How to Back Up Your Apple Music Library

Part 1. Can You Back Up Your Apple Music Library?

The short answer is no, at least not officially. Apple does not provide a specific Apple Music backup setting or service. It clearly states that "Apple Music isn't a backup service" and recommends backing up your music library separately before making changes. For a computer-based library, Apple documents backing up the iTunes folder, including the iTunes Media folder, to an external drive. If media files are stored elsewhere, they also need to be backed up; Apple's Consolidate files option can help bring them into the iTunes folder first.

In practice, this means keeping a traditional file archive so it can be restored if the originals are lost or changed, while your Apple Music library is mainly synced online through Sync Library, which requires an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription.

• 

  Sync Library falls short

  Apple Music is a syncing service rather than a backup service. A good example is Apple's Sync Library, formerly called iCloud Music Library in iTunes for Windows. Sync Library makes your music library available across devices signed in with the same Apple Account by uploading and syncing your personal music library and library changes through Apple's cloud service.

• 

  No songs in the export

  An exported Apple Music playlist is not a music backup either. Apple lets you export a playlist as an XML file, but it contains playlist and library information, not the actual songs or music videos. The exported file can help recreate the playlist, but it does not preserve the music files.

• 

  ViWizard to the rescue

  For Apple Music users who want to preserve their music beyond the service, the key is keeping it in a usable local format. ViWizard Apple Music Converter converts Apple Music content into 6 formats, including MP3, FLAC, and WAV, helping users create local audio files for personal collections.

Part 2. How to Sync Your Apple Music Library

Sync Library keeps your Apple Music library available across devices rather than creating a separate backup. Sign in with the same Apple Account, turn on Sync Library in the Music app or iCloud Music Library in iTunes for Windows, and let Apple sync your library. Your playlists, albums, and songs can then appear across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows PC, and other supported devices. Changes made on one device are synced across the others. If a song is removed from the Apple Music catalog or your subscription ends, access to subscription-based content can also be lost.

Because the library remains tied to Apple's service and subscription, Sync Library is best for convenience and cross-device access; use another backup method for a permanent safeguard.

01Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computer, and sign in with the same Apple Account you use for Apple Music.

02On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Apps > Music and turn on Sync Library. On Mac, open Music > Settings > General and select Sync Library. On Windows, open Apple Music > Settings > General and turn on Sync Library.

03Wait for your library to finish syncing, then open Apple Music on another device signed in with the same Apple Account.

04Make sure Sync Library is enabled on the other device, then open Library to check that your songs, albums, and playlists are available.

05Repeat the process on any other devices where you want to access the same Apple Music library.

Part 3. How to Export Your Apple Music Library

Exporting preserves library information, not music files. Select a playlist or library export option under File > Library > Export and save the resulting XML file. It can preserve playlist and song information for recreating the library elsewhere, but it does not include the actual songs or music videos. This method is useful for preserving playlists and library organization, not the music itself.

01Open Apple Music or iTunes on your computer, and make sure the library or playlist you want to preserve is available.

02Go to File > Library > Export Library to export your entire library, or choose File > Library > Export Playlist to save a specific playlist.

03When exporting a playlist, choose XML as the file format, then select a location on your computer and save the file.

04Open the saved XML file or keep it in your backup folder so you can use it later to restore or transfer your playlist and library information.

Part 4. How to Back Up iTunes Folder

The iTunes folder can be backed up to an external drive or other storage location. It contains the library database, such as Library.itl, while the iTunes Media folder contains locally stored media files, including downloads and purchases.

Check the iTunes Media folder location and consolidate files if music is stored elsewhere. Then quit iTunes and save the entire iTunes folder to the external drive or other storage. If the original library is lost, the backed-up folder can be restored and opened in iTunes. This method suits users who manage music locally through iTunes and want a traditional backup independent of Apple's cloud services.

01Open iTunes on your Windows computer, go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and check the location of your iTunes Media folder.

02Open that location in File Explorer, then locate the complete iTunes folder, which contains the iTunes Library.itl database and the iTunes Media folder with your music files.

03If some music files are stored outside the iTunes Media folder, go to File > Library > Organize Library and select Consolidate Files to copy them into the iTunes Media folder.

04Close iTunes, then copy the complete iTunes folder to an external drive or another secure location on your computer.

05Keep the folder structure intact so the library database and media files remain together for future restoration.

Part 5. How to Back Up Apple Music Songs

Backing up individual songs depends on whether they were purchased from iTunes or accessed through an Apple Music subscription. Purchased iTunes music can be downloaded as local files, while Apple Music downloads remain tied to the Apple Music app and account. For subscription-based tracks, users who want accessible local files can use a third-party converter.

