How to Add Apple Music to iMovie on iPhone/iPad/Mac

Updated by Adam Gorden on May 15, 2023 6:00 PM
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apple music to imovie

I can't get my purchased music to show up and thus be accessible in iMovie. The songs are downloaded off the cloud in my physical iTunes library. I have gone to iTunes preferences and allowed my iTunes library to share with other applications. Purchased music still doesn't show up. Really frustrating purchasing songs and not being able to apply them to iMovie! Thanks so much for your help in advance."

Whether you are a new user of Apple Music or iMovie, this question must have crossed your mind once: Can I use Apple Music in iMovie? The pity is, although iMovie and Apple Music both belongs to Apple Company, there's no such feature to link these two applications. In other words, you can't add Apple Music to iMovie because Apple Music is a streaming service and the songs are DRM protected. But this is not the final say. We have found a way to cope with this inconvenient situation. Let's explore how to use Apple Music in iMovie now.

Part 1. How Can I Use Apple Music with iMovie?
Part 2. How to Convert and Download Apple Music for iMoviehot tip
Part 3. How to Use Apple Music with iMovie for Mac
Part 4. How to Use Apple Music with iMovie for iPhone/iPad

Part 1. How Can I Use Apple Music with iMovie?

When using Apple Music with iMovie, you may encounter limitations due to digital rights management (DRM) restrictions. Apple Music catalog is protected by DRM and restricted to be used on Apple Music platform only. And like many other video editing software, iMovie doesn't support the DRM-protected audio and cannot export videos with DRM-protected audio. As a result, you cannot add music from Apple Music app directly to your iMovie project.

However, it's still possible for users to achieve the same outcome by using two alternative ways. Typically you'll need to get the DRM-free version of the desired tracks from Apple Music. For starters, you can choose to purchase Apple Music tracks from iTunes Store, ensuring the access to the unprotected AAC version of it in the iTunes library, and it's DRM-free.

Another option is to crack the DRM directly from Apple Music at no extra cost. You're recommended to use a powerful Apple Music downloader called ViWizard Audio Converter to convert and download tracks into a compatible format with iMovie, such as AAC, MP3, or WAV. Then it's convenient for you to import the music files directly to iMovie and use it as the background music of your project.

Audio Support
iMovie File Import: AAC, AIFF, BWF, CAF, MP3, MP4, RF64, WAV
Audio about Apple Music: DRM-protected
iTunes Purchases: AAC (unprotected)
ViWizard File Output: AAC, WAV, MP3, M4B, M4A, FLAC

Tool You'll Need: ViWizard Audio Converter

ViWizard Audio Converter is a dedicated software program that enable Apple Music users to extract audio from Apple Music to a compatible format with iMovie import support. While iTunes purchases will break the bank, ViWizard allows users to download the desired tracks from a wide range of genre in Apple Music. The best part is the lossless audio and full ID3 tags will be kept and embedded to each downloaded music tracks. And it's easier than ever to import the actual music files to an iMovie project as expected.

In addition to Apple Music, iTunes music, files, podcasts, audiobooks and Audible audiobooks can be converted and downloaded. And the built-in editor allows users to customize and archive the tracks by Artists or Album/Artists. You can adjust the bit rate, sample rate, channel, and codec as wish. Let's get started.

audio converter

ViWizard Audio Converter Key Features

  • Losslessly remove DRM from Audible & iTunes audiobooks
  • Convert DRM M4P to MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, M4A, M4B
  • Retain 100% original quality and ID3 tags
  • Convert Apple Music songs to MP3, M4B, AAC
  • Convert between DRM-free audio file formats
2,000,000+Downloads
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Part 2. How to Convert and Download Apple Music for iMovie

The following steps will be a guide on how to download and convert Apple Music songs to MP3 or other iMovie supported formats using ViWizard Audio Converter. Just ensure to download the Mac version of iTunes and ViWizard on the computer.

Step 1Load Apple Music Songs to ViWizard

add apple music files

Before everything starts, there are some preparations need to be done. Download and install the converter. Disable the antivirus and firewall if needed. Authorize the iTunes to make your Apple Music songs playable on your Mac. Then, launch the converter and load the files. Directly drag and drop the files to the main interface or let the converter detect your music library and then select them to import. Please notice that there are two buttons for loading files on the top center. The "Music Note" one is to import DRM-ed audios.

