6 100% Working Ways to Remove DRM from iTunes Music

Part 1. What Is DRM in iTunes Music

Understanding how DRM works is the first step toward knowing what you can - and can't - do with your iTunes music.

Essentially, DRM turns what feels like your music into something closer to a rental. You can stream or download it, but only within Apple's ecosystem - and only as long as your subscription stays active.

You can usually identify DRM-protected songs by their format. Most protected tracks come in AAC format with extra restrictions built in. If you try to move an Apple Music file elsewhere, you might find it's actually an M4P file - and once you open it in another app, the DRM check fails, meaning the track won't play unless it's opened through iTunes or the Apple Music app. In short, they're nothing like DRM-free MP3 files.

It's worth noting that not all iTunes content is protected. Apple removed DRM from most iTunes Store purchases made after 2009, which means those songs are now DRM-free AAC files. However, tracks from the Apple Music subscription catalog remain DRM-protected by default.

Part 2. Why Remove DRM from iTunes Music

If you value having your music on multiple platforms or devices, removing DRM is essential.

Even if you're not worried about losing access, removing DRM unlocks more ways to enjoy your music. Apple Music and iTunes downloads come with FairPlay protection, which can cause issues like offline mode not working or trouble playing downloaded songs. These files often come in M4P format, which isn't widely supported.

Part 3. How to Check If Your iTunes Music Is DRM-Protected

It's important to know whether your iTunes music is DRM-protected. Here's how you can check:

Way 1: Check Using iTunes or the Apple Music App

For iTunes on Windows or Mac, open your music library and right-click on a track, then select "Song Info" or "Get Info." Look at the "Kind" field - if it says "Protected AAC audio file," the song is DRM-protected. If it says "iTunes Plus" or "Purchased AAC audio file," the track is DRM-free. For the Apple Music app on macOS or iOS, open the app, right-click the song or tap the three dots, and view the song details. Tracks labeled "Apple Music" or "Protected" are likely DRM-protected and cannot be downloaded in an unprotected format.

Way 2: Check Using the Cloud Icon in iTunes

If you use iTunes Match or iCloud Music Library, look for a cloud icon next to a song. Songs stored in iCloud are usually DRM-free, but older downloads may still carry DRM protection.

Way 3: Check Your Purchase History

Songs or albums purchased before April 2009 have a higher chance of being DRM-protected, while purchases made after this date are typically DRM-free AAC files. If you have older protected purchases, iTunes Match can upgrade them to DRM-free versions.

Way 4: Check Your Downloads

When you download tracks, find the downloaded file and look at the file extension. If a song ends with .m4p, it comes from Apple Music and is a protected AAC file, meaning it's DRM-protected.

Part 4. How to Get DRM-Free iTunes Music

You can remove DRM from certain types of iTunes content, though not from your entire library. The effect depends on your subscription:

How Apple Subscriptions Affect DRM:

With iTunes Match, you can re-download DRM-free versions of purchases made before 2009. Tracks matched or ripped from your own CDs may still include DRM. Music purchased directly from the iTunes Store after 2009 is DRM-free in AAC format, allowing you to transfer it to multiple devices without restrictions. You can also use iTunes' importing options to convert AAC files to MP3 for more flexibility on devices like MP3 players.

However, DRM can still complicate things. There are both unofficial and official ways to remove it. Keep reading - you're almost there!

Method 5. Unofficial Ways to Remove DRM Protection from Your iTunes Music

Unofficial iTunes DRM removal tools come in handy when you want more control over your music. Options like ViWizard Apple Music Converter provide a simple, one-time way to make your music fully DRM-free.

Method 1: Convert DRM-Protected iTunes Music with ViWizard Apple Music Converter

ViWizard Apple Music Converter (also called ViWizard DRM Removal) is one of the easiest ways to make Apple Music or iTunes tracks DRM-free. It converts protected files into formats like MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, FLAC, or AIFF. You just select your music, choose the output format, and ViWizard will remove DRM and download DRM-free files. Once converted, your music can be backed up, shared, or edited without any FairPlay limitations. It's a one-time setup that ensures your tracks are truly yours.

Why ViWizard Apple Music Converter for iTunes DRM Removal?

Unlike traditional tools that require you to locate .m4p or .m4a DRM-protected files, ViWizard works directly with Apple Music's web app to free your library all at once. It doesn't just remove DRM - it preserves lossless audio quality and all metadata, creating a perfect DRM-free backup of your Apple Music library.

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

Step 1 Go to the ViWizard website, download the Apple Music Converter for your OS (Windows or macOS), and install it.

Step 2 Open ViWizard and log in with your Apple ID linked to your Apple Music subscription.

Step 3 Click the Settings icon and select your preferred output format (e.g., MP3, M4A, WAV) and adjust sample rate, bitrate, and channels.

Step 4 Click the + button to browse your Apple Music library and select songs, albums, or playlists to convert.

