How To Download MP3 From iTunes And Apple Music For Free?

With iTunes and the Apple Music app, you can purchase, organize, play, and download digital multimedia, such as music or music videos. However, sometimes you may want to use a different media player or non-Apple device to play downloads. Is it possible to do that? Unfortunately, the audio format on iTunes and Apple Music is incompatible with most audio players. That’s why we should learn how to download MP3 from iTunes and Apple Music.

Currently, MP3 is the most versatile among all other formats. That is why downloading your music into the said format would be a big advantage for you. This post will help you know the process of how to download MP3 songs from iTunes and Apple Music on Windows and Mac. Included as well is the tool that you must use to get rid of the copyright restrictions set by Apple Music.

Contents Guide Part 1. Can You Download MP3 Songs from iTunes and Apple Music?Part 2. Download Purchased iTunes Music to MP3 using MP3 EncoderPart 3. Download Protected Music to MP3 using Apple Music ConverterPart 4. FAQs About Downloading MP3 from iTunes and Apple MusicPart 5. Conclusion

Part 1. Can You Download MP3 Songs from iTunes and Apple Music?

Before we share how to download MP3 from iTunes and Apple Music, we want to show you what audio format iTunes and Apple Music use.

To deliver an unparalleled listening experience, Apple developed its own implementation of AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) at a bitrate of 256kbit/s. It delivers audio that’s virtually indistinguishable from the original studio recording. However, these AAC audio files downloaded from iTunes and Apple Music are protected by FairPlay (a digital rights management technology). FairPlay is built into the MP4 multimedia file format as an encrypted AAC audio layer, allowing only authorized devices to play the content. It means that you cannot play protected AAC audio files on other media players.

MP3 format, generally, is not just more popular than AAC, but also than any other audio format. If you want to play iTunes or Apple Music songs on other devices, you'll have to convert them to MP3s. Is it possible to download MP3 from iTunes and Apple Music? Though you can't download music in MP3 directly from iTunes and Apple Music, we will share other ways to get MP3 music files. Keep reading!

Part 2. Download Purchased iTunes Music to MP3 using MP3 Encoder

How to download MP3 from iTunes and Apple Music? Luckily, there is an MP3 encoder built into the iTunes and Apple Music app. You can also choose the audio quality you want to have from the audio encoder. This part will explain how to convert purchased songs to MP3 using the MP3 encoder. Instructions apply to iTunes for Windows and Apple Music for Mac.

Convert Song to MP3 on iTunes

Step 1. Start with launching the iTunes application on your Windows or Mac (macOS Mojave or earlier), in the menu bar, choose Edit > Preferences.

Step 2. On the General tab, click on the Import Setting button, and choose MP3 Encoder for the Import Using option. Once done, tap the OK button located at the bottom part. In this part, you can adjust the quality of the converted files. You can set it to "High Quality" if you wish for better audio and if you have enough storage space to save the files. After doing so, do not forget to click the OK button that is placed at the lower part to save the changes.

Step 3. 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.

Step 4. Wait for a few minutes until the conversion is done. The new MP3 file that you just created appears next to the original AAC version.

Convert Song to MP3 on Apple Music

For those who are using the newest Mac computer, for the process of how to download MP3 from iTunes, you may use the Apple Music app. Here is how you do it.

Step 1. Open the Apple Music app on Mac running macOS Catalina or the latest. In the menu bar, choose Music > Settings, then click Files.

Step 2. Click Import Settings. In the Import Using pop-up menu, choose the MP3 Encoder, then click OK to save the settings.

Step 3. Select one or more songs in your library, then choose File > Convert > Create MP3 Version. The song in its original format and the newly converted MP3 song appear in your library.

In this way, you can convert iTunes Store purchases only if they’re iTunes Plus songs. Why? That's because all songs offered by the iTunes Store come without DRM protection starting in 2009. These DRM-free songs, called iTunes Plus, have no usage restrictions. However, music purchased from iTunes between 2003-2009 and downloaded from Apple Music now is still protected by DRM. It is difficult to download DRM-protected music to MP3.

Part 3. Download Protected Music to MP3 using Apple Music Converter

If you want to download DRM-protected songs you purchased from iTunes and Apple Music to MP3, you can rely on using AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter. How to download MP3 from iTunes and Apple Music using the AMusicSoft program? With AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter's capability of DRM removal, you can remove the DRM from Apple Music and iTunes protected files at 5X faster speed, and surely convert the songs into MP3 format. Aside from that, it also supports the conversion of files into FLAC, WAV, M4A, and MP4. With these DRM-free songs, you can back up them on any device and play with any media player you want for listening to Apple Music songs offline.

Download MP3 Music via AMusicSoft

Click download button to get AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter on your Windows/Mac for free. Maintaining the 100% quality of the original file, AMusicSoft can finish the conversion in few minutes with easy operation.

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Step 1. Run the AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter on your Windows or Mac. The built-in Apple Music web player will load your music library automatically. You can now choose any song that you want to download to MP3.

Step 2. After adding the protected AAC songs to AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter, select MP3 from the menu of "Output Format". You can also set the output path to store converted files. To get original quality music, you need to change the bit rate to 320kbps: click the three-line icon in the upper right corner of the software, and from the drop-down menu, choose Preferences > Advanced. From the Bitrate, choose 320.

Step 3. Get started with conversion by hitting the Convert button below.

After doing the above three steps, you can have the MP3 files readily available in the output folder you defined before. You do not have to worry about compatibility problems! You can transfer them to any device you want for playing, regardless of its operating system.

Part 4. FAQs About Downloading MP3 from iTunes and Apple Music

The steps of how to download MP3 from iTunes and Apple Music are easy. But sometimes you may still encounter some problems with it. Following are the FAQs which should be helpful for you.

Q1: How to check if songs are DRM-protected?

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.

Q2: Is it legal to remove DRM from iTunes or Apple Music?

It’s okay to remove DRM encryption as long as you don't circulate the songs commercially, sell, or share them publicly. All DRM-free music downloaded via AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter in this article is only for personal use.

Q3: AAC vs MP3, which is the better audio format?

AAC and MP3 are both a lossy file format. Whereas MP3 audio can be played on just about any computer or media player, protected AAC files are associated with Apple operating systems. AAC files have a higher quality than MP3. However, AAC versus MP3 sound capabilities don't vary considerably. To enjoy more high-quality sound, you can try Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC).

You may be interested: Apple Lossless VS AAC: Which One Is Better

Part 5. Conclusion

The discussion above has tackled about the different methods on how to download MP3 from iTunes. You can directly use the iTunes or Apple Music app if the files are unprotected while you have to use AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter if the files are DRM protected. AMusicSoft will definitely help you in getting the copies of your favorite music.

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