Apple Music gives you access to millions of songs. You can add tracks, create playlists, and use the Apple Music app or iTunes to organize your music. As your library grows, you may want to back it up. But the problem is, Apple Music isn't a true backup solution.
Even with "Sync Library," which uploads your Apple Music library to iCloud and keeps it accessible across devices, it isn't designed to preserve your music forever. Even worse, your entire library can be erased in certain cases, such as missing a billing cycle. That makes relying solely on Apple's system risky for anyone who has spent time building a collection of favorites.
So how can you actually back up your Apple Music library safely? There are a few ways to do it. Now the big question: which backup method is right for you?
Part 1. Why You Should Back Up Apple Music
If you value your music library, backing it up is essential.
If you want to play your Apple Music songs on multiple devices, you should back them up.
If you want to keep your downloaded songs after your subscription lapses, you should back them up.
If you want to protect your playlists and library from accidental deletion, you should back them up.
If you want to have full control over your music, including offline access and permanent storage, you should back them up.
Part 2. Subscribe and Back Up Apple Music with iCloud Sync Library
Apple's iCloud Sync Library is ideal for users who want to keep all their devices in sync with minimal effort. It's built into Apple Music. Turn it on, and your playlists, albums, and songs show up on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac almost instantly. It's polished, automatic, and seamless - you can add a track on one device and see it everywhere else without lifting a finger. This service works across Apple's ecosystem, and the fact that even the Android app supports it is another benefit.
The big downside to using iCloud Sync Library is that it's not a true backup, now and forever. It's tied to the Apple Music catalog, so if a song is removed from Apple Music or your subscription lapses, the content vanishes like it was never there. In practice, this method is perfect for convenience and continuity, but if you're looking for a permanent safeguard, you'll need to complement it with other options.
- Open Apple Music on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Go to Settings > Music > Sync Library (or Preferences > General > Sync Library on Mac) and turn it on.
- Wait for your playlists, albums, and songs to sync across all devices.
- Check your other devices to confirm everything appears.
Part 3. Buy and Back Up Apple Music (AAC Files)
The iTunes Store is still alive, letting you buy millions of songs through both the iTunes app and the iTunes Store app. Buying songs offers a sense of ownership that streaming services can't match. Purchased tracks are DRM-free and usually in AAC format, meaning you can move, store, or back them up freely across devices - they're yours to keep forever.
Many users combine subscriptions and purchases: stream to discover new music, then buy the tracks you love most. The obvious limitation is cost, which can add up if you want to back up an entire Apple Music library. Still, purchasing is the safest long-term solution for permanent access.
- Open the iTunes Store or iTunes app.
- Browse or search for the songs or albums you want to buy.
- Click Buy and complete the purchase.
- Download purchased tracks to your device or computer.
- Organize tracks into folders for easier backup or transfer.
Part 4. Convert and Back Up Apple Music to (MP3 Files and More)
For subscription-based tracks, DRM prevents normal backups. Backup tools like ViWizard Apple Music Converter solve this problem by removing DRM and converting tracks simultaneously. The biggest benefit is that it works with your entire Apple Music library while keeping metadata intact. This gives you files that can be played anywhere, on virtually any device.
Users love this method because it's all about freedom when creating a backup. Converted tracks can be stored locally, copied to external drives, uploaded to cloud storage, or shared across multiple devices. It requires some effort and the right software, but if you want full control of your library, this is the most reliable solution, with an unparalleled experience.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
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- Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
- Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
- Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
- Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details
- Download and install a backup tool like ViWizard Apple Music Converter.
- Open the software and sign in to your Apple Music account.
- Select the tracks, playlists, or albums you want to convert, then click the + button to add them.
- Go to Settings > Preferences > Conversion > Output format and choose a format that suits your needs, such as MP3.
- For better organization, customize output settings like directory, file name, and folder structure.
- Open the conversion list and click Convert.
- Wait for the process to complete.
- Once 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 5. Export and Back Up Apple Music Playlists and Metadata
Even if you can't keep all subscription tracks permanently, you can preserve your playlists and library organization. The iTunes app is helpful for this, making your library easy to find in the iTunes Media folder. It contains your media library, which can be backed up to an external drive. This folder holds the actual audio and video files, including downloads and purchases.
However, it's incomplete on its own. Users also need to export their playlists and the main iTunes library database (Library.itl), which contains information about playlists, ratings, and other metadata. Compared to tools like ViWizard, which deal primarily with music files and metadata, this method is more about maintaining a database of your Apple Music experience, tied strictly to the Apple ecosystem.
- Open iTunes or Apple Music on your computer.
- Go to File > Library > Export Playlist (or Export Library for all playlists).
- Choose XML as the format and save the file to your computer.
- Go back to iTunes or Apple Music, go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced and check the iTunes Media folder location.
- Go to the location on your computer, and back up the iTunes Library.itl file along with other important folders and files here like iTunes Media, which contains music downloads and purchases.
- Store the exported files in a secure location or upload to cloud storage.
Part 6. Store and Back Up Purchased/Converted Apple Music on Different Devices
Once you have DRM-free tracks—whether purchased AAC files or converted MP3s—consider storing them in multiple locations. It's the smartest move. Think of it as insurance for your library: local, external, and cloud storage all have a role to play.
Option 1: Local Device Storage
Keeping your music on your computer, phone, or tablet is fast and convenient. Just copy your tracks into a dedicated folder—like C:\Users\[Your Name]\Music\Apple Music Backup on Windows, or ~/Music/Apple Music Backup on Mac—and organize by artist, album, or playlist.
Real-world tip: Local storage is quick, but a hard drive crash or accidental deletion could wipe everything. Treat it as one layer of backup, not the only one.
Option 2: External Hard Drive
External drives like USB provide a tangible safety net. Large libraries benefit from 1TB or bigger drives. Copy your folders over, create subfolders for easier navigation, and store it somewhere safe. Many users keep a second drive offsite in case of theft, fire, or flood.
Real-world tip: Rotate drives every few years and choose a durable brand to reduce the risk of failure.
Option 3: Cloud Storage
Cloud storage offers flexibility and remote access. iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive let you upload purchased or converted files, keeping them safe from hardware failure and accessible anywhere.
Real-world tip: Large libraries can take hours to upload, and free plans may limit storage. Paid plans remove caps, and services with file versioning can recover accidentally deleted tracks. Ideal for people who travel or use multiple devices.
Key insight:
Redundancy is everything. Combine local storage for speed, external drives for physical safety, and cloud storage for remote access. Do this, and your Apple Music library is protected from subscription changes, device failures, and accidental deletions.
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.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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