Understanding iTunes / Apple Music Files
Not all files in your iTunes (or Apple Music) library are the same. The file type determines whether you can convert it and what quality to expect:
| Source | Format | Quality | DRM | Convertible? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iTunes Store purchase | M4A (AAC) | 256 kbps | None (since 2009) | Yes |
| Apple Music stream | M4A (AAC) | 256 kbps | FairPlay | No |
| Apple Music lossless | M4A (ALAC) | Lossless | FairPlay | No |
| CD rip (AAC import) | M4A (AAC) | 128–256 kbps | None | Yes |
| CD rip (ALAC import) | M4A (ALAC) | Lossless | None | Yes |
| Voice Memos (synced) | M4A (AAC) | 48–96 kbps | None | Yes |
| Old iTunes DRM tracks | M4P | 128 kbps | FairPlay | No |
The critical distinction: Purchased tracks from the iTunes Store are DRM-free and can be converted freely. Subscription tracks from Apple Music are DRM-protected and cannot be converted by any tool, regardless of what it claims.
Method 1: Apple Music App (Mac/Windows)
Apple Music (formerly iTunes) has a built-in MP3 encoder. This is the most official method and works directly within your music library.
Step-by-step on macOS:
- Open Apple Music
- Go to Music → Settings (or Preferences on older macOS)
- Click the Files tab, then Import Settings
- Change "Import Using" to MP3 Encoder
- Set "Setting" to Custom, then choose 256 kbps stereo, 44.1 kHz
- Click OK to save
- In your library, select the song(s) you want to convert
- Go to File → Convert → Create MP3 Version
- The MP3 copy appears in your library alongside the original M4A
Step-by-step on Windows (iTunes):
- Open iTunes
- Go to Edit → Preferences → General → Import Settings
- Change "Import Using" to MP3 Encoder
- Set quality to Custom → 256 kbps
- Select song(s), then File → Convert → Create MP3 Version
Limitations of this method:
- Cannot convert DRM-protected Apple Music subscription tracks
- No VBR option — only CBR at preset bitrates (128, 160, 192, 256, 320)
- Uses Apple's MP3 encoder, not LAME (the industry-standard MP3 encoder)
- Requires the Apple Music or iTunes desktop app
Method 2: Online Converter
Upload your DRM-free M4A files directly and convert to MP3 in your browser. Works on any device — Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Linux — no software installation required.
Step-by-step:
- Find your M4A files:
- macOS: Right-click a song in Apple Music → Show in Finder. Default location:
~/Music/Music/Media/Music/ - Windows: Right-click a song in iTunes → Show in Windows Explorer. Default:
C:\Users\[name]\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music\
- macOS: Right-click a song in Apple Music → Show in Finder. Default location:
- Open Convertio.com in your browser
- Upload the M4A file(s)
- Choose settings: VBR V0 or 256 kbps CBR for music (see recommendations below)
- Convert and download your MP3 file(s)
Advantages over Method 1:
- Uses the LAME encoder (gold standard for MP3) via FFmpeg's
libmp3lame - Supports VBR encoding (V0, V2) for better quality-to-size ratio
- Works on any device with a browser, including iPhone and Android
- No need to install or configure desktop software
Method 3: Desktop Tools
For users who prefer offline conversion or need to process very large libraries:
VLC Media Player (free, cross-platform):
- Open VLC → Media → Convert/Save
- Add your M4A file(s)
- Choose MP3 as output format
- VLC uses its built-in LAME encoder
Audacity (free, cross-platform):
- Import M4A (requires FFmpeg library installed for Audacity)
- Export as MP3 — choose bitrate and VBR/CBR
- Useful when you also need to edit the audio (trim, normalize, apply effects)
Both tools are free and capable. VLC is faster for simple conversion. Audacity is better when you also need editing.
Critical DRM Warning
This is the most important section of this guide. Apple Music subscription tracks are protected by FairPlay DRM, and no legitimate tool can convert them.
How FairPlay DRM works: When you download a track from Apple Music for offline listening, the file is encrypted with a key tied to your Apple ID and device. The file plays only in Apple Music and authorized Apple apps. Third-party apps and converters cannot access the decrypted audio data.
How to check if your file is DRM-protected:
- In Apple Music (or iTunes), right-click the song
- Select Get Info
- Click the File tab
- Look at the Kind field:
| Kind Field | DRM Status | Can Convert? |
|---|---|---|
| "Purchased AAC audio file" | DRM-free | Yes |
| "AAC audio file" | DRM-free (CD rip or import) | Yes |
| "Apple Lossless audio file" | DRM-free (CD rip) | Yes |
| "Apple Music AAC audio file" | DRM-protected | No |
| "Protected AAC audio file" | DRM-protected (old) | No |
Upgrading old DRM tracks: If you purchased tracks from the iTunes Store before 2009, they may still have DRM. Apple offers an upgrade to the DRM-free "iTunes Plus" version for a small fee per track. Go to Account → Purchased in the iTunes Store to check for upgrade offers.
Recommended Quality Settings
When converting iTunes M4A files to MP3, the source quality determines the ideal output settings. There is no benefit in using a higher MP3 bitrate than your source — it just creates a larger file with no additional quality.
| Source | Source Quality | Recommended MP3 | 4-min Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| iTunes purchase | 256 kbps AAC | VBR V0 (~245 kbps) or 256 kbps CBR | ~7.2 MB |
| CD rip (256 AAC) | 256 kbps AAC | VBR V0 or 256 kbps CBR | ~7.2 MB |
| CD rip (ALAC) | Lossless | VBR V0 or 320 kbps CBR | ~7.2–9.4 MB |
| CD rip (128 AAC) | 128 kbps AAC | VBR V2 (~190 kbps) or 192 kbps CBR | ~5.6 MB |
| Voice Memo | 48–96 kbps AAC | 128 kbps CBR | ~3.8 MB |
Why not just use 320 kbps for everything? Because encoding a 256 kbps AAC source at 320 kbps MP3 creates a file 27% larger with zero quality improvement. The MP3 encoder cannot invent audio data that was already discarded by AAC compression. Match (or slightly exceed) the source bitrate for optimal results.
For CD rips in ALAC (lossless), you have the luxury of a perfect source. Use VBR V0 for the best quality-to-size ratio, or 320 kbps CBR for maximum quality and device compatibility. See our VBR vs CBR guide for a detailed comparison.
Batch Conversion Tips
If you are converting a large iTunes library, batch processing saves significant time:
- Process album by album: select all tracks in an album, convert them together, and verify the results before moving on. This makes it easy to catch issues.
- Preserve folder structure: keep your MP3 files organized in
Artist/Album/folders. Most conversion tools maintain the original filename, making it easy to match MP3s to their M4A originals. - Check metadata: MP3 uses ID3v2 tags while M4A uses MPEG-4 atoms for metadata. Good converters (including Convertio, VLC, and Audacity) automatically transfer artist, album, title, track number, and cover art. Always spot-check a few files to make sure tags transferred correctly.
- Keep the originals: do not delete your M4A files after conversion. M4A (AAC) is the higher-quality source. If you need to re-convert in the future (different bitrate, different format), having the original avoids generational loss from converting an already-converted MP3.
Storage tip: a typical iTunes library of 5,000 songs at 256 kbps AAC is about 36 GB. The same library converted to VBR V0 MP3 is approximately 35 GB — nearly the same size. So you can afford to keep both copies without doubling your storage.