How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 (4 Helpful Ways)

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 4 workable ways.

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 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.

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

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 1.5 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.

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 them on your music device.

Convert Songs 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.

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 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.

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: The conversion speed may be a little slow, you need to be patient. Also, it will fail to download songs from Apple Music sometimes. Once you face this situation, you can use another program, like TuneFab Apple Music Converter, as an alternative.

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:

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 Online Apple Music Downloader	Using Audacity
Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
OS	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS	Web-based	Windows, macOS, Linux
Supported Content	Apple Music tracks, albums, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks	Purchased iTunes content, local files	Apple Music tracks, albums, playlists	Apple Music being played
Output Format	MP3, M4A, WAV, and FLAC	MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless	MP3	MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, WAV and more
Sound Quality	Original	Original	Medium	Medium
DRM Removal
Conversion Speed	20X faster	Depend on system spec and network connection	Depend on network connection	Real-time speed
Ease of Use

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.

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.

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.