Most people these days just stream music with services like Apple Music. But if you want to truly own your music—whether for DJing, collecting, or offline listening without subscriptions—buying from the iTunes Store still makes a lot of sense.
Although Apple has shifted its focus to Apple Music and phased out the classic iTunes app on newer devices, the iTunes Store is still very much alive. You can still buy your favorite albums or songs, download them, and keep them forever.
Why Buy iTunes Music?
Many music fans prefer this because purchased iTunes music sets the standard for lossy 256Kbps AAC downloads. Once purchased, you don't have to rely on an active subscription. You can even upgrade to lossless ALAC files if you have an active subscription.
The downside is that these songs sometimes don't play easily on non-Apple apps or devices, which can be frustrating. That's why I'm here to walk you through easy steps to buy and download iTunes music across devices. Plus, I'll share a simple way to convert your iTunes music into MP3 files so you can play your collection anywhere.
Step 1. Install iTunes or iTunes Store
While Apple Music is now the star, iTunes is still a solid platform for buying music outright. On Windows, download iTunes from Apple's site or the Microsoft Store. On macOS Catalina or later, use the built-in Music app and enable the iTunes Store tab. For iPhone and iPad users, the iTunes Store app comes pre-installed and offers an easy way to browse and buy music.
On Windows/Mac:
- Download iTunes from Apple's official website if it's not already installed.
- Follow the installation prompts, then open iTunes and sign in with your Apple ID.
On iPhone/iPad:
- The iTunes Store app is pre-installed. If missing, download it from the App Store.
- Sign in with your Apple ID to start purchasing.
Step 2. Buy Music on iTunes
Buying music on iTunes is simple: search for a song or album, tap the price, and confirm your purchase. Downloads are DRM-free AAC files—compatible with almost all modern players. Unlike streaming, you keep these tracks forever, no subscription needed.
Note: iTunes supports payment via credit/debit cards and Apple ID balance.
On Windows/Mac (iTunes):
- Open iTunes from the Start menu or taskbar. If it's not installed, download it from Apple's official website and install it.
- Sign in with your Apple ID (click Account > Sign In if needed).
- Click Store in the navigation bar to access the iTunes Store. Browse categories like songs, albums, music videos, podcasts, and audiobooks.
- Use the search field to find specific content.
- Click the price next to the item you want to buy.
- Confirm your purchase by clicking Buy and authenticate with your Apple ID.
- After purchase, click the download button to add the music to your iTunes library.
On Mac (Music app):
- Open the Music app from the Applications folder or Dock.
- Ensure you're signed in with your Apple ID.
- Click iTunes Store in the sidebar to browse genres, artists, charts, or search for specific music.
- Click the price next to the content you want.
- Enter your Apple ID credentials when prompted, then click Buy to complete the purchase.
On iPhone/iPad (iTunes Store app):
Note: Availability varies by region, and some content might not be purchasable.
- Open the iTunes Store app on your device.
- Tap Music at the bottom to explore Featured, Charts, and Genres.
- Use Search to find specific songs, albums, or artists.
- Tap a song or album for details, including reviews.
- Tap the price, then Purchase, and authenticate with your Apple ID.
- Tap the download icon to add purchased music to your library.
- Review your purchases anytime by tapping More > Purchased or Downloads.
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On Windows/Mac (iTunes or Music app):
- Open the iTunes Store and scroll to the bottom. Click Redeem under Manage.
- Scratch the card to reveal the code, enter it, and click Redeem. The balance will be added to your Apple ID.
- Your gift card balance will automatically apply during purchases.
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On iPhone/iPad (iTunes Store app):
- Open the iTunes Store app and scroll to the bottom. Tap Redeem.
- Scan your gift card code or enter it manually, then tap Redeem.
- The balance will apply automatically to future purchases.
Gift cards offer a secure way to add funds for purchases. Keep track of your balance in account settings.
Step 3. Download Your Purchased iTunes Music
Purchased music usually downloads automatically. If not, you can redownload it manually. On desktop, go to Account > Purchased. On iPhone or iPad, open the iTunes Store app, tap More > Purchased > Music, and tap the download icon next to your content.
On Windows/Mac (iTunes or Music app):
- Open iTunes or the Music app and go to Store > Purchased.
- Find the music you want and click the download icon next to songs or albums.
- Wait for downloads to complete for offline listening.
On iPhone/iPad (iTunes Store app):
- Open the iTunes Store app and tap More > Purchased.
- Tap the cloud icon next to songs or albums to download, or choose Download All.
- Wait for the downloads to finish.
Step 4. Find and Play Your Downloaded Music
Your purchases show up in your music library automatically. On iOS, open the Apple Music app to find and play them offline. On desktop, view your library in iTunes or the Music app. iTunes purchases are fully integrated, alongside other synced or imported tracks.
