Convert iTunes (Music) Library to MP3: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Part 1. Can I Convert My iTunes (Apple Music) Library to MP3?

Yes - You can convert DRM-free songs in your iTunes library (pre-Catalina Mac or Windows) or Apple Music library (Mac Catalina or later, Windows 11) directly to MP3 using the built-in encoder or VLC Media Player. This works for purchased iTunes tracks or music ripped from CDs.

First, check whether your songs are DRM-free. Look at the file kind in iTunes to see if they are local uploads, CD rips, iTunes purchases, or DRM-protected Apple Music streaming songs. Then select the DRM-free songs you want to convert and use the appropriate method.

Usually, DRM-free songs need to be converted separately rather than converting your entire library at once. ViWizard Apple Music Converter is a great option if you want to convert everything at once, including a mixed library of Apple Music tracks, iCloud Music Library content, purchased songs, and CD rips, whether the content is DRM-protected or not.

Pro Tip: How to Tell Whether Your iTunes Library Is MP3, AAC, or Another Format

Before converting, it helps to know the format of your files. This prevents mistakes and ensures you use the right method for each part of your library.

Step 1 Open the iTunes (or Music) application on your computer.

Step 2 Locate the music file in your library.

Step 3 Right-click the file and select Song Info (or Get Info).

Step 4 In the dialog box, click the File tab and look at the Kind field. This tells you the format and source, such as:

Part 2. Convert Your iTunes Library to MP3 for Apple Music Songs (DRM-Protected)

Apple Music tracks won't be converted to MP3 directly because they're DRM-protected. If your subscription ends, the songs disappear. I ran into this myself, which is why I started using ViWizard Apple Music Converter.

ViWizard Apple Music Converter is designed for Apple Music subscribers and can convert your iTunes or Apple Music library without limits. You can select songs, albums, or playlists in the built-in Apple Music Web Player, which gives access to both your library and Apple Music's streaming catalog. For conversion, you can choose MP3 or other formats like WAV, M4A (AAC), M4B, AIFF, or FLAC. MP3 works everywhere, M4A is good for Apple devices, and WAV, AIFF, or FLAC are higher quality. MP3 bitrates range from 256Kbps to 320Kbps. DRM is removed automatically, and conversion can run up to 30 times faster than real time.

For more control, go to Preferences > Output to customize file names, folder structure, and save locations. ViWizard keeps all original metadata, including track name, artist, album, genre, and artwork, so your MP3 copies stay organized and ready for any device.

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

Using ViWizard Apple Music Converter:

Step 1 Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows PC or Mac, then open the program.

Step 2 Sign in with the Apple ID linked to your Apple Music library (this is required to access your songs and playlists).

Step 3 Browse your library inside ViWizard Apple Music Converter. When you find an album, playlist, or song to convert, click the + button to load all tracks for conversion.

Step 4 Go to Menu > Preferences > Conversion, set the output format to MP3, and adjust the bit rate if you want higher quality (256 kbps or 320 kbps works well).

Step 5 Click Convert to start converting your tracks. Wait while ViWizard removes DRM and saves the songs as MP3 files.

Step 6 When conversion finishes, open the output folder from within ViWizard. Your MP3s are ready to play or transfer, with all song details and album artwork preserved.

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Part 3. Convert Your iTunes Library to MP3 for iTunes Purchases or Ripped Audio (DRM-Free)

DRM-free iTunes songs are the easiest to convert because they don't have Apple Music restrictions. You can turn them into MP3 files using iTunes' built-in encoder or a tool like VLC Media Player.

Using iTunes' Encoder:

Purchased or CD-ripped music is easy to convert. iTunes includes a built-in converter supporting AAC, MP3, