Apple Music Converter
eye 86.2K views
clock 7.5 min read

How to Convert Apple Music to MP3       (5 Helpful Ways)

By Catrina Jones

Updated on October 16, 2024

Even though Apple Music lets you download songs on its app, the downloads are DRM-protected and can only be played on Apple's authorized devices. Therefore, does it mean that you cannot play Apple Music on Apple's unauthorized devices, like MP3 players, Roku RV, etc.? Actually, in this case, you can try to convert Apple Music to MP3, a format that is compatible with most devices and players, then move the MP3 Apple Music downloads to the devices you like for offline playback.

To help you download songs or playlists from Apple Music to MP3 with ease, this post will show you a step-by-step guide on how to do that in 5 workable ways. You can check the video below to learn about it first!

Method 1: Convert Apple Music to MP3 320kbps via Best Apple Music to MP3 Converter

Best for: Those who want to convert Apple Music streaming songs to MP3 in batch
Supporting OS: Windows and Mac
Output MP3 Bitrate: Up to 320kbps

There are many ways for you to convert Apple Music to MP3, such as using the Apple Music app/iTunes, or using an online Apple Music converter to MP3, etc. No matter what methods you use, they can work for you. However, the best way to download MP3 from Apple Music is definitely using a professional desktop Apple Music to MP3 converter, because of their high efficiency and more stable performance, which is something no other freeware or online tools can do.

Among all the Apple Music to MP3 converters, TuneFab Apple Music Converter. is a relatively powerful and trustworthy one. This program can help you convert Apple Music/playlist/album to MP3 in high quality, which is almost the same as the original one. Besides, unlike some ordinary audio converters, this tool can bypass Apple Music DRM, making it possible for you to listen to Apple Music not only on the app itself, but also on an MP3 player, Roku TV, iPhone and so on.

Better yet, it can help you convert Apple Music to MP3 effortlessly, because of its convenient control options and built-in Apple Music web player. What's more, it offers you a batch download feature that enables you to convert all Apple Music songs/playlists in batch with only one click.

amc-logo TuneFab Apple Music Converter
Main Features Convert Apple Music singles, playlists, albums in one click
Output Apple Music to MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, etc.
Preserve the original quality after conversion
35X or higher conversion speed available
Keep ID3 Tags, metadata info
Rip Apple Music with simple clicks on the embedded web player
Supported Language English, French, Japanese, German, Traditional Chinese
Free Trial Version 14 days free trial (with usage limits)
Paid Version 1-Month Subscription (1/PC), $14.95
1-Year Subscription (1/PC), $59.95
Lifetime License (1/PC), $89.95
>> Check more plan details
Learn More TuneFab Apple Music Converter Review: Is It Worth It?
Main Features
Convert Apple Music to MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC
Preserve the original quality after conversion
5X or higher conversion speed available
Keep ID3 Tags, metadata info & audiobook chapter
Rip Apple Music with simple clicks on embedded web player
Supported Language
English, French, Japanese, German, Traditional Chinese
Free Trial Version
30 days free trial (with usage limits)
Paid Version
1-Month Subscription (1/PC), $14.95
1-Year Subscription (1/PC), $49.95
Lifetime License (1/PC), $79.95
>> Check more plan details

Now, let's learn how to convert songs from Apple Music to MP3 using TuneFab Apple Music Converter:

Step 1. Run TuneFab Apple Music Converter

Download, install and launch TuneFab Apple Music Converter on your Windows PC or Mac.

When you launch the program, click on the Apple Music service on the interface.

Enter Apple Music Web Player

Step 2. Log in to Apple Music Web Player

Click on the Sign in button and log in to the Apple Music web player with your Apple ID to access the full music library as well as the download service.

Sign in Apple Music Web Player

Step 3. Drag Apple Music Songs/Playlists/Albums to Download

After signing in to the web player, you can browse the Apple Music library to access any Apple Music song to download for streaming offline. All content from the Apple Music library can be converted on this app, including albums, playlists, and even all songs from your favorite artists.

Only by dragging and dropping them to the conversion list or directly clicking the conversion button nearby, all the songs contained will be added to get ready to process the conversion.

Drag Apple Music Albums to Download

Step 4. Customize Output Format and Parameters

On the conversion interface, you can choose the output format as MP3, and set Sample Rate or Bitrate as preference.

Select Output Format to Download Apple Music

To further customize other parameters, you can go to "Preference", where you can change the way your downloaded files are named and archive your downloaded songs in folders by default, playlists, artists, albums, etc.

Customize Sample Rate and Bitrate

Step 5. Convert Apple Music to MP3

In the final step, click on the "Convert All" button to start converting all Apple Music to MP3. When converting, you can know the whole conversion progress in real time, and if you don't want to convert this song, you can directly stop converting and start another song. TuneFab Apple Music Converter will complete the conversion for you with quick speed in a while.

Converting Apple Music to MP3

When the music conversion is done, you can find all songs in the output folder. All ID3 information can be well-preserved including the album cover, song title, album title, and artist, which is easy for later management.

Check ID3 of Converted Song

TuneFab Apple Music Converter is extremely easy to operate and works like a charm. In my test on a Windows PC, it takes less than 1.2 minutes to convert a 45-minute album while maintaining the original music quality. But if you wish to convert songs purchased from iTunes, check the tips in the following part.

If you are also using Spotify or other music services, TuneFab All-in-One Music Converter is a better option. This is a new tool launched by TuneFab which helps you convert songs from Spotify, Apple Music, etc. to common audio formats.

Pros and Cons of Converting Apple Music to MP3 via TuneFab Apple Music Converter

Pros

Download Apple Music songs/albums/playlists in batch with 35X faster speed

Convert Apple Music resources to DRM-free MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC

Tweak customizable parameters (bitrate and sample rate) to preserve original quality

Retain ID3 tags (i.e. artist, album, track number, cover art) for easy management

Embedded Apple Music web player available for a smooth converting experience

Cons

The free trial only allows you to convert the first 3-minute of each song

Method 2: Convert Purchased Apple Music to MP3 via the Apple Music App or iTunes

● Best for: Those who want to convert purchased iTunes M4A to MP3 losslessly
● Supporting OS: Windows and Mac
● Output MP3 Bitrate: Up to 192kbps

Compared with songs from Apple Music, songs you purchased from iTunes or the Music App on Mac are not DRM-protected. They are also encoded in AAC format but with a .m4a file extension. Conveniently, these purchased iTunes music can be directly converted to MP3 with iTunes and the native Apple Music App on Mac. After creating an MP3 copy of your favorite music, you can better manage and play it on your music device.

NOTE

Not necessarily all iTunes-purchased music after 2009 is DRM-Free. Therefore, you may still have to check if it is attached to DRM protection and unprotect iTunes songs. If the song you are trying to convert in this method is DRM-protected, you will fail in the last step as the option will grey out. In this case, you can only use the third-party tool TuneFab iTunes Music Converter to change it to an MP3 version.

Convert M4A to MP3 with Apple Music on Mac

Normally, the Music app is installed on Mac computers so you don't need to download other software for MP3 copies. The steps below will help you do that.

Step 1. Adjust Import Settings

Open the Apple Music app. Select Music > Preferences from the menu bar. Then, click the Files tab and click Import Settings.

Step 2. Change Encoding settings

Click the menu next to Import Using, choose MP3 Encoder, and select an output quality from the setting drop-down menu. Don't forget to click OK to confirm.

Step 3. Convert Songs to MP3 with Apple Music App

Select the purchased songs in your library that you want to convert. On your keyboard, hold down the Option key, and choose File > Convert > Create MP3 Version. And then the converted songs will appear in your library next to the original song files as MP3 files.

Tip: To convert songs from a folder or on a disk, just select the folder or disk after you select File > Convert > Convert to [MP3].