On Windows/Mac (iTunes or Music app):
- Open iTunes or the Music app and go to the Library tab.
- Find your downloaded songs or albums in the Purchased or Downloaded sections.
- Double-click a song or album to play offline anytime.
On iPhone/iPad (iTunes Store app):
- Open the iTunes Store app.
- Tap More.
- Your downloaded purchases appear under the Downloads section.
- Tap and play any items you want offline.
Step 5. Sync Your Downloaded Music
To move your music between devices, connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder on newer Macs). Select your device, go to the Music tab, and choose the songs or albums you want to sync. Once done, you'll see them in your mobile library.
On Windows/Mac (iTunes or Music app):
- Open iTunes or the Music app and sign in.
- Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod via USB.
- Select your device, go to the Music tab, and check Sync Music.
- Choose to sync your entire library or selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres.
- Click Apply or Sync and wait for the process to complete.
On iPhone/iPad (iCloud Music Library):
- Open Settings and tap your Apple ID.
- Tap iCloud and enable Music.
- Open the Music app to access your synced library automatically.
Step 6. Fix iTunes Purchase Not Downloading
If a purchase won't download, check that you're signed into the right Apple ID and have enough space and internet access. Try restarting your device or signing out and back in. You can also manually redownload from Account > Purchased or Purchased > Music in the iTunes Store app.
- Make sure you're signed in with the correct Apple ID.
- Check your internet connection.
- Restart iTunes or your device.
- On Windows/Mac, go to Account > Purchased and manually download missing items.
- On iPhone/iPad, open the iTunes Store app, tap More > Purchased, and download again.
- If problems persist, sign out and back in to your Apple ID or update iTunes/iOS to the latest version.
Step 7. Convert iTunes Purchases from AAC to MP3
When you buy music from iTunes, you're mainly paying for the ability to play it within Apple's ecosystem—not full ownership. These AAC files often won't work on other devices or players outside Apple's apps, limiting how and where you can listen.
What You'll Need: ViWizard Apple Music Converter
ViWizard Apple Music Converter lets you convert almost everything from Apple Music—streaming tracks, iTunes purchases, and even your uploaded files—into flexible formats like MP3 with lossless audio quality. It converts music up to 15 times faster, preserves metadata and lyrics, and helps you organize output files and folders neatly. This way, you gain true ownership of your music, free to play it anywhere, anytime, without restrictions.
A full-featured Apple Music converter that easily converts Apple Music songs, albums, playlists—including iCloud Music Library content, personalized recommendations, and curated playlists—into MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC so you can keep your Apple Music forever or transfer it to any device without restrictions.
Step 1Install 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 linked to your Apple Music subscription. This gives ViWizard access to your full music library for conversion.
Step 2Choose MP3 as the Output Format
Go to the Settings (gear icon) and select MP3 as your output format. MP3 offers broad compatibility with most devices and players. You can also customize audio settings like bit rate and sample rate to balance quality and file size. To keep lyrics synced with your songs, enable the option to save lyrics if available.
Step 3Select and Add Songs for Conversion
Browse your Apple Music library within ViWizard, and pick the songs, albums, or playlists you want to convert. Click the "+" button to add them to your conversion queue. When ready, hit the Convert button—ViWizard will quickly process multiple tracks at once, creating MP3 files free of DRM.
Step 4Access and Manage Your Converted MP3 Files
After conversion, open the History section to find your downloaded files. Use the "Open Folder" option to access your MP3s. These files can now be transferred and played on any device without Apple's usual restrictions. Metadata like album art, track titles, and lyrics are preserved to keep your collection organized.
Bonus: Apple Music Streaming vs. iTunes Music Purchases
| Feature | Apple Music Streaming | iTunes Music Purchases |
| Ownership | No — access only while subscribed | Yes — you own the files permanently |
| File Format | DRM-protected AAC or ALAC (lossless with subscription) | AAC files without DRM |
| Offline Listening | Yes, but only while subscribed | Yes, anytime |
| Playback Flexibility | Limited to Apple devices/apps and authorized platforms | Can play on any compatible player/device |
| Music Catalog | Full Apple Music catalog with updates | Only songs you've purchased |
| File Quality | Up to lossless with subscription | Standard AAC (lossy) |
| Cost | Monthly subscription fee | One-time purchase per song/album |
| Transferability | Not transferable outside Apple ecosystem | Fully transferable after conversion |
Conclusion
After reading this article, you may know how to buy iTunes music and download purchased music from iTunes at ease. When you have a gift card, remember to redeem it. Though you can buy music from iTunes for playing offline, it is only available on the Apple Music app. To free iTunes songs, use ViWizard Audio Converter now. It can download Apple Music in an open format for playing on any device you like. Go to download ViWizard Audio Converter to have a try right now.
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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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