Apple Music uses the MPEG-4 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format. M4P files are encoded using Apple's FairPlay digital rights management (DRM) technology. This restricts your use of Apple Music files on Apple's devices and platforms. That's why you can only listen to Apple Music songs on the Apple Music app or iTunes. So, to play Apple Music better, you can convert Apple Music to MP3. Don't worry, here you can find 7 best tools to help you, including Apple Music to MP3 converter online, free, or paid.
- Part 1. Best Way to Convert Apple Music to MP3
- Part 2. Convert Apple Music to MP3 Free
- Part 3. Convert Apple Music to MP3 Free Online
- Part 4. Convert Unprotected Apple Music to MP3
- Part 5. Learn More about Apple Music to MP3
- Part 6. Final Thoughts
Part 1. How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 via Best Software
1.1 Overview of DRmare Apple Music Converter
DRmare Audio Converter is our pick of the best Apple Music converter with the most powerful functions. It can losslessly convert Apple Music files to MP3, AAC, M4A, M4B, WAV and FLAC at 30X faster speed. Unlike some other audio recorders, it can remove DRM and complete music conversion successfully. It supports both protected and unprotected Apple Music files, and even supports iTunes music and Audible books. It will also preserve original ID3 tags including artist, album art, etc. With this amazing tool, you can listen to Apple Music on any device and player even if you are not a subscriber.
DRmare Apple Music Converter

- Convert downloaded Apple Music to MP3/AAC/M4A/M4B/WAV/FLAC
- Rip DRM protection from Apple Music, iTunes music, and Audible books
- Unbelievable 30X conversion speed, keep lossless quality
- Customize output parameters, like ID3 tags and chapter info
🎈Why Choose DRmare Apple Music Converter?
✅ Easy to Use, Suitable for Novices. A good Apple Music Converter should be easy to use. DRmare has an intuitive user interface and is very convenient to use. Even if you are a beginner, you can get started easily.
✅ Support 6 Output Formats. DRmare Apple Music Converter lets you choose from 6 output formats including MP3, FLAC, AAC, M4B, M4A, and WAV. This can meet your different needs.
✅ Maintain Lossless Sound Quality. With this telligent tool, the original sound quality will be preserved.
✅ Batch Processing, Fast Conversion Speed of 30X. You don't need to wait for too long because DRmare can batch convert Apple Music at a 30X faster speed.
✅ Keep and Edit Original ID3 Tags. You can get original ID3 tags including album art, artists, title, etc. after conversion.
✅ Personalize Output Parameters. As a powerful tool, DRmare enables you to change all the audio parameters including the channel, bit rate, sample rate, and so on.
✅ Support iTunes/Audible. DRmare Audio Converter also supports converting iTunes songs, Audible audiobooks, and other popular audio files.
1.2 How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 via DRmare Apple Music Converter (3 Steps)
- Step 1Add Apple Music files
- Please download & install the DRmare Apple Music Converter on your computer. Then open it and you will see there are two 'Add Files' buttons in its main interface. Click either one of them to import Apple Music files. Alternatively, you can drag Apple Music downloads to this software's main interface. (Remember to download Apple Music songs to your PC/Mac in advance. )
- Step 2Set output parameters
- The default output format is MP3 so you don't need to change it. But if you have other needs, simply touch the small 'audio' icon to choose the target output format, sample rate, audio channel, and more. Finally, click 'OK'.
- Step 3Convert Apple Music to MP3 losslessly
- When all settings are ready, tap the 'Convert' button to launch the conversion process. DRmare Apple Music Converter will convert Apple Music M4P to MP3 at a super-fast 30X speed. Once converted, you can locate the unprotected MP3 songs on the target 'Output' folder. You can also directly listen to them in this software by clicking the 'History' list with a red spot.
Basic Info | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Price: Free trial; start from $14.95 Support OS: Windows/Mac Output Format: MP3/FLAC/AAC/M4A/M4B/WAV Conversion Speed: 30X Output Quality: Lossless |
✔ Batch conversion, fast work speed ✔ Support 6 output audio formats ✔ Preserve lossless output audio quality ✔ Keep full ID3 tags and edit them ✔ Listen to Apple Music offline on this software ✔ Work for iTunes, Audible, etc. |
❌ Free trial limits you to convert 1 minute of each song |
Part 2. How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Free
Is there any Apple Music to MP3 converter free? Yes. Today we picked the best two for you. Read on and choose the one you prefer.
1. Soundloaders Apple Music Converter
Soundloaders is a website that helps users download songs from streaming music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and more. However, now you need to install the Soundloaders app to use it. It is free to install and use, and you can use it to convert Apple Music to MP3 free on Mac and Windows computers. Note that it does not provide lossless output quality like DRmare Apple Music Downloader.
How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Free via Soundloaders Apple Music Downloader
Step 1. Go to https://www.soundloaders.com/apple-music-downloader/. Then download and install the Soundloaders app.