Step 5 Click Convert to start converting. ViWizard will remove DRM and process multiple tracks at once.

Step 6 Once finished, click History to view your files. Open the output folder to access DRM-free music for transfer, backup, or offline listening.

Method 2: Remove DRM from iTunes Music Using Requiem

Requiem is a free tool for older DRM-protected iTunes tracks. It's less polished than ViWizard and requires some technical knowledge to use. Requiem is not designed for everyone - it works best with older iTunes versions and specific system setups. Still, it's effective for decrypting AAC files and creating DRM-free copies. If you don't mind a bit of setup and fewer extra options, it's a reliable way to unlock older purchases.

Step 1 Ensure iTunes 10.7 is installed. Uninstall newer versions to avoid conflicts.

Step 2 Download Requiem 4.1 from a trusted source.

Step 3 Navigate to your iTunes library folder (e.g., C:\Users\[Your Name]\Music\iTunes on Windows) and rename it for backup.

Step 4 Open iTunes 10.7, download the songs to remove DRM from, and deauthorize/re-authorize your computer.

Step 5 Close iTunes and open Requiem. It will automatically detect DRM-protected files.

Step 6 Requiem removes DRM and creates DRM-free copies. Open iTunes to confirm the files are DRM-free.

Method 3: Use WinXDVD to Remove DRM from iTunes Music

WinXDVD's Media Trans works similarly to ViWizard but is less widely known. It converts protected Apple Music tracks into standard formats and supports batch processing for multiple songs at once. If you want a simple way to make your music library portable, this is a solid option.

Step 1 Open WinXDVD Apple Music DRM Removal on your computer and click Remove DRM on the main screen.

Step 2 If needed, click How to set up iTunes at the bottom left to check instructions.

Step 3 Click Add File in the top bar and select DRM-protected files (marked with a DRM icon).

Step 4 Click Remove DRM at the bottom right. If iTunes is open, close it when prompted. The software launches iTunes automatically and begins conversion.

Step 5 Once conversion is complete, WinXDVD opens the folder containing DRM-free output files automatically.

Free/Paid iTunes DRM Removal Software [100% Safe]

This article introduces 4 top free iTunes DRM removal tools to help you remove FairPlay DRM from iTunes movies, TV-shows, music and audiobooks.

Part 6. Official Ways to Remove DRM Protection from Your iTunes Music

Apple also provides official solutions, though they are limited to certain cases. These methods don't require third-party software and work best within the Apple ecosystem.

Method 1: Upgrade Tracks to DRM-Free Versions with iTunes Match

iTunes Match is Apple's official method for converting older purchases into DRM-free files. Albums or singles bought before 2009 can be upgraded to unprotected AAC versions. It doesn't work for Apple Music subscription tracks or remove DRM from them, but it's a reliable way to reclaim ownership of older purchases.

Step 1 Open iTunes and go to Store (Windows) or Account (Mac). Select iTunes Match.

Step 2 Enter your billing information to subscribe.

Step 3 Go to View > Show View Options and select Kind to see which tracks are DRM-protected.

Step 4 Go to File > Library > Update iCloud Music Library to start matching your songs with DRM-free versions.

Step 5 Locate tracks with the Cloud icon and click to download DRM-free copies to your library.

Method 2: Purchase DRM-Free iTunes Tracks Directly from the iTunes Store

Most tracks purchased from iTunes today are already DRM-free AAC files. Buying iTunes music directly ensures your downloads are unrestricted and playable across devices. This is the simplest way to get DRM-free music without using any extra tools.

Step 1 Open the iTunes Store or Apple Music app.

Step 2 Search for the tracks or albums you want to buy.

Step 3 Verify that the tracks are listed as iTunes Plus or DRM-free AAC files.

Step 4 Purchase and download the music. Your files are DRM-free and ready for use on any device.

Method 3: Use iTunes' Import Options to Convert DRM-Free iTunes Music

Even if your tracks are already DRM-free, iTunes allows you to convert files into formats like MP3, WAV, or AIFF. This is helpful for playing music on non-Apple devices or for creating a flexible, portable library while keeping metadata intact.

Step 1 Insert a CD into your computer's CD drive. iTunes should recognize it automatically.

Step 2 Verify that the track information is correct in iTunes.

Step 3 Go to Preferences > General > Import Settings and select your desired format (MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF) and quality.

Step 4 Select the tracks you want to import or click Import CD to rip the full CD.

Step 5 Once complete, the imported songs appear in your iTunes library as DRM-free files, ready for playback, backup, or transfer.

Conclusion

In this guide, we've explored the world of iTunes music and how to liberate it from Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions, like using ViWizard Apple Music Converter that works with your entire iTunes library. Also, you can try downloading DRM-free music from iTunes with if you're using iTunes Match. Or you can consider using other tools like ViWizard Audio Capture or a professional Requiem to get DRM-free music from iTunes.