Buying music from the iTunes Store lets you build a personal collection without an Apple Music subscription. You can purchase individual songs or albums, download them for offline listening, and access eligible purchases through the Apple Account used to buy them.
Although Apple's music apps have evolved, the iTunes Store still offers individual music purchases. Buying, finding, and redownloading music involves different steps depending on your device.
This guide explains how to buy and download music, find and redownload previous purchases, and understand the difference between purchased music and Apple Music subscription downloads.
Part 1. Can You Download Music from the iTunes Store?
Yes. Users can purchase music from the iTunes Store and download eligible purchases to supported devices for offline listening. Apple Media Services states that "Purchased Content will generally remain available for you to download, redownload, or otherwise access from Apple." Purchased music remains linked to the Apple Account used to buy it and does not require an active Apple Music subscription for access to eligible downloads.
After purchase, music appears in the Apple Music app on supported devices. Purchased tracks are DRM-free AAC files in M4A format at 256 kbps, allowing transfer to compatible devices and use in compatible apps. Unlike Apple Music subscription downloads, which are protected and depend on an active subscription, these purchased files can be used offline without a subscription.
However, redownloading is not guaranteed indefinitely. Apple explains that content may become unavailable if it "loses the right from the Content provider to make it available." Apple therefore encourages users to download purchased content to their devices for safekeeping.
Part 2. How Do iTunes Store Music Purchases Work?
Users buy music by searching the iTunes Store for a song or album, checking its price, and completing the purchase with an Apple Account and an available payment method or account balance. The music is linked to that account and appears in the relevant Apple app, ready to download for offline listening. Use the correct Apple Account, as purchases cannot be transferred between accounts; the original account lets you find previous purchases and redownload eligible items. Music availability and prices vary by country or region.
Unlike an Apple Music subscription, which provides access to music while the subscription is active, an iTunes Store purchase lets you buy individual songs or albums without a subscription.
- Purchase method: Individual songs or albums from the iTunes Store
- Account required: Apple Account
- Payment methods: Apple Account balance, Apple Card, Apple Cash, Apple Pay, most credit and debit cards, and PayPal (US)
- Subscription required: No
- Purchase access: Purchases are linked to the Apple Account used to buy them
- Downloading: Download purchased music for offline listening or redownload it while available
- Supported devices: Compatible Apple devices and Windows PCs; PC authorization may be required
- Availability: Music and payment options vary by country or region
Part 3. How to Buy and Download Music from the iTunes Store
Users can purchase music without an Apple Music subscription. On an iPhone or iPad, open the iTunes Store app, tap Music, find a song or album, tap its price, and confirm the purchase. On a Mac or Windows PC, open the Apple Music app or iTunes, access the iTunes Store if available, and complete the purchase. To download music on an iPhone or iPad, go to More > Purchased > Music and tap the download icon. On a computer, find the purchase in the relevant app and select Download for offline listening.
On Windows (iTunes for Windows)
01Launch iTunes.
02Sign in with your Apple Account if prompted.
03In the navigation bar, click Store to open the iTunes Store.
04Use the search field or browse categories to find the song or album you want.
05Click the price next to the item.
06Click Buy and authenticate with your Apple Account.
07Click the Download button to add the purchased music to your library.
On Mac (Music app)
01Launch the Music app.
02Sign in with your Apple Account if prompted.
03In the sidebar, click iTunes Store.
04Use Search or browse categories to find the music you want.
05Click the price next to the song or album.
06Enter your Apple Account details when prompted.
07Click Buy to complete the purchase.
On iPhone or iPad (iTunes Store app)
01Open the iTunes Store app.
02Tap Music at the bottom of the screen.
03Use Search or browse Featured, Charts, and Genres to find music.
04Tap a song or album to view its details.
05Tap the price button.
06Authenticate with your Apple Account to complete the purchase.
07Tap the Download button to save the purchased music.
On Mac (Music app)
01Open the Music app.
02In the menu bar, click Account > Purchased.
03Select Music to view your purchased songs and albums.
04Find the items you have purchased from the iTunes Store.
Part 4. How to Find and Check Purchased Music in the iTunes Store
Purchases are linked to the Apple Account used to buy them. On an iPhone or iPad, go to iTunes Store > More > Purchased > Music and use All or Not on This iPhone/iPad to view purchases. On a Mac or PC, check Purchased in the relevant media app.
Downloaded music is available for offline listening in the relevant app. Most iTunes Store purchases are DRM-free AAC files, but direct file access varies by device. On mobile devices, downloads remain in the Music app; on computers, files are stored locally. Default locations include:
- Mac: ~/Music/Music/Media/Music/
- Windows: C:\Users\[username]\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media
These locations may differ if the media folder setting has been changed.
On Windows (iTunes for Windows)
01Open iTunes.
02Sign in with the Apple Account used for your purchase.
03In the menu bar, click Account > Purchased.
04Select Music to view your purchased songs and albums.
On iPhone or iPad
01Open the iTunes Store app.
02Tap More at the bottom of the screen.
03Tap Purchased.
04Select Music to view your purchased items.
Part 5. How to Redownload Purchased Music from the iTunes Store
Eligible purchases can be redownloaded without repurchasing them, provided they remain available. On an iPhone or iPad, go to iTunes Store > More > Purchased > Music, select Not on This iPhone/iPad, and tap the download icon. On a Mac, open Apple Music > Account > Purchased. On Windows, select your account name in Apple Music and choose Purchased, or go to Account > Purchased in iTunes. Select the music and download it. Windows PCs may require authorization with the purchasing Apple Account.
