Many users want to download Apple Music to a USB drive, whether for a car stereo, a soundbar, a DJ setup, or a special event where only a flash drive is accepted. So, can you download Apple Music to a USB drive? In short, only certain files can be transferred.
Purchased iTunes songs can be downloaded and copied to a USB stick like regular audio files. However, Apple Music streaming tracks, including Lossless and Hi-Res downloads, are protected by DRM and cannot be transferred directly.
If you need to move your music to a USB device, there are still workable solutions, and we'll explain both the official way and the alternative method below. Scroll down to get your problem solved!
Tips: If you want to download Apple Music to more devices or platforms beyond USB drives, we also provide guides as follows.
Method 1: Transfer Purchased iTunes Songs to USB (Official Way)
If you purchased songs from the iTunes Store (not Apple Music streaming tracks), you can transfer them to a USB drive without any special tools. Most purchased iTunes songs are downloaded as DRM-free AAC files, which behave like regular audio files and can be copied to external storage devices.
Here's how to transfer music from iTunes to a flash drive:
Step 1. Find Your Purchased iTunes Songs
Make sure the songs are fully downloaded to your computer before transferring.
- On Windows: Open iTunes → Click "Account" → Select "Purchased" → Choose "Music" to view your purchased library.
- On Mac: Open the Music app → Go to "Account" → Click "Purchased" to see all bought tracks.
Step 2. Download the Songs to Your Computer
Click the "Download" icon next to each purchased track if it has not been downloaded yet. Once downloaded, the files will be stored locally on your computer.
Step 3. Locate the Local File
Right-click a song and select:
- Show in Windows Explorer (Windows)
- Show in Finder (Mac)
Step 4. Copy the Songs to Your USB Drive
Plug your USB flash drive into your computer. Open the USB folder, select the downloaded audio files, and drag or copy them into the USB drive. You can now play these files on most USB-supported devices such as car stereos, soundbars, and media players.
Note: Only purchased iTunes songs can be transferred this way. If you try to copy Apple Music streaming downloads (including Lossless or Hi-Res tracks), you may encounter encrypted files that cannot be played outside the Apple Music app. We'll explain why this happens in the next section.
Why Can't Streaming Apple Music Songs Be Copied to USB?
If you subscribe to Apple Music, you may notice that downloaded songs do not behave like normal audio files. Even when you enable Lossless or Hi-Res downloads, the files stored on your computer are not standard audio files that can be copied.
This is because Apple Music streaming tracks are protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management). It ensures that subscription-based content can only be played within the Apple Music app and on authorized devices. The downloaded files are encrypted and tied to your account, which means they cannot be transferred to external storage devices such as USB flash drives, SD cards, or other media players.
That's also why you might see encrypted folders or playlist-related files instead of a playable audio file when browsing your Music directory. Even though the songs appear "downloaded", they are essentially cached for in-app playback only. In short, only music you have purchased outright from the iTunes Store can be copied directly. Streaming tracks, including Lossless and Hi-Res versions, remain restricted as long as they are part of the Apple Music subscription system.
If you need to play Apple Music tracks on devices that only support USB playback, the files must first be converted into a standard, unprotected audio format. In the next section, we'll explain how that works.
Method 2: Convert Apple Music to MP3 and Save to USB (Alternative Way)
As explained above, Apple Music streaming downloads are encrypted and cannot be copied directly to external storage. If you want to play Apple Music tracks on USB-only devices such as car stereos, soundbars, or media players, the music must first be converted into a standard audio format.
This is where TuneFab Apple Music Converter comes in handy. It can help you save Apple Music tracks as common audio files (such as MP3, M4A, FLAC, or WAV) that are compatible with USB flash drives. Once converted, the files behave like regular music files and can be freely transferred to external devices.
100% Secure
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Why Use TuneFab Apple Music Converter?
- Integrate the Apple Music web player to quickly extract Apple Music songs
- Support advanced DRM decryption technology to back up unlimited Apple Music tracks
- Export CD quality audio output in MP3, M4A, FLAC, and WAV formats
- Offer 35X faster speed with stable performance and a high success rate
- Put Apple Music playlists on a USB drive with one click
- Preserve original music ID3 metadata information for easy management
Plus, TuneFab Apple Music Converter is very user-friendly. With simple steps, you can effortlessly download songs from Apple Music to a USB flash drive. Let's check out how to do it.
Step 1. Set up TuneFab Apple Music Converter
Install and open TuneFab Apple Music Converter on your Windows/Mac computer. Then, select Apple Music as the streaming platform. The converter doesn't require you to log in, which is quite convenient and flexible. However, an Apple Music account can lead to a higher conversion success rate.
Step 2. Set Your USB Drive as the Output Folder
Insert your USB flash drive into your computer. Then, click on the gear icon at the lower right to go to "Settings" > "General Settings" > "Output Folder". Select your USB drive as the destination folder.
Note: Make sure your USB drive is readable and formatted to FAT32 or exFAT for car stereo systems.
Step 3. Select Apple Music Songs or Playlists
Search for your favorite singles, playlists, and albums from the built-in Apple Music web player. Click the "Add to Convert" button to start the conversion process.
Step 4. Customize Apple Music Output Settings
When the output setting window pops up, use the drop-down menus to select a preferred output format (MP3 by default), bitrate, and sample rate.
Step 5. Download Apple Music to USB
With all the output settings completed, you can click "Convert Now" directly to download all the selected titles to your USB. Once finished, your Apple Music songs will be saved directly to the USB drive and ready to play anywhere.
Further Readings: To learn more details about downloading music from Apple Music to your computer, check out the articles below.
FAQs About Transferring Apple Music to USB Flash Drives
Q1. Where Are Apple Music Downloads Stored?
Since Apple Music offers the download feature, the downloads must be cached and stored on your device. By default, these Apple Music files are saved in the "iTunes Media" folder. To access them, navigate to the location below.
- macOS: /Users/[Your username]/Music/Music/Media/Music/
- Windows: C:\Users\Yourusername\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media
- Android: Internal Storage\Android\data\com.apple.android.music\files\Media
- iOS: Unfortunately, the destination folder is inaccessible on iOS devices
⚠Important:
Even if you find these files, you cannot simply play or transfer music from Apple Music to USB. The files are in a DRM-encrypted format. To do so, it is advisable to use a professional Apple Music Converter like TuneFab to help you out.
Q2. Are Tracks from Apple Music Transferable?
There are many posts on forums such as Quora, Reddit, and Apple Community asking questions like:
- Can you put music from Apple Music onto a USB flash drive?
- How do I transfer tracks from Apple Music to a USB stick?
- Why can't I transfer the Apple Lossless songs I downloaded to my computer?
- ....
However, unfortunately, all the tracks you downloaded from Apple Music cannot be played on other music players but the Apple Music app. So, the answer is NO. To make Apple Music transferable, you will need to use some professional tools like TuneFab Apple Music Converter to remove DRM from Apple Music and save songs as common audio files first.
Q3. What Devices Are Supported to Play Songs in USB?
After transferring Apple Music songs to a USB flash drive, you can play them in the car, on smart TVs, PlayStation/Xbox consoles, HomePod, smart audio speakers, Android phones with an adapter, or any USB-supported devices.
Q4. Can You Keep Downloaded Apple Music on a USB Forever?
Yes, sure! If you have converted Apple Music songs to MP3, M4A, or other common formats by using TuneFab Apple Music Converter, you can effortlessly transfer them to your USB drive or back them up with no need to worry about expiration or track removals. This makes it the best way to download Apple Music to USB for long-term use.
Final Words
Transferring music from Apple Music to a USB drive depends on the type of content you have. Purchased iTunes songs can be downloaded and copied directly like regular audio files, while Apple Music streaming tracks remain protected within the subscription system.
If you need to play Apple Music on USB-only devices such as car stereos, soundbars, or media players, converting the tracks into a standard audio format is required. With TuneFab Apple Music Converter, you can save compatible files and enjoy playback across different devices without being limited to the Apple Music app.
Choose the method that fits your situation, and make sure your music is prepared in a format your USB device supports.
TuneFab Apple Music Converter
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