Step 2Adjust Output Audio Format

select format

Wait for a few moments till the loading finish. After all songs are loaded into the converter successfully, start to choose the output settings as your demand. Click and open the "Format" panel and to select output format. Given iMovie supported audio formats, choose any of them because ViWizard supports MP3, M4A, and WAV as output format. The "Effect" and "Edit" icon at the end of each column of the audio track are designed to adjust volume, speed, and pitch of the audios. When all the settings are decided, confirm the changes by clicking "OK".

Step 3Convert Apple Music Songs to MP3

convert apple music files

Now you're one step to get the DRM-free Apple Music songs. Choose the output path before you hit on the "Convert" button. Then ViWizard software will soon save those converted Apple Music songs to your computer. After the conversion is done, locate the converted songs in the folder you chose or the "Converted History" will direct you to where you place them. Now you've got the converted audios, you can import Apple Music songs to iMovie and set it as the background music.

Part 3. How to Use Apple Music with iMovie for Mac

You can either add the converted music files to the iTunes first and access it in the Media option in iMovie or add them directly to iMovie.

Add Converted Apple Music to iTunes on Mac:

1. On Mac, open the iTunes desktop app.

2. Head to File > Import, and browse for the music files or folders in the sidebar of the Finder.

3. Open the selections. This will add all the compatible music files to the iTunes app.

Import Apple Music to iMovie project as background music on Mac:

1. For starters, open or create a project in the iMovie app on Mac.

2. Click the Audio above the browser and choose Music in the sidebar.

imovie add bgm

3. Browse to find the clip to use with the project in the timeline.

4. Drag the clip to the background music located below the timeline. Libraries, and browse and locate the selections in the Finder.

drag sound to imovie

Edit the background music clip in iMovie project on Mac:

1. You can now position, trim and edit the background music clip in the timeline.

2. If "Trim background music" is turned on, it will trim the audio in the background music clip to match the duration of the movie.

3. To adjust the volume of the background music, select the audio clip in the timeline and use the volume control to increase or decrease the volume.

4. To fade the background music in or out, select the audio clip and click on "Audio Adjustments" button and choose fade-in or fade-out effects.

Export an iMovie project with background music on Mac:

1. Preview the project to ensure the background music is edited and played as desired.

2. To export the project, click on the Share button and select an appropriate export options.

Part 4. How to Use Apple Music with iMovie for iPhone/iPad

If you use the iMovie mobile app on iPhone or iPad, you'll need to sync the iTunes library with the converted music files from the computer to your device.

Sync Converted Apple Music to iPhone or iPad:

1. To sync the converted files to use with iMovie on your iPhone or iPad, ensure to add them to your iTunes library.

2. After you add the files or folders to the iTunes program, connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer via a USB cable.

3. When prompts in iTunes, select the device at the top of the sidebar.

4. Select "Music".

5. Select "Sync music", and choose to sync "Entire music library".

6. Select Sync to start the syncing of your music library.

7. Select Apply when the syncing is done.

Add Apple Music to iMovie project as background music on iPhone or iPad:

1. Open or create a movie project in the iMovie app. To create a new project, swipe from the bottom to choose an option, such as Movie. To open a video stored on the device, select Movie > Media > Video to select the video that requires the BGM. To import a project, select the More button > Import Project, and find the project from Recents, Shared or Browse.

2. To add BRM to the iMovie project, tap on Add Media button > Audio > My Music, and browse for the music files and pick the one you like by tapping on the Add button.

imovie media my music add audio

3. Your audio track will be placed in the timeline as a waveform colored green, indicating it's a background music clip. Tap on the green bar and start to split the music track and make the movie.

imovie movie timeline audio track

Edit the background music clip in iMovie project on iPhone or iPad:

1. Tap on the background music clip in the timeline to activate the editing controls.

2. To adjust the length of the clip, tap and hold the edge of if in the timeline, then drag it to the desired duration.

3. To adjust the volume of the background music, tap on the clip in the timeline to select it, and use the volume control to drag it up or down to increase or decrease the volume.

4. To add additional background music or sound effects, tap on the Add (Plus icon) > Audio to browse and add more audio clips.

Export an iMovie project with background music on iPhone or iPad:

1. When it's done, tap on the Share button to save or export the project.

2. Select the desired sharing or exporting option.

Bottomline

iMovie is the most convenient and useful video editor for Mac and iPhone users while Apple Music is one of the best music services ever. And ViWizard Audio Converter is the one who can help you take better advantages of both of them. Have a try of ViWizard Audio Converter and you'll find it out.

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is an experienced writer of ViWizard who is obsessed about tech, movie and software.

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