How To Convert To MP3 In iTunes Music For Free (2 Ways)

If you like listening to your favorite music with MP3 portable music player, you'll like the guide on how to convert to MP3 in iTunes, Apple Music, and professional music converter for free. The container format for iTunes and Apple Music audio files is AAC, which has high-quality audio but is not compatible with non-Apple devices. To play AAC music on more devices, you can convert them to the most flexible format like MP3.

However, the challenge is how to convert to MP3 because AAC audio from iTunes and Apple Music has Apple copyright encryption called FairPlay which prevents illegal modification. Here is an article that will explain how to convert Apple Music and iTunes music to MP3 for free.

Contents Guide Part 1. Protected AAC vs MP3: OverviewPart 2. Convert DRM-Free Music to MP3 Using iTunes/Apple MusicPart 3. Convert DRM-Protected Music to MP3 Using Apple Music ConverterFAQs About Converting Music to MP3Summary

Part 1. Protected AAC vs MP3: Overview

Why we should learn how to convert to MP3 in iTunes? Do you know the difference between Apple's AAC and MP3 audio formats? Here we will explain what is protected AAC audio files and MP3.

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is an audio coding standard for lossy digital audio compression. AAC generally achieves higher sound quality at the same bit rate compared to the older audio formats. Music, videos, and movies offered by iTunes and Apple Music use AAC for audio encoding and are protected by FairPlay (a digital rights management technology), allowing only authorized devices to play the content. It means that you cannot play protected AAC audio files on other media players. But the restrictions imposed by FairPlay have sparked criticism, Apple has offered DRM-free music after 2009 in the iTunes Store.

MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) is also a compression file format that stores digital audio data, most commonly music. MP3 file usually is in small size, making storage a lot easier. The good thing about the MP3 format is that the files are not protected by any copyright encryption. With the advent of portable media players, a product category also including smartphones, MP3 support remains near-universal. This is loved by many because of its flexibility and compatibility with various media players. So, if you have files in this format, you can have them transferred, shared, moved, and played on any device or media player you wish.

To enhance device compatibility, you should convert AAC music to MP3. With MP3 file format, you can enjoy a lot of your favorite soundtracks without worrying about compatibility, file size, and audio quality. How do I convert AAC files to MP3? This question will be answered in the following part!

Part 2. Convert DRM-Free Music to MP3 Using iTunes/Apple Music

As we mentioned earlier, the iTunes Store has offered tracks encoded as 256 kbit/s AAC without FairPlay or any other DRM since 2009. It means that the music you purchased and downloaded from the iTunes Store after 2009 can be converted to any format. Apple has an inbuilt converter on iTunes that allows you to switch between audio formats. How to convert to MP3 in iTunes? Here's the step-by-step tutorial:

Convert iTunes Music to MP3 on Windows or Older Mac

Step 1. Open the iTunes application on your Windows. For Apple users, please use the Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier.

Step 2. On the Windows version's menu, click Edit menu and choose Preferences. If you are using a Mac, select the iTunes menu tab at the top and choose Preferences.

Step 3. Then click on the General > choose Import Settings. A menu will pop up and choose MP3 Encoder from for the Import Using option. Then click on OK.

Step 4. You may now go back to your music library and start selecting those you wish to be converted to MP3 format. After selecting them, click the File tab above and then Convert. Then select Create MP3 Version.

Convert Music to MP3 on Mac

We have shared how to convert to MP3 in iTunes, now let's talk about how to convert unprotected AAC to MP3 using Apple Music. As we all know, Beginning with Macs running macOS Catalina, iTunes was replaced by separate apps and one of them is the Apple Music app. Now we have made it easier for you by providing straightforward steps below.

Step 1. Run the Apple Music app on your Mac. In the menu bar, choose Music > Preferences.

Step 2. Click the Files > Import Settings. Click the menu next to Import Using, then choose MP3 Encoder. Click OK.

Step 3. Select the songs you want to convert from the music library.

Step 4. Select File > Convert and Create MP3 Version. The new MP3 version will appear next to the original versions in the library.

Part 3. Convert DRM-Protected Music to MP3 Using Apple Music Converter

You now understand how to convert to MP3 in iTunes or Apple Music from part one. However, music purchased from iTunes between 2003 and 2009 and media content on Apple Music still use the DRM technology. How to convert protected AAC music to MP3? AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter is the best solution and you can have a quick look at it here.

This professional FairPlay DRM removal software can remove DRM from Apple Music and iTunes library without losing any quality. AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter can convert Apple Music and iTunes songs to MP3, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, or other mainstream formats at 5X faster conversion speed than any conventional converters. All of these formats can easily be accessed and kept on any device, so playing them anytime and anywhere you want wouldn’t be that much concern.

User-friendliness is essential when it comes to any application nowadays. This program is easy to use. The software automatically syncs Apple Music and iTunes music library to the main interface. AMusicSoft software will keep all the music metadata and ID3 tags for the downloads, including the title, artists, Track ID, and album artwork after the conversion is finished. With this information, you can easily manage your collection of music downloads. Even if Apple Music songs are greyed out, you can restore them immediately.

Step 1. Supported Windows and Mac OS. Before following the simple steps below, you need to download and install the AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter on your computer first from the button below.

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Step 2. Launch the program and allow it to sync the iTunes library on the main interface. You can drag and drop if it does not import the library.

Step 3. Then select the songs you want to convert by highlighting them. Next, choose MP3 as the output format and select the folder for output files.

Step 4. Confirm all your parameters and click on the “Convert” button.

When the conversion completes, you can switch to the Finished tab to fetch the converted MP3 music files without DRM.

FAQs About Converting Music to MP3

Q1: Is it legal to convert music to MP3?

It’s okay to convert DRM-protected Apple Music and iTunes songs to MP3 as long as you don't circulate the songs commercially, sell, or share them publicly. All DRM-free MP3 music downloaded via the mentioned solutions in this article is only for personal use.

Q2: Apple audio format vs MP3, which is the better audio format?

AAC and MP3 are both a lossy file format. In addition to AAC, Apple has developed its own lossless audio compression technology called Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). ALAC offers excellent sound quality without any loss in audio fidelity. However, Bluetooth connections don’t support lossless audio.

You may be interested:

• What Is Apple Lossless And How It Works >>>>
• Apple Lossless VS AAC: Which One Is Better >>>>

Q3: How to check if DRM-protected files are on iTunes?

How to check if an audio file is protected in iTunes? Just right-click on the song you wish to check, and click “song info” > “File”. If the song is DRM-protected, you will see the “Protected AAC audio file” from the “File” section.

Summary

That is all about how to convert to MP3 in iTunes, Apple Music, and Apple Music Converter. We hope you will find a way you like from our article. With AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter, failing to listen to the music due to an incompatible format and DRM limitation is a forgone case. It has high conversion speeds and is compatible with Mac and Windows computers. To experience its full freedom and comfort music experience, just free download it and have a try.

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