Step 2. Open the Apple Music app or web player. Find the Apple Music track you want to download and click on the 'three dots' icon > 'Share' > 'Copy Link'.
Step 3. Paste the link into the search box of Soundloaders and click on 'Search'.
Step 4. Wait for it to find your desired track and then you can click on 'Download' to download music from Apple Music to MP3 for free.
Basic Info | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Price: Free Support OS: Windows/Mac Output Format: MP3 Conversion Speed: 1X Output Quality: Lossy |
✔ Download Apple Music to MP3 free ✔ Keep ID3 tags like song cover, artist, etc. ✔ Easy to use |
❌ The performance is not stable ❌ Only support Apple Music songs |
2. Audacity
Audacity is an Apple Music to MP3 converter free that uses recording technology. This tool can work on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Although the output quality isn't 100% original, it can edit and combine the recordings. Plus, it can be used to record other streaming audio like Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. It also supports multiple audio formats including AIFF, WAV, FLAC, etc. If you want to edit Apple Music files, Audacity is a great choice.
How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Free via Audacity
Step 1. Install and launch the Audacity program on your PC.
Step 2. Click on the 'Edit' > 'Preferences' > 'Audio Host Box' > 'Windows WASAPI' button.
Step 3. You need to set your computer's output device as the output sound card. Hit the 'recording' at the 'Audacity Preferences' to turn off the Software Playthrough.
Step 4. Touch the 'Record' button on the Audacity program.
Step 5. Play the Apple Music songs you want to convert to MP3 files. And you will get Apple Music convert to MP3 free for you.
Step 6. Click on the 'Stop' button to complete the recording process.
Basic Info | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Price: Free Support OS: Windows/Mac/Linux Output Format: MP3/WAV/etc. Conversion Speed: 1X Output Quality: Lossy |
✔ Totally free to use ✔ Work on Windows, Mac, Linux ✔ Support multiple output audio formats ✔ Preserve original ID3 tags ✔ Powerful audio editing features |
❌ There may be a delay when recording audio ❌ Complicated for beginners |
Part 3. How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Free Online
In this part, we will show you two best Apple Music to MP3 converter online free tools. You can use them to download and convert Apple Music online without installing extra apps.
1. aaplmusicdownloader.com
aaplmusicdownloader.com is an online website that allows you to download and convert Apple Music songs/playlists to MP3 at high speed. It saves MP3 Apple Music songs to your phone or computer for offline listening. It's free to use and you can choose the output quality from 64kbps - 320kbps. It will also preserve metadata such as title, album name, release date, etc. However, even though it claims to support playlists and albums, when you actually put playlist URLs into it, nothing happens, you simply don't download them.

How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Online Free via aaplmusicdownloader.com
Step 1. Start the Apple Music app or web player and copy the URL of the song you want to convert to MP3.
Step 2. Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device. Visit aaplmusicdownloader.com. Then paste the music URL into it.
Step 3. Click on the 'Download' button and it will automatically recognize your Apple Music song.
Step 4. Once found, click 'Generate Download Link' > 'Select Output Quality'. After you choose an output quality, it will immediately download Apple Music to MP3 on your device.
Basic Info | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Price: Free Support OS: Windows/Mac/Android/iOS Output Format: MP3 Conversion Speed: 1X Output Quality: 64-320kbps |
✔ Download from Apple Music to MP3 online free ✔ Work on both mobile and computer ✔ Choose the output audio quality ✔ Preserve original ID3 tags |
❌ Sometimes not work for playlists and albums ❌ Have many annoying ads |
2. apple-music-downloader.com
apple-music-downloader.com is another Apple Music to MP3 converter online tool. You can use it with any web browser on your device, including Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. With it, you can easily convert Apple Music to MP3 free online for offline playback. As a free tool, it enables you to convert as many songs as you want every day. And it works faster than other online tools. It supports Apple Music songs, albums or playlists, but you need to download individual songs one by one. In addition, you may find that it sometimes cannot find your music, and it will prompt "An error occurred while searching. Please try again later".

How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Online via applemusicdownloader.com
Step 1. Launch the Apple Music app or web player and copy the link of your favorite music.
Step 2. Open a web browser and visit applemusicdownloader.com. Then paste the Apple Music link into its search box.
Step 3. Click 'Start' button and it will search for your Apple Music.
Step 4. Click 'Get Download' > 'Download MP3' and this Apple Music Converter online will directly download Apple Music to your device.
