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Wideeaddd's avatar
Wideeaddd
Iron Contributor
Aug 12, 2025

The best free apple music downloader that supports high quality mp3?

Sold my Mac and bought a new Windows 11 laptop. I need to pull off the music from my Apple music library. However, the official download is protected and I can't play it on my Android phone and PC. What is the best apple music downloader that lets me download high quality mp3 to my computer? I tried a few online tools but they does not support 320kbps mp3 files.

Thanks

7 Replies

  • WolfGangg's avatar
    WolfGangg
    Iron Contributor

    It’s a good question. Unfortunately, Apple Music tracks are protected by DRM, which means you can’t simply copy or convert them with free online tools—most of them either don’t work properly or don’t support high-quality 320kbps MP3 output.

    There are generally two ways people handle this:

    • Recording in real time with tools like Au_dacity. This method is free, but it’s slow since you need to play each song fully, and the quality depends on your playback/recording setup.

    • Using a dedicated Apple Music downloader. These tools can remove the protection and let you convert your entire library in batch to formats like MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC, with higher bitrates such as 320kbps.


    If you’re looking for a reliable option on Windows, one example is Tune Fab Apple Music Converter
    . It works with the built-in Apple Music web player (no iTunes needed), supports up to 35X faster conversion, preserves ID3 tags, and allows you to download full playlists or albums in lossless quality.

    This way, you can transfer the songs to your Android phone or keep them as regular MP3s on your Windows 11 PC.

  • Doress8980's avatar
    Doress8980
    Iron Contributor

    I understand your desire to transfer your music library to your new Windows 11 laptop and Android device. However, it's important to note that Apple Music tracks are protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management), which prevents direct downloading or conversion to high-quality MP3 files through unofficial tools. Using third-party Apple music downloaders or converters may violate Apple’s terms of service and could pose legal and security risks.

    Official and Legal Solutions:

    • Apple Music Offline Downloads: If you have an active subscription, you can download songs directly within the Apple Music app on your Windows PC using iTunes. These downloads are DRM-protected but playable within authorized apps.
    • Apple Music on Android: Apple Music has an official app for Android that allows offline listening, again with DRM protection.

     

    If You Want MP3 Files:

    • Purchase Songs Individually: If you want MP3s without DRM, consider purchasing songs directly from the iTunes Store (via iTunes on Windows). Purchased songs are usually DRM-free and available as high-quality MP3s.
    • Use Authorized Devices: Play the tracks on authorized devices and record them with authorized software (not recommended due to quality loss and potential legal issues).

     

    Disclaimer: Converting DRM-protected files using third-party Apple music downloaders may infringe on copyright laws and Apple’s terms of service.

  • For single or less music download, an online apple music downloader is the best option without installing any software. Instead of directly decrypting DRM files, it records Apple Music songs in real time as they play through your browser or iTunes. The output is saved as MP3 or other formats, letting you enjoy the music on any device without Apple’s playback restrictions.

    Steps to Use It

    1. Go to the one of free apple music downloader websites in your browser.
    2. Click "Start Recording".  The first time, you'll be prompted to download a small launcher.
    3. Select your audio source. Please choose System Sound to capture Apple Music playback directly.
    4. Play your Apple Music song in iTunes or the Apple Music app.
    5. Click "Start" to begin recording.
    6. Click "Stop" when the song ends. The file will be saved as MP3 on your PC.

    Pros
    ✅ No full software installation needed.

    ✅ Works on Windows and Mac via a browser.

    ✅ Can save music as MP3, WAV, AAC, and more.

    ✅ Simple and beginner-friendly interface.

    ✅ Captures from any source (Apple Music app, browser, YouTube, etc.).

    Cons
    ❌ Records in real time — takes the same length as the song.

    ❌ Requires a stable internet connection for the web app.

    ❌ Won’t capture original lossless quality — limited to what’s played back.

    ❌ Still a “recording” method, not true DRM removal.

