Apple Music is known for Lossless Audio and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, offering clear, detailed sound close to the original studio recording. However, it does not use FLAC. Instead, it uses ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec). Even with Lossless Audio enabled, the format remains ALAC, not FLAC. ALAC is still lossless, but it mainly works within Apple's ecosystem, with limited support on other devices.
Apple Music streaming tracks are protected by DRM, so they cannot be directly exported or converted to FLAC with normal tools. iTunes purchases can be converted to Apple Lossless, but Apple Music subscription content works differently. As a result, users who need FLAC for DJing or audio editing often use tools like ViWizard Apple Music Converter to convert tracks into formats such as FLAC, AIFF, or WAV.
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This guide explains how to bridge Apple Music and FLAC using ViWizard Apple Music Converter, including how to transfer and play these files on other devices.
Part 1. Can You Convert Apple Music to FLAC?
Apple Music does not support FLAC. In iTunes or the Music app, conversion is only available for local files or iTunes purchases through Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings > Import Using, with formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, ALAC, and AIFF. FLAC is not included, even for purchased tracks.
Apple Music downloads are stored as M4P files protected by Apple's FairPlay DRM. This limits how files can be used and blocks conversion to FLAC. Even after downloading, the tracks stay locked within Apple's system and cannot be exported as FLAC using Apple tools.
For a lossless option inside Apple Music, ALAC is the native choice. If FLAC is needed for wider device support, tools like ViWizard Apple Music Converter can convert Apple Music tracks into formats such as MP3, WAV, M4A, M4B, AIFF, and FLAC. It supports lossless conversion, so the FLAC output stays close to the original Apple Music audio.
Part 2. How to Convert Apple Music to FLAC
To get FLAC files, users usually use tools outside Apple Music. ViWizard Apple Music Converter is one example. It is a desktop app that converts and downloads Apple Music songs, playlists, albums, and even a full library into different formats. After signing in with your Apple ID, the app can access your Apple Music library and catalog through a built-in web player. You choose the songs, set FLAC as the output format, and start the conversion. Since Apple Music does not support FLAC streaming, the process may involve small data loss, but it stays close to the original audio.
After conversion, FLAC files can be moved to many devices, including phones, tablets, computers, and high-end music players like Sony, Astell & Kern, or FiiO.
ViWizard Apple Music Converter also keeps metadata like artist, title, album art, and optional lyrics. This means you do not need to tag files yourself. It also lets you organize files by playlists, artists, or other folders for easier management.
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
Step 1: Sign in to Your Apple Music Account
Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Whether you have a free or paid Apple Music subscription, you can access your full music library. Once logged in, ViWizard will load Apple Music Web Player for browsing songs, albums, and playlists.
Step 2: Customize Output Settings as FLAC
Click the menu icon (three lines) in the top-right corner and open Preferences. Choose your output format such as MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC, and adjust sample rate, bit rate, and channel settings. Click OK to save your preferences.
Step 3: Add Music to the Conversion List
Search or browse your Apple Music library inside ViWizard. You can also paste a playlist or album URL directly into the address bar. Select songs, albums, or playlists and click the Add Music button to add them to the conversion list.
Step 4: Start Converting and Downloading
Click Convert to begin processing your selected Apple Music tracks. After conversion, files will be saved to your output folder. Go to the History section and click Open Folder to locate your songs. You can also double-click a track to preview it in the built-in player.
Part 3. How to Transfer Apple Music FLAC Files to Other Devices
After conversion, FLAC files can be moved like normal music files. You can use a USB cable, cloud storage, or file sharing apps. Most Android devices, iPhones, Windows PCs, macOS devices, and many music players can open FLAC files. Just put the files in the correct music folder so the device can find them.
3.1 Transfer Apple Music FLAC Files to Android (Windows)
01Connect your Android device to your Windows computer using a USB cable.
02On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode when prompted.
03Open File Explorer on Windows.
04Find your FLAC files in your local folder (such as Music or Downloads).
05Open This PC > Your Android device > Internal Storage.
06Open or create a Music folder on your Android storage.
07Drag and drop the FLAC files into the Music folder.
08Safely eject the device and disconnect the USB cable.
3.2 Transfer Apple Music FLAC Files to Android (Mac)
01Connect your Android device to your Mac using a USB cable.
02Set your phone to File Transfer (MTP) mode.
03Install or open Android File Transfer, or use Finder if supported.
04Open the Android storage window on your Mac.
05Locate your FLAC files in Finder (Music or Downloads folder).
06Drag the FLAC files into the Android Music folder.
07Wait for the transfer to complete, then disconnect the device.
3.3 Transfer Apple Music FLAC Files to iPhone or iPad
01Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac using a USB cable.
02Open Finder and select your device from the sidebar.
03Click the Files tab.
04Open a compatible FLAC app folder (such as VLC or similar apps).
05Drag and drop your FLAC files into the app's document area.
06Click Sync to start transferring files.
07Disconnect the device after sync is complete.
Part 4. How to Play Apple Music FLAC Files on Different Devices
Playing FLAC depends on the device and app. Some devices support it by default, others need a separate player. If a device cannot open FLAC, you can use apps like MusicBee, VLC Media Player, AIMP, Foobar2000 or Poweramp to play the files.
