Forum Discussion
How can I download Apple music to mp3 from Windows 10?
I have a large Apple Music playlist needs to be saved as MP3 files on my Windows PC for offline listening. The built-in download feature only seems to work inside the Apple Music app, and it is not clear whether there is a way to export an entire playlist to standard MP3 files.
Has anyone found a reliable solution for downloading and converting Apple Music to MP3 on Windows 10? Looking for a beginner-friendly tool or method that can handle multiple songs at once while preserving metadata such as artist names and album information.
9 Replies
- MateoChenIron Contributor
iMusicGo
- ZephyrKaiIron Contributor
Onrender Apple Music playlist downloader web app.
According to the site's homepage, it allows users to enter an Apple Music playlist, view playlist information, and download songs from a single page. It also links to a GitHub project and encourages users to fork or star the repository.
A few things to keep in mind before converting Apple Music to MP3:
It appears to be an unofficial third-party tool rather than an Apple service.
The homepage does not clearly explain where the downloaded files come from, what audio quality is provided, or whether DRM-protected Apple Music tracks are supported.
Since it is hosted on a free Render domain, availability and performance may vary over time.
If you're considering using it, I would recommend checking the associated GitHub repository first to review the source code, understand how it works, and verify that it is safe and compliant with your local laws and the service's terms.
- AmanasnCopper Contributor
Converting Apple Music to MP3 using the "iTunes Music Playlist Exporter" on Windows 10 is not complicated.
First of all, the good news is: If you have indeed purchased songs from the iTunes store, then iTunes itself comes with a perfectly suitable tool. You just need to go to iTunes settings, change the import format to "MP3 encoder", then right-click on the purchased songs and select "Make MP3 version". This process is fast, free, and can completely retain your metadata. If "iTunes Music Playlist Exporter" is just a tool that automatically completes this official process, then it will be very useful.
Therefore, in order for the "iTunes Music Playlist Exporter" to truly convert Apple Music into MP3 format, it must complete one of the following two operations:
1. Using the iTunes method: This method is only applicable to purchased songs. If your playlist is filled with subscription songs, this method will immediately become ineffective.
2. Become a third-party DRM removal tool: Many tools called "exporters" actually bypass DRM through their own engine. Although technically this can convert Apple Music to MP3,
- EastonJaxIron Contributor
If you prefer a visual approach, software like Audials One acts as a "virtual audio cable" or speaker recorder.
First, you play your Apple Music songs in the iTunes app or web player.
While the music plays, Audials automatically captures the sound coming from your PC's sound card and saves the files as MP3s on your hard drive.
You have to make additional editing when the recording is done as there might be noise during the Apple Music to MP3 conversion.
Why choose this: It works for any audio playing on your computer, not just Apple Music, and is generally safe regarding copyright as it records unencrypted audio streams.
- BaylorHuckIron Contributor
If you actually own the songs (songs you purchased from the iTunes Store), you do not need third-party software. Apple allows you to convert these DRM-free files directly.
How it works: Open iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings. Change the "Import Using" dropdown to MP3 Encoder. Then, right-click any purchased song and select "Create MP3 Version".
For me, this is a quite good solution for converting Apple Music to MP3.
Important Limitation: This will not work on songs you are streaming via the Apple Music subscription service. The "Create MP3 Version" option will be grayed out for streaming tracks due to DRM protection.
- XollomIron Contributor
OBS Studio is an open-source tool that allows you to convert Apple music to mp3 using its audio recording feature.
How to Convert Apple Music to MP3
- Configure the software to record only desktop audio.
- Start the recording task in the software.
- Play your Apple Music playlist.
- Stop recording once all songs have finished playing.
- Open the long audio file in another program and split it into multiple separate tracks.
- Export each track as an MP3 file.
This recording-based method can also help you successfully convert the data into a continuous audio file.
- LukaeerCopper Contributor
Now let's talk about downloading Apple music to MP3 via online converter on Windows 10 computer.
Some of these online tools can even handle entire playlists or albums, rather than just individual songs. Since they are all websites, they usually can be run on any device - including Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android devices.
Online converter: Just paste the link of an Apple Music song into the box, and you will get a downloadable MP3 file. You don't need to install any software on your computer - just open your web browser, copy the song link from Apple Music, paste it into the website, and then click the button. In a few seconds, you can directly download the MP3 file.
This process is usually very simple ( download Apple music to MP3). First, open Apple Music and find the song you want to listen to. Click the share button or the three dots next to the song title, and then copy the link. Next, go to an online conversion website, paste the link into the search box, and click a button like "Start" or "Convert". The website will process the link and provide you with a button to download the MP3 file.
- BreckenFosterSteel Contributor
There is an official method provided by Apple for convert Apple music to mp3, but this method only works for songs purchased from the iTunes Store or imported from CDs; it cannot convert tracks added through the Apple Music monthly streaming subscription.
You can convert eligible tracks directly in iTunes without using third-party tools, but this feature requires that the songs are not protected by digital rights management (DRM) and are compatible with the built-in encoder.
First, open the software. Click Edit > Preferences, switch to the General tab, and then click Import Settings. In the Import Using drop-down menu, select MP3 Encoder, choose your desired audio quality, and finally click OK.
Next, open a playlist in your library, select the songs you want to convert, and then click File > Convert > Create MP3 Versions in the top menu bar. The software will generate an MP3 copy of each song in your library without altering the original files. Right-click any of the newly generated tracks, select “Show in File Explorer,” and you’ll find the corresponding MP3 files.
Once the conversion is complete, you will have MP3 files free of DRM protection that can be played normally on other media players.
This method cannot be used to convert Apple music to mp3, so it is only suitable for users who have DRM-free music in their iTunes library.
If you prefer not to use third-party software, you can try this method. This is a simple, official solution—please ensure your tracks meet the conversion requirements before proceeding.
- KadenriCopper Contributor
Apple Music's songs are protected by DRM. which is a digital lock mechanism that prevents you from directly converting the songs. The recording software bypasses this limitation by capturing the audio when it is played through the computer's sound card - it's somewhat like pointing a microphone at the speaker, but all done within the computer itself.
The working principle is actually quite simple. You need to set the recording software to monitor the internal audio of the computer instead of an external microphone. Most programs will refer to this mode as "loop back" or "system audio" mode. After pressing the recording button, play your Apple Music songs, and the software will capture all the sounds you hear.
After the song finishes playing, stop the recording and export the file as an MP3 format. This is the core step for you to convert Apple music to MP3 on a Windows 10 computer.
Before you start, you need to understand the following points: The recording is done in real time - a three-minute song will take exactly three minutes to be recorded. This is inevitable. Additionally, any notification alerts, email reminders or Slack messages during the recording process will be recorded in your MP3 file. Therefore, it is recommended to close all applications that may produce noise in advance if you want to convert Apple music to MP3.