5.1Download Purchased iTunes Music

Purchased iTunes music can be downloaded again on an authorized device using the same Apple Account. Open the purchased music section, find the song or album, and select the download option. These files can be kept as part of a personal music collection.

This method suits iTunes Store purchases, not songs available only through an Apple Music subscription. Compared with ViWizard Apple Music Converter, which can handle Apple Music songs and preserve metadata, this official option is more limited on its own, and the downloaded files may be less flexible outside Apple's ecosystem.

01Open Apple Music on your Mac or Windows computer, and sign in with the Apple Account used to purchase the music.

02Open your account menu and select Purchased, then choose Music to view your purchased songs and albums.

03Find the music you want to keep and click the Download button to save the purchased files to your computer.

04Open the download location on your computer and check that the music files are available before copying them to your backup location.

05Store the downloaded files in a dedicated backup folder on your computer, external drive, or cloud storage.

5.2Save Apple Music Songs as MP3 and Other Audio Files

For users who want to preserve Apple Music content as local audio files, ViWizard Apple Music Converter saves songs in six common audio formats without DRM: MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B.

Install ViWizard on a computer, access your Apple Music library through its built-in Apple Music Web Player, select songs, albums, playlists, or artists in batches, choose an output format and location, and start the conversion. You can also set file-naming rules before converting. ViWizard converts Apple Music at up to 17× speed while preserving metadata. The resulting files can be stored as a personal local collection, making this method suitable for users who want an independent music archive in commonly supported formats.

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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• Convert Apple Music songs, playlists, albums, and artists
• Export Apple Music in 6 formats for different devices and players
• Preserve metadata and lyrics when creating music collections
• Organize converted music by artist and album
• Batch download large Apple Music collections

01Download and install a backup tool like ViWizard Apple Music Converter.

02Open the software and sign in to your Apple Music account.

03Select the tracks, playlists, or albums you want to convert, then click the + button to add them.

04Go to Settings > Preferences > Conversion > Output format and choose a format that suits your needs, such as MP3.

05For better organization, customize output settings like directory, file name, and folder structure.

06Open the conversion list and click Convert.

07Wait for the process to complete.

08Once finished, your converted files will be saved in the chosen folder. You can access them by clicking the folder icon, which opens the output folder instantly.

Part 6. How to Store Your Apple Music Backup Across Devices

You can store exported playlists, local audio files, and your iTunes folder on your computer, an external drive, or a cloud service. The best option depends on how you plan to use the backup. Local storage keeps files close at hand, external storage makes them easier to transfer, and cloud storage lets you access them from different devices.

6.1Local Device Storage

Local storage keeps backup files on the computer you use. For an iTunes backup, keep the complete iTunes folder in its own location for restoration, or save a copied version to another folder or drive on the computer. Local AAC or MP3 files can also be kept here for playback or later use. This option works best when you mainly use the same computer.

01Open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and locate your iTunes folder.

02Copy the complete iTunes folder and save the copied version to another folder or location on the same computer.

03Make sure the copied folder remains intact, including the library database and media files, so it can be used for restoration later.

04Leave the original iTunes folder in its existing location for normal use.

6.2External Storage

External storage keeps a separate copy that you can move to another computer. Connect a USB drive or external hard drive, then open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and copy the XML or text files to it. You can then connect the drive to another computer and transfer the files when needed. This option is useful for keeping playlist exports separate from your main computer.

01Connect a USB drive or external hard drive to your computer.

02Open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and locate your exported XML or text playlist file.

03Copy the file and paste it into the connected external drive, keeping it in an easy-to-find folder if needed.

04Wait for the transfer to finish, then safely eject the external drive from your computer.

05When you need the playlist file on another computer, connect the drive and copy the file to the new computer.

Read More: Save Apple Music to USB Drive Guide & Tips

Read More: Save Apple Music to SD Card Guide & Tips

6.3Cloud Storage

Cloud storage keeps another copy of your backup and makes it available across devices. Open your cloud service, select Upload or Add files, and save your AAC or MP3 files in a dedicated backup folder. On another computer or device, open the same service and download the audio files directly to your device. This option is useful when you want to access your local music files without carrying a physical drive.

01Open your preferred cloud storage service and sign in to your account.

02Create or open a dedicated folder for your Apple Music backup, then select Upload or Add files.

03Select the AAC or MP3 files you want to back up and wait for the upload to finish.

04On another computer or device, open the same cloud service and sign in to the same account.

05Locate the backup folder and select Download to save the audio files directly to the device.

Part 7. Conclusion

Backing up Apple Music is more than just downloading songs—it's about combining convenience, control, and long-term security. ViWizarrd Apple Music Converter gives freedom by converting entire Apple Music library to MP3. Store copies locally, externally, and in the cloud to maximize protection.