On Mac (Music app)
01Open the Music app.
02In the menu bar, click Account > Purchased.
03Select Music and find the songs or albums you want to download.
04Click the Download button next to an item to save it offline.
On Windows (iTunes for Windows)
01Open iTunes.
02In the menu bar, click Account > Purchased.
03Select Music and find the songs or albums you want to download.
04Click the Download button next to an item.
On iPhone or iPad
01Open the iTunes Store app.
02Tap More > Purchased.
03Select Music.
04Tap the Download button next to a song or album.
Part 6. How to Fix iTunes Store Music That Won't Download
If a purchase is missing or will not download, first confirm that the device is signed in with the Apple Account used to buy it. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases, then check Purchased in the iTunes Store app. For hidden items, open Apple Music account settings and check Hidden Purchases. On a Mac or Windows PC, authorize the computer if needed.
Also check your internet connection, available storage, software updates, and whether the music remains available from Apple. Purchases may not appear under a different account, and content that is no longer offered or unavailable in your region may not be downloadable.
6.1 If iTunes Purchase Shows "Purchased" but Cannot Be Downloaded
01Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
02Tap your name at the top of the screen.
03Tap Media & Purchases.
04Tap Sign Out, then sign back in with the Apple Account used for the purchase.
05Open the iTunes Store app.
06Tap More > Purchased > Music.
07Find the song or album and tap the Download button.
6.2 If the Purchase Still Cannot Be Downloaded
01Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
02Tap your name > Media & Purchases > View Account.
03Enter your password when prompted.
04Tap Hidden Purchases.
05Find the missing music and unhide the item.
06Return to Purchased and download the music again.
Part 7. How to Download Purchased iTunes Music as DRM-Free Files
Current iTunes Store songs are sold as DRM-free 256 kbps AAC files. After downloading a purchase to a Mac or Windows PC, locate it through the song's context menu. On a Mac, select Show in Finder; on Windows, use the available file-location option. Purchased songs commonly use the .m4a extension, though some older purchases may have different restrictions.
Apple also provides a built-in audio converter. In Import Settings, users can choose formats such as MP3, AAC (M4A), Apple Lossless (ALAC), WAV, or AIFF. The converted songs are saved as new files, leaving the originals unchanged.
On Windows (iTunes for Windows)
01Launch iTunes.
02In the menu bar, click Edit > Preferences.
03Click the General tab, then click Import Settings.
04Open the Import Using menu and select MP3 Encoder, AAC Encoder, Apple Lossless Encoder, WAV Encoder, or AIFF Encoder.
05Click OK to save the settings.
06Select the purchased songs you want to convert.
07In the menu bar, click File > Convert > Create [Format] Version.
08Find the converted files in your iTunes Media folder.
On Mac (Music app)
01Launch the Music app.
02In the menu bar, click Music > Settings.
03Click the Files tab, then click Import Settings.
04Open the Import Using menu and select MP3 Encoder, AAC Encoder, Apple Lossless Encoder, WAV Encoder, or AIFF Encoder.
05Click OK to save the settings.
06Select the purchased songs you want to convert.
07In the menu bar, click File > Convert > Create [Format] Version.
08Find the converted files in your Music media folder.
Part 8. How to Convert Apple Music Downloads to DRM-Free Files (ViWizard Apple Music Converter)
Apple Music subscription downloads differ from purchased songs because access depends on an active subscription. ViWizard Apple Music Converter is a desktop tool that advertises conversion to formats such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, M4A, and M4B. Its also supports batch conversion and metadata preservation.
However, it is not an Apple product, and users should check its current capabilities and terms before use. For DRM-free music files, purchasing songs from the iTunes Store or using an authorized DRM-free music store is a more straightforward option.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
Free Trial Free Trial* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.
- 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
Step 1: Install ViWizard and Log In to Apple Music
Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Open the app and sign in to the built-in Apple Music Web Player using your Apple ID. ViWizard will then load your music library for conversion.
Step 2: Choose MP3 as the Output Format
Open the Settings menu and select MP3 as your output format. You can adjust audio settings such as bit rate and sample rate to balance quality and file size. Enable lyric saving if you want to keep synced lyrics with your converted songs.
Step 3: Select and Add Songs for Conversion
Browse your Apple Music library in ViWizard and select the songs, albums, or playlists you want to convert. Click the "+" button to add them to the conversion queue, then click Convert to create DRM-free MP3 files.
Step 4: Access and Manage Your Converted MP3 Files
After conversion, open the History section and use the Open Folder option to locate your MP3 files. You can transfer and play them on any device while keeping metadata like album art, track titles, and lyrics organized.
Part 9. Conclusion
Whether you want to buy music, redownload past purchases, or save songs for offline listening, the iTunes Store offers a straightforward way to manage your music library. If you want to convert Apple Music tracks into other audio formats, explore ViWizard Apple Music Converter to compare its features and supported formats. Visit the official ViWizard website to check compatibility and find the right solution for your music needs.
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Adam Gorden is always looking for new ways to explore music and videos. He likes trying different media tools and learning how to manage audio and video files with ease.
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