Convert iTunes Purchased Song to MP3 on Mac

Convert Songs with iTunes on Windows PC

iTunes on Windows PC can also convert your purchased DRM-free songs to MP3 with the MP3 encoder. Now follow the steps below to convert your songs. If you see Create AAC Version instead of Create MP3 Version, you should change your import setting first. Go to Edit > Preferences... > General > Import Settings... > Import Using and choose MP3 Encoder from the drop-download list.

Step 1. Get your songs ready on iTunes.

Import your purchased songs to the iTunes library.

Step 2. Convert songs to MP3 with iTunes.

On your keyboard, hold down the Ctrl key, and choose songs. Then File > Convert > Create MP3 Version. And select songs in your library or the folder or disk that contains songs you want to import and convert. Not long after, the converted songs and the original song files will be shown in your library.

Set Up Audio Encoder on iTunes

NOTE

All MP3 files created in this method are compressed copies of the original one. You can't hear the differences clearly, but if you want a better-quality copy, you can choose the AIFF or WAV Encoder instead of the MP3 one. Or convert them to MP3 with TuneFab iTunes Music Converter.

Pros and Cons of Converting Purchased Apple Music to MP3 via Apple Music/iTunes

Pros

Original quality can be 100% preserved

Export purchased Apple Music in various formats - MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF

Apple Music tracks' meta information can be maintained

Cons

The process is a bit complicated for beginners

Only support purchased content, streaming Apple Music is not available for convert

Method 3: Convert All iTunes Music to MP3 via iTunes Music Converter

● Best for: Those who want to convert protected AAC(.m4p), M4B or iTunes playlist to MP3 losslessly
● Supporting OS: Windows and Mac
● Output MP3 Bitrate: Up to 320kbps

If your iTunes library includes both your entire Apple Music playlists and some purchased iTunes songs, then using TuneFab iTunes Music Converter might be a more convenient option.

This tool not only helps you convert Apple Music to MP3, but also supports converting playlists, audiobooks, and podcasts to common formats. It supports input formats like MP3, M4A, AC3, AAC, AIFF, AU, WAV, and FLAC, with customizable settings for up to 320kbps bitrate and 48000Hz sample rate. For lossless Apple Music conversion, you can opt to output in MP3 format with a 320kbps bitrate and 44100Hz sample rate.

Additionally, it preserves the original ID3 tags of the audio, such as album art, song title, artist name, and album name. It also offers customizable output folder organization, making it easier to manage your music collection.

NOTE

This software is compatible with both Windows and Mac systems, but it is no longer maintained. So if you encounter any issues while using it, you'll need to switch to different software such as TuneFab Apple Music Converter.

Step 1.

Download iTunes (version 12.4 or higher) on your PC and sign in with your Apple account.

Step 2.

Run TuneFab iTunes Music Converter and iTunes will be automatically launched. When your library syncs successfully on the converter, select the Apple Music songs you want to convert to MP3.

Select iTunes Music to Convert

Step 3.

Select output parameters such as sample rate and bitrate. Then hit "Convert" at the bottom right.

Pros and Cons of TuneFab iTunes Music Converter

Pros

Convert various audio content such as songs, audiobooks and podcasts from your iTunes library

Supports various output formats and quality

Preserve original music quality and ID3 tags

Cons

No longer updated or maintained

Requires iTunes installation on your computer

Method 4: Convert Apple Music to MP3 Free via Online Apple Music Downloader

● Best for: Those who want to convert streaming Apple Music singles to MP3 without software
● Supporting OS: Computer or mobile web browser
● Output MP3 Bitrate: 128kbps

If you want to download several favorite songs from Apple Music to MP3 without installing any software, then the online Apple Music Downloader might be a top pick. It is a free online tool that allows you to download songs, playlists, and albums from Apple Music to an MP3 file with effortless operation. Once done, the downloads will be kept with the full ID3 tag info and relatively high output quality. Then, you can keep the downloads locally, upload them back to your Apple Music app, or move them to your MP3 players for offline listening anywhere and anytime.

