How To Remove DRM From iTunes Music Free [4 Methods]

Written By Robert Fabry Last updated: January 31, 2024

If you want to know how to transfer your favorite iTunes music to any media player you like, you'll like the guide on how to remove DRM from iTunes music here. As we all know, Apple introduced the entire iTunes music catalog without DRM in 2009, which means that you can use iTunes music files freely. However, music purchased from the iTunes Store between 2003 to 2009 and music from Apple Music is still protected by DRM.

The DRM will limit the device you can use for enjoying iTunes music. For example, you cannot play iTunes music on another platform except the iTunes app. How do I get DRM free music from iTunes? This article has several methods of removing DRM from iTunes and Apple Music. Read on to take your best pick.

Contents Guide Method 1. Remove DRM from Protected iTunes Music Using Apple Music ConverterMethod 2. Remove DRM from iTunes Using Requiem 4.1Method 3. Remove DRM from iTunes via Burning to CDMethod 4. Remove DRM from iTunes Using iTunes MatchFAQs About Removing DRM from iTunes MusicSummary

Method 1. Remove DRM from Protected iTunes Music Using Apple Music Converter

As we mentioned, most of the music purchased between 2003-2009 on iTunes has DRM protection. Apple Music, Apple's subscription-based music streaming service launched in 2015, also uses DRM technology. With such encryption, you cannot use other media players to play iTunes music. This is stressful, especially if you want to play DRM-protected iTunes music on portable devices like smartphones. In this case, how to remove DRM from iTunes music and Apple Music? The only solution is to remove DRM from iTunes and Apple Music and save the music on your portable devices. The most recommended one is the AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter.

AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter has the tools and power to remove DRM from iTunes and Apple Music in batches while preserving the original audio quality. AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter is also an all-in-one music converter to convert protected AAC music files to MP3, MP4, FLAC, M4A, WAV, and other common audio formats at up to 5x speed. The high speed goes hand in hand with extraordinary output quality.

AMusicSoft software will also 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. Just like iTunes, this converter can run on Windows and Mac. Any beginner wants software that is easy to use, and AMusicSoft is one of them. It automatically syncs your library to its main interface.

How to get DRM-free songs from Apple Music? Click the Free Download button to download the AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter on your computer!

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Step 1. To remove DRM from iTunes music or Apple Music, open AMusicSoft software, enter the built-in web player, and sign in with your Apple ID. Then you can search for the Apple Music song you want to remove DRM. Simply by dragging them to the "+" button, the software will fetch data from Apple Music.

Add iTunes Music To AMusicSoft

Step 2. Click on the Output Format dropdown to select MP3 or other formats as your output format, as well as the folder according to your requirements.

Convert iTunes Music To MP3

Step 3. Click the "Convert" button. AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter will help you remove DRM protection from Apple Music and iTunes songs immediately by batch converting them with 5X quick speed.

Convert Apple Music To MP3

Step 4. Wait for a while until the process is done. To save the results, access the Finished section and check for tracks available for download. Now your songs are DRM free which means that you can play DRM-free iTunes songs on any device you want.

Method 2. Remove DRM from iTunes Using Requiem 4.1

If you search the web, you can also find other DRM removal tools where you can remove DRM from iTunes music. For example, Requiem 4.1 is known to be one of the most popular freeware that can remove digital rights management (DRM). It is very well known especially if you are an iTunes user or someone who always struggles in overcoming technical restrictions in songs and other media like movies and audiobooks.

This freeware is known for its ability to decrypt and encrypt the contents of iTunes and Apple Music, resulting in a DRM-free file without having any loss of quality when compared to the original file. What is good about Requiem DRM removal is it is very accessible on any type of device, you can use it on Mac, Windows, and Linux system-operated computers. Here is how to use Requiem 4.1 to remove DRM from iTunes.

Step 1. Download and install Requiem 4.1 on your computer.