Basic Info | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Price: Free Support OS: Windows/Mac/Android/iOS Output Format: MP3 Conversion Speed: 1X Output Quality: Lossy |
✔ An Apple Music to MP3 converter free online ✔ Available on computers and mobile devices ✔ Convert Apple Music at a high speed ✔ Keep important ID3 tags |
❌ Sometimes can't find your Apple Music playlists/albums ❌ Lossy output audio quality |
Part 4. How to Convert Unprotected Apple Music to MP3
Above is how to convert protected Apple Music to MP3. But not all Apple Music streams are protected. Songs purchased from Apple Music are common audio files. Also, music purchased from iTunes after 2009 is not DRM protected. It's an AAC file with a higher bitrate of 256kbps and no DRM restrictions. You can play iTunes AAC files with other music players and devices that support the AAC format. Plus, you can easily convert them to MP3 using the iTunes or Apple Music app.
1. iTunes
iTunes comes with an 'MP3 Encoder' function. So, we can use it to convert iTunes music to MP3. If you have purchased Apple Music audio files, you can use iTunes to convert Apple Music to MP3 free. Please refer to the steps below.
Notes:
1. The converted MP3 files are not the same as the original quality.
2. If your songs were purchased before 2009, this way couldn't work on those files.
3. If you are using macOS 10.15, you can convert iTunes songs to MP3 via the Music app instead of iTunes. Because iTunes has been divided into 3 parts on macOS Catalina 10.15.
How to Convert Unprotected Apple Music Songs to MP3 via iTunes
Step 1. Launch the iTunes app on your computer. For Windows users, please click the 'Edit' > 'Preferences' icon. For Mac users, please click the 'iTunes' > 'Preferences' option.
Step 2. Hit on the 'General' tab. Click the 'Import Settings...' button, it will show a small window.
Step 3. Click the 'Import Using' > 'MP3 Encoder' button in the new window.
Step 4. Select your favorite songs from your iTunes library that you'd like to convert to MP3.
Step 5. Click the 'File' > 'Convert' > 'Create MP3 version' to convert iTunes playlist to MP3 for free.
2. Apple Music
If you have upgraded your Mac computer to macOS Catalina 10.15 or above, then you can use Apple Music to convert the purchased Apple Music M4P to MP3.
How to Download Purchased Apple Music to MP3 via Apple Music App
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app on your Mac computer.
Step 2. Go ahead to 'Music' > 'Preferences'. And then choose 'Files' > 'Import Settings'.
Step 3. Select the 'Import Using' menu and choose the 'MP3 Encoder' option.
Step 4. Press and hold the 'Option' key on the keyboard.
Step 5. Go to the 'File' > 'Convert' > 'Convert to [import preference]'.
Step 6. Select the Apple Music songs you want to convert to MP3 files.
Part 5. Learn More about Apple Music to MP3
Q1: What Audio Format Does Apple Music Use?
A: Apple Music streams music in AAC format and is DRM protected and stored in M4P file format. The M4P file format is a proprietary file format developed by Apple. It is used to restrict playback and distribution to authorized devices and software.
Q2: What Is the Difference between M4P and MP3?
A: Both M4P and MP3 are audio file formats, but there are some differences between them.
M4P files can only be played on authorized devices and software that support Apple's FairPlay DRM technology. It has higher quality than MP3 at the same bit rate. MP3 is a commonly used audio format and is not protected by DRM. MP3 files can be played on a variety of devices and software. MP3 files are smaller in size than M4P files.
All in all, M4P files offer higher quality but are limited by DRM restrictions, while MP3 files have wide compatibility and are smaller in file size.
Q3: Why Can't I Download Apple Music Songs to MP3?
A: Downloaded songs from Apple Music are encoded in .m4p file extension and they are protected by Apple's digital rights management. So, you can't directly download Apple Music to MP3 files. If you want to convert Apple Music M4P to MP3, you can try the methods above.
Q4: Can I Convert Apple Music Files to MP3 Losslessly?
A: Yes. If you don't want to reduce the sound quality when converting Apple Music songs, a professional converter tool is necessary. And DRmare Apple Music Converter would be the best option. It also supports altering the output audio bit rate and so on. Plus, it can batch convert at a super-fast 30X speed.
Q5: Why Convert Apple Music to MP3?
A: Apple Music tracks are protected and they can only be used on Apple devices. But if you convert them to MP3, you will be able to use the Apple Music files without limits. For example, you can burn Apple Music to CD, listen to Apple Music on any device even without a subscription, move Apple Music songs to MP3 players, and so on.
Part 6. The Final Thoughts
Now you have known the best 7 ways to download Apple Music to MP3. They all have advantages and disadvantages. If you don't know which one to choose, here are our suggestions.
✔ If you've already purchased songs from Apple Music, just use iTunes or Apple Music. For detailed steps, go to Part 4.
✔ If not, you'll need to use a third-party conversion tool. DRmare Apple Music Converter is best for users who want to losslessly convert Apple Music, iTunes, Audible, etc. to multiple formats. It is the most powerful way with features like batch conversion, 30X conversion speed and more. For detailed steps, you can go to Part 1.
✔ If you want to convert Apple Music to MP3 free online without installing extra apps, you can choose an Apple Music to MP3 converter online for free in Part 3.
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