NOTE: Even though this tool can parse Apple Music playlists and album links, it doesn’t have a 'Download All' feature. You’ll need to click the download button for each song individually to download them all. If you have a lot of playlists or albums you want to download quickly, I recommend using TuneFab Apple Music Converter. It allows you to add multiple playlists and albums and download them all with a single click.

Step 1.

Launch your Apple Music app or open the Apple Music web player.

Step 2.

Choose the songs you want to download, then click the three-dot icon near the songs.

Step 3.

Tap "Share > Copy Link" to get the link, then paste the copied link into the search bar and click "Start > Download".

Step 4.

Click "Download MP3" to start downloading and exporting Apple Music to MP3 files.

Apple Music Dowloader Online

Pros and Cons of Converting Apple Music to MP3 via Online Apple Music Downloader

Pros

Convert Apple music to MP3 within a few clicks

Full ID3 tags can be preserved during the conversion

No software installation required

Free of charge

Cons

Doesn't support batch downloads for playlists or albums

High sound quality can not guaranteed, since it may source Apple Music tracks from other online platforms

Conversion speed might be slow under unstable network connections

Sometimes fail to parse and download Apple Music songs

Method 5: Download MP3 from Apple Music for Free via Audio Recorder

● Best for: Those who want an audio clip of an Apple Music song
● Supporting OS: Windows, macOS and Linux
● Output MP3 Bitrate: 320kbps

Audacity stands out as a beloved open-source audio recording and editing software, renowned for its capacity to record and export Apple Music tracks as MP3 files. With this recorder, you can capture audio directly from the computer's soundcard or external sources, including Apple Music tracks being played on the system.

Beyond its recording capabilities, Audacity's feature-rich interface empowers you to seamlessly edit and manipulate multiple audio tracks concurrently, making it an invaluable tool for crafting intricate audio compositions. Once you download Apple Music to MP3, you can directly edit the songs using Audacity, making the songs a ringtone on your iPhone or the background music on your videos.

NOTE: This Apple Music to MP3 program is better for downloading a small number of Apple Music songs. Because as a recorder, it's more time-consuming than a music converter. So, if you have multiple songs to convert, TuneFab Apple Music Converter is your better choice. With it, you can download MP3s from Apple Music with only one click and even within seconds.

Now, here are the steps on how to convert Apple Music to MP3 using Audacity:

Step 1.

Download and install Audacity from their official website. Once installed, open it and go to "Edit > >Preferences >> Devices" to select the appropriate recording device (usually your computer's built-in microphone or stereo mix).

Step 2.

Open the Apple Music app or iTunes on your computer and select the track you want to convert to MP3.

Step 3.

In Audacity, click on the "Record" button and then start playing the selected track in Apple Music. Once the track finishes playing, press the "Stop" button.

Step 4.

Go to "File >> Export Audio", then you can adjust the output settings and export the MP3 file.

Convert Apple Music to MP3 with Audacity

Pros and Cons of Downloading Apple Music to MP3 via Audacity

Pros

Featured with powerful editing functions - trimming, cutting, and more

Support diverse output formats - MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, WAV and more

Complete free to use

Cons

The interface is not straightforward enough for beginners

Original sound quality can not be retained due to its recording nature

It's time-consuming to record a whole Apple Music playlist

Which Is the Best Method to Convert Apple Music to MP3

Up to now, you may have a clearer grasp of these 4 ways to convert Apple Music to MP3, in terms of their features, tutorials, pros, and cons. If you are choosing between them, please take a look at the overview below to make an informed decision.