Step 2. Open iTunes and download the song you want to remove DRM. Before starting, make sure you've authorized your computer for the songs to play correctly on iTunes.

Step 3. Close iTunes and then launch Requiem 4.1. Requiem 4.1 will automatically find DRM-protected Apple Music songs in your iTunes library and get rid of DRM from them.

Remove DRM Using Requiem

However, Requiem is already out-dated as of today. The latest version of Requiem, which is Requiem 4.1 is only limited to be used in the different versions of iTunes not higher than v. 10.7. It means that Requiem can’t be used for the latest version of iTunes. So if you have a higher version of iTunes, it is best to search for alternatives to Requiem.

You may be interested: Best Alternative To Requiem DRM Removal

Method 3. Remove DRM from iTunes via Burning to CD

iTunes has a built-in feature that can burn music to CDs and DVDs in the library. You can also try to remove DRM from iTunes music by burning songs to CDs, then you can rip these songs to DRM-free music files. First, you should make sure that your Windows computer is equipped with a disc drive. Using Mac must have an Apple Combo drive or SuperDrive, or be connected to a USB SuperDrive. Secondly, you need to buy a blank disc (DVD-R or DVD-RW disc). The storage space of the disc is also important. The number of songs a disc can hold depends on the format of the song files and the capacity of the disc. Once you have everything ready, it’s time to start taking action. The steps are as follows:

Step 1. Open iTunes on Windows, or Music app on Mac. Create a playlist containing the songs or files you want to burn to CD.

Step 2. Choose View > View As > Songs (Windows) or View > as Songs (Mac), and make sure the items you want to include have a tick beside them. Then insert an empty CD into the CD drive.

Step 3. Select the playlist, then choose File > Burn Playlist to Disc. Select a disc format. You can also change the recording speed, the amount of silence between songs, or display information that can be shown on disc players.

iTunes Burn Playlist To Disc

Step 4. Click Burn. Wait for several minutes to burn a disc.

Remove DRM Using Burning CD

Note: You cannot burn movies and TV shows you have purchased from iTunes. Also, it cannot burn songs you have downloaded from Apple Music.

Method 4. Remove DRM from iTunes Using iTunes Match

How can I remove DRM from iTunes music? If you have a large music collection purchased after 2009, iTunes Match is worth considering because it helps you upload a copy of your iTunes library to the cloud. Simply re-download the DRM-free copy in the cloud back to your iTunes library. However, this service charges $24.99 per year. iTunes Match is only available in iTunes 10.5.2 or higher for Mac or Windows and Apple's Music app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. The service is unavailable on Android. Here is how to get DRM-free songs from iTunes Match:

Step 1. On your Windows, open iTunes. On your Mac, open the Music app.

Step 2. On Mac, click iTunes Store. On your PC, click Store at the top of iTunes. (If you do not see the iTunes Store, click Music > Settings (Preferences) > General and ensure that iTunes Store is selected)

Step 3. Go to the bottom of the screen, click iTunes Match and then Subscribe. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Remove DRM Using iTunes Match

Step 4. Now back to your music library. Choose the songs protected and delete them. Then Click on the cloud icon to download the unprotected songs back to your device.

You may be interested: A lot of users are confused about the differences between iTunes Match and Apple Music. View iTunes Match Vs Apple Music to see the main differences between them.

FAQs About Removing DRM from iTunes Music

Q1: How to check if music is DRM-protected 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.

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 the mentioned solutions in this article is only for personal use.

Summary

Now we have shown you how to remove DRM from iTunes music for free. Anyway, the listed methods have their unique usage scenarios. There is no best one but the one that is the most suitable for you. But if you want to remove DRM both from iTunes and Apple Music in one click, you definitely should choose AMusicSoft Apple Music Converter, the most powerful and the easiest music DRM removal for Win and Mac, which helps you get rid of DRM in seconds and share iTunes music on any platform.

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