible quality loss. If file size is more important than fidelity, 192 kbps MP3 is still very good and saves about 25% space. Never go below 128 kbps for music — the quality loss becomes noticeable. For Apple Music subscription tracks captured via recording tools, the quality is limited by the recording method, not the original file. 256 kbps is generous for captured audio; 192 kbps is practically identical.

Are there tools that remove Apple Music DRM?

Tools like TuneFab Apple Music Converter, NoteBurner, and similar software exist. They work by recording the audio output while Apple Music plays the song — essentially a high-speed screen recording of the audio. This is not real DRM removal (the encryption is never broken); it is audio capture. Quality is limited by the playback path. The legal status is grey: these tools violate Apple's terms of service, but for personal use of music you paid to access, enforcement is rare. The safe, fully legal approach: buy the tracks you want to keep permanently from the iTunes Store.

Will I lose quality if I use a recording tool?

Yes, there is some quality loss — you are re-encoding audio that is already lossy. The original Apple Music stream is 256 kbps AAC. A recording tool captures the decoded audio and re-encodes it as MP3. This is similar to converting AAC → WAV → MP3: the first step (decoding) is lossless, the second step (MP3 encoding) adds generation loss. At 256 kbps MP3, the loss is minimal and most listeners will not hear a difference on typical equipment. The bigger concern is that some recording tools default to 128 kbps MP3 — always check and set the output to at least 256 kbps.

What happens to my Apple Music downloads when I cancel my subscription?

They become unplayable. All offline downloads from Apple Music are DRM-encrypted, and the decryption keys are tied to your active subscription. When the subscription ends, the keys are revoked, and the files will not play. This is why some people convert songs they particularly value to MP3 before cancelling — so the music they spent years curating does not vanish. If you re-subscribe later, your library and playlists are preserved (Apple does not delete them), but the downloads must be re-downloaded.

Can I convert Apple Music to MP3 on my iPhone?

No. There is no way to convert Apple Music tracks to MP3 directly on an iPhone or iPad. The conversion requires desktop software (iTunes/Music app on Mac or Windows, or third-party recording tools). The workflow is: convert on desktop, then transfer the MP3 files to your iPhone via USB, iCloud Drive, or AirDrop. Or use an online converter after getting the DRM-free M4A file from your desktop iTunes library — upload the M4A, download the MP3 on any device.

Apple Music to MP3: Convert Protected Songs for Any Device (2026)

You have been building your Apple Music library for years. Hundreds of albums, carefully curated playlists. Now you want to put a few songs on a USB stick for your car, or transfer an album to an Android phone, or back up tracks you cannot lose. But the files are locked. Here is what you can and cannot do — and how to convert Apple Music songs to MP3 legally, for the music you have the right to keep.

The critical distinction: iTunes Store purchases convert to MP3 easily. Apple Music subscription tracks do not — they have DRM that blocks conversion. Knowing which you have is the first step.

iTunes Store Purchases vs Apple Music Subscription

Characteristic	iTunes Store Purchase	Apple Music Subscription
How you get it	Buy individual songs/albums	Monthly subscription, full catalogue
File format	M4A (AAC, DRM-free since 2009)	M4P (AAC + FairPlay DRM)
Plays after you stop paying	Yes — you own it permanently	No — files become unplayable
Can convert to MP3	Yes — iTunes built-in converter	No — DRM blocks conversion
Can copy to Android/USB/car	Yes — no restrictions	No — only Apple Music app
Cost	$0.99-$1.29 per song, once	$10.99/month for all access

Method 1: Convert Purchased iTunes Songs to MP3 (Legal, Simple)

This method works for any song you bought from the iTunes Store — even if you also have an Apple Music subscription. Purchased tracks are DRM-free.

Set MP3 as the import format. iTunes (Windows) or Music app (Mac): Preferences → General → Import Settings. Set Import Using to MP3 Encoder. For Setting, choose High Quality (160 kbps) for casual listening or Custom → 256 kbps to match the iTunes Store source quality.
Select the purchased songs. In your library, Cmd+click (Mac) or Ctrl+click (Windows) to select multiple songs. To find only your purchased music, create a Smart Playlist: File → New → Smart Playlist, set rule to "Purchased is true" or "iCloud Status is Purchased".
Convert. File → Convert → Create MP3 Version. iTunes reads the M4A file, decodes it, encodes to MP3 at your chosen bitrate, and saves the MP3 copy next to the original.
Find the MP3 files. Right-click a converted song → Show in Finder (Mac) or Show in Windows Explorer. Copy these MP3 files anywhere — USB drive, Android phone, car stereo, Plex server.