4.1 Play FLAC Files on MusicBee (Windows)
MusicBee is a Windows music player for local FLAC libraries, including files converted from Apple Music ALAC. It supports FLAC natively and is used as an iTunes alternative for library organization, tags, albums, playlists, and gapless playback. It supports WASAPI output for bit-perfect playback. It only plays local files, so Apple Music tracks must be converted before import.
01Open MusicBee on your Windows computer.
02Go to Edit > Preferences.
03Click Library and select Monitored Folders.
04Add the folder where your FLAC files are stored.
05Click Scan Library to load your music.
06Go to Library view (Artists, Albums, or Tracks).
07Double-click a song to start playback.
08(Optional) Go to Player settings and enable WASAPI output for better audio playback.
4.2 Play FLAC Files on VLC Media Player (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS)
VLC is a cross-platform player that opens FLAC files without setup. It is widely used because Apple Music does not support FLAC playback. macOS can preview FLAC files, but the Music app cannot import them. VLC plays FLAC directly on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It is used for playback, not library management.
01Open VLC Media Player on your device.
02Click Media > Open File (or File > Open on macOS).
03Select your FLAC file or folder.
04Click Open to start playback.
05On mobile, open VLC and go to Browse.
06Select your FLAC file from device storage or Files app.
07Tap the file to begin playback.
4.3 Play FLAC Files on AIMP (Windows, Android)
AIMP is a lightweight player for Windows and Android with native FLAC support. It includes playlist control, tagging, and an equalizer. It is used for fast local playback with low system load. On Windows it manages music folders, and on Android it works as an offline player. Apple Music files must be converted to FLAC or ALAC before use.
01Open AIMP on your device.
02Go to Menu > Open Files or Open Folder.
03Select your FLAC music folder.
04Add files to playlist or start playback directly.
05On Android, open AIMP and allow storage permission.
06Go to Library > Scan to detect music files.
07Select a song or album to play.
4.4 Play FLAC Files on foobar2000 (Windows)
foobar2000 is a Windows player designed for accurate FLAC playback with minimal processing. It supports WASAPI and ASIO for bit-perfect output. It is modular and supports advanced library and DSP components. It is used for precise playback of FLAC files converted from Apple Music or ALAC sources.
01Open foobar2000 on your Windows computer.
02Go to File > Add Folder.
03Select your FLAC music folder.
04Wait for files to load into the library.
05Go to Playback > Output settings.
06Select WASAPI or ASIO device if available.
07Double-click a track to start playback.
4.5 Play FLAC Files on Poweramp (Android)
Poweramp is an Android player for offline FLAC playback with high audio quality and DSP control. It supports large libraries, high-resolution FLAC, and gapless playback. It includes a full equalizer and audio tuning tools.
01Open Poweramp on your Android device.
02Allow storage access when prompted.
03Go to Settings > Library > Music Folders.
04Select the folder containing your FLAC files.
05Return to main screen and tap Rescan Library.
06Go to Songs or Albums view.
07Tap a track to start playback.
Part 5. Apple Music FLAC vs ALAC vs AAC: What Are the Differences
Apple Music mainly uses two formats, AAC and ALAC. AAC is used for streaming and is more compressed. ALAC is Apple's lossless format. FLAC is also lossless, but it works on more devices outside Apple's ecosystem.
| Format | Type | Quality | Specs | File Size | Device Support |
| FLAC | Lossless | No loss |
16-bit/44.1 kHz up to 24-bit/192 kHz |
Medium | Windows, Android, Linux, most players |
| ALAC | Lossless | No loss |
16-bit/44.1 kHz up to 24-bit/192 kHz |
Medium | Apple devices, Apple Music |
| AAC | Lossy | Some loss | Usually 256 kbps | Small | Almost all devices |
ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) is also lossless. It supports the same quality range as FLAC, including 16-bit/44.1 kHz and up to 24-bit/192 kHz Hi-Res audio. It is optimized for Apple devices and works natively in iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Music, but has more limited support outside Apple's ecosystem compared to FLAC.
AAC is a lossy format used for streaming. Apple Music typically uses 256 kbps AAC for standard streaming. It reduces file size by compressing audio data. It is not lossless, but it is widely supported across most devices and platforms.
FLAC is a lossless format. It supports CD quality at 16-bit/44.1 kHz and Hi-Res up to 24-bit/192 kHz. It keeps all original audio data and is widely supported on Windows, Android, Linux, and most audio tools and DJ software.
Conclusion:
Apple Music separates itself from FLAC. It uses AAC for streaming and ALAC for lossless audio. ALAC is Apple's equivalent to FLAC, but the two are not interchangeable inside Apple Music. Apple stays within its own codec system instead of supporting FLAC directly.
For more flexibility across devices or for editing and DJ use, Apple Music alone is limited. Tools like ViWizard Apple Music Converter can convert Apple Music tracks into FLAC, WAV, AIFF, and other formats while keeping audio quality close to the original.
ViWizard Apple Music Converter helps make Apple Music files more usable across different devices without format limits.
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Dave Henry, a multimedia technologist at ViWizard, focuses on delivering the best solutions for digital media challenges, including audio and video conversion, media optimization, and troubleshooting.
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