  • IKEA's avatar
    IKEA
    Iron Contributor

    Fra:ac is a solid, free, open-source audio converter that can help you convert and download purchased music files from formats like AAC to MP3, including high-quality settings. Let's take a look at how to use this Apple music download software.

    1. Download and install Fra:ac
    2. Import your music files
        Open Fra:ac.
        Drag and drop your music files (e.g., purchased AAC files from iTunes) into the conversion list.

    3. Set output format to MP3
        In the Profile dropdown, select MP3 (LAME).
    To ensure the highest quality, customize the profile:
        Click on Configure (gear icon).
        Set Bitrate Mode to Constant.
        Set Bitrate to 320 kbps for maximum quality.
        Optionally, set Sample Rate to 44.1 kHz or leave it at default.

    4. Choose output folder
        Specify the destination folder where your converted files will be saved.
    5. Start conversion
        Click Start or Convert.
        Wait for the process to complete

    In this way you are able to convert music and download it to Windows computer, so Fra:ac can be as a free Apple music downloader.

  • VoluntPerry's avatar
    VoluntPerry
    Iron Contributor

    For your question, a dedicated apple music downloader is required for downloading apple music to mp3. It plays the songs and re-records or decrypts them. You can't just rename the files or drag them out of iTunes, because they’re encrypted .m4p files.

    Step 1: Install an Apple music downloader like iMusicGo on your PC or Mac.

    Step 2: Browse your Apple Music songs and select the ones you want to download and convert.

    Step 3: Set Output Format to MP3. Choose a high bitrate like 320kbps for best quality. Pick an output folder on your PC.

    Step 4: Click Convert or Start. The software will process each track, removing DRM and saving it as an unprotected MP3 file.

    Step 4: The MP3 files can now be played in Windows Media Player, car stereos, MP3 players, or transferred to any device even without Apple Music.

    Tip: If you only need a few songs, you could also record them in real time using an audio recorder like Audaacity. This avoids DRM circumvention but is slower and requires playback in full.

     

  • Gaskenryu's avatar
    Gaskenryu
    Iron Contributor

    Downloading music from your Mac to computer for free can be done using several methods, depending on your needs and the tools available. Here are some common and legal Apple music downloader that can help you:

    1. Using iTunes (or Finder on Mac)
    If the music was purchased from iTunes:

    • Connect your Mac to your computer.
    • Open iTunes (Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later).
    • Select your device.
    • Under the Music tab, choose Sync Music or select specific songs to transfer.
    • Click Apply to transfer purchased music.

     

    This method works primarily for music bought from iTunes Store or synced from iTunes library.

    2. Using Cloud Services (for Free)
    If you have access to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive:

    • Upload music from your Mac (via apps or share options).
    • Download the music files on your PC.

     

    3. Using iCloud Music Library (if enabled)
    If you have Apple Music or iCloud Music Library enabled:

    • You can access your music through iCloud on your computer.
    • Download songs via the Music app or iCloud website.

     

    This requires an active subscription, but if you previously purchased music, it might be accessible for free. Of course, there is also a professional Apple music downloader that is worth giving a try.

  • If you downloaded music from Apple Music using the Apple Music app or iTunes on your PC, the reason you can't just play those files in other players like Windows Media Player, etc.) is because Apple Music songs are DRM-protected. Here's what's going on:

    Apple Music uses DRM specifically Apple's FairPlay system, which encrypts the downloaded songs so they can only be played through Apple’s own apps when you’re signed in with the same Apple ID that has the subscription. The downloads are usually in .m4p or protected AAC format, not plain MP3 or unprotected AAC. These files will refuse to play in most non-Apple software.

    To listen to Apple Music songs freely on your PC in other players, you'd need to remove the DRM by converting them to an open format like MP3 or FLAC with a special apple music downloader app. Otherwise, they'll only work inside the Apple Music app or iTunes.

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