Method 2: Apple Music Subscription Tracks — Your Options

Subscription tracks (the ones you stream, not the ones you bought) have FairPlay DRM. iTunes will not convert them. The "Create MP3 Version" option is greyed out for these tracks. Here are your options, from most to least recommended:

Option A: Buy the track from iTunes Store

The cleanest solution. Search for the song in the iTunes Store (not Apple Music), buy it ($0.99-$1.29), and it joins your library as a DRM-free M4A. Then convert to MP3 using Method 1 above. This costs money per track, but you own the file permanently. If you have 20 songs you cannot live without, buying them costs about $20 total — less than two months of Apple Music subscription.

Option B: Audio capture tools (TuneFab, NoteBurner, etc.)

Software like TuneFab Apple Music Converter and NoteBurner records the audio output while Apple Music plays the track. It is essentially a high-speed automated audio recorder — it does not crack the DRM, it captures the decoded audio signal. The quality depends on the recording settings, not the original file. Always configure these tools to output at 256 kbps MP3 or higher. These tools violate Apple's terms of service; use them only for personal backups of music you have paid to access.

Option C: Online converter after purchase

Buy the track from iTunes Store → get DRM-free M4A → use the M4A to MP3 converter instead of iTunes. This is useful if you are on a device without iTunes (work computer, Chromebook) — buy on your Apple device, transfer the M4A file to any browser, and convert online.

Why Apple Music Uses DRM (and iTunes Purchases Do Not)

When the iTunes Store launched in 2003, all songs had FairPlay DRM — you could only play them on authorised Apple devices. This was a requirement from record labels, who were terrified of piracy. In 2009, Apple negotiated with the major labels to remove DRM from purchased music. Since then, every iTunes Store purchase is a DRM-free M4A file. You can copy it, convert it, and play it on any device.

Apple Music (launched 2015) is a streaming service, not a store. The record labels agreed to streaming only under strict DRM — the same reason Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music all use encryption. Without DRM, someone could sign up for one month, download the entire Apple Music catalogue, cancel, and keep everything. The DRM ensures access ends when the subscription ends.

Quality Settings for iTunes to MP3 Conversion

iTunes Import Setting	Bitrate	File per 4-min song	When to use
Good Quality	128 kbps	~3.8 MB	Audiobooks, spoken word, car stereo
High Quality	160 kbps	~4.7 MB	Casual listening on average equipment
Higher Quality (Custom)	192-256 kbps	5.6-7.5 MB	Music library, good headphones ★ recommended
Custom (320 kbps)	320 kbps	~9.4 MB	Critical listening, archiving favourites
Since iTunes Store source files are 256 kbps AAC, using 256 kbps MP3 preserves the same quality level. Going higher (320 kbps) wastes space — you are encoding information the source does not contain.

Related Guides

For converting the DRM-free M4A files you get after purchase, use the M4A to MP3 converter . If you are on Windows specifically, read the M4A to MP3 on Windows guide for five methods including iTunes and FFmpeg. To understand the formats involved, see MP3 vs AAC — Apple Music uses AAC, and understanding the quality relationship helps when choosing your MP3 bitrate.

Quick Summary

iTunes Store purchases (M4A) → MP3: File → Convert → Create MP3 Version. Simple, legal, built into iTunes.
Apple Music subscription tracks (M4P) → MP3: Buy from iTunes Store first to get the DRM-free version, then convert. Or use audio recording tools.
Set MP3 bitrate to 256 kbps to match iTunes Store quality (256 kbps AAC source).
DRM removal cracks are illegal and dangerous. Do not install random software that claims to strip FairPlay — it is either malware or will get your Apple ID banned.
If you want to own music permanently, buy it from iTunes Store. Subscription is for access; purchase is for ownership.
Convert before you cancel your subscription. Once cancelled, DRM keys are revoked and subscription downloads stop working. Purchased tracks are unaffected.