Using TuneFab Apple Music Converter Using Apple Music/iTunes Using TuneFab iTunes Music Converter Using Online Apple Music Downloader Using Audacity
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
OS Windows, macOS Windows, macOS Windows, macOS Web-based Windows, macOS, Linux
Supported Content Apple Music tracks, albums, playlists Purchased iTunes content, local files Apple Music tracks, albums, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks Apple Music singles Apple Music being played
Output Format MP3, M4A, WAV, and FLAC MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless MP3, M4A, AC3, AAC, AIFF, AU, WAV, and FLAC MP3 MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, WAV and more
Sound Quality Original High Original Medium Medium
DRM Removal form-tick form-fork form-tick form-fork form-tick
Conversion Speed 35X faster Depend on system spec and network connection 5X faster Depend on network connection Real-time speed
Ease of Use form-tick form-fork form-tick form-tick form-fork

Among these options, TuneFab Apple Music Converter stands out as the top choice for converting streaming Apple Music songs to MP3. It is capable of converting and downloading songs from Apple Music to DRM-free MP3, M4A, WAV, and FLAC, with original quality preserved. If you aim to convert purchased Apple Music to MP3, the Apple Music app or iTunes can be the best choice to export these Apple Music tracks to MP3 directly.

FAQs About Converting Apple Music to MP3



Q1: Is AAC a Format Just for Music from iTunes or Apple Music?

Because songs bought from iTunes and downloaded from Apple Music come in the AAC format, many people will think AAC is a proprietary Apple format. Actually, that's definitely not. AAC is a format that's virtually available to everyone.

The difference might be that AAC files from iTunes or Apple Music are locked by Apple's FairPlay DRM, which just allows Apple Music users to play music on Apple devices. So if you want to play Apple Music on other unsupportive devices, you can convert Apple Music or iTunes Music to MP3 using the above methods.



Q2: Can I Keep the Metadata and Album Art After Converting Apple Music to MP3?

It depends on the tool you use. The tool TuneFab Apple Music Converter and iTunes convert songs to MP3 with ID3 tags such as album art, title, and album track ID.



Q3: What's the Difference Between Compressed Apple Music Songs and Uncompressed Ones?

The compressed Apple Music you get has a smaller file size than that is uncompressed. However, the sound quality of the compressed songs is lower than the original, uncompressed ones.

Actually, it's hard for you to tell apart the sound quality between a compressed and uncompressed song, because it also depends on your music device or headphones.

NOTE: You can't improve a song's sound quality by converting it from a compressed to an uncompressed format. The uncompressed file only takes up more data space.



Q4: Can You Convert Apple Music Without Quality Loss?

MP3 is a lossy audio format, so when you convert original quality Apple Music to MP3, there will be some compression. However, if you choose 320kbps at 44,100Hz or 48,000Hz, the sound quality will still be very good. If you want to preserve the original quality, you can choose to convert to FLAC or WAV instead.



Q5: Can I Convert My Entire Apple Music Library to MP3 at Once?

Of the four methods mentioned in the article, only the first one is supported. You can add all your playlists to the conversion list, click 'Convert All,' and then wait for the process to finish. All your songs will be converted to MP3.



Q6: Can You Transfer Songs from Apple Music to an MP3 Player?

Yes, if your MP3 player supports installing and playing Apple Music, you can download songs directly on it or sync them from your computer using iTunes or the Music app. If your MP3 player only supports basic playback of local audio files, you can use the methods in this article to download Apple Music as MP3 files, and then transfer the songs to your MP3 player using a USB cable.



Q7: Are Original Apple Music Tracks Usable After Conversion?

Yes, the methods mentioned earlier won't harm your original Apple Music files. Streaming Apple Music is stored in Apple's music library database, so as long as you have internet access, you can always access them again. Even if they are converted to MP3 multiple times, the original files remain unaffected.

Summary

After converting Apple Music to MP3 songs, you can import the converted MP3 files back to your iTunes music library or copy them to other non-iOS gadgets or computers without having to be authorized with your Apple ID. The best part is, once you have tried the multi-functional TuneFab Apple Music Converter, even if you cancel your Apple Music subscription, you can still be able to keep Apple Music forever without paying a penny.

Copyright © 2022 TuneFab Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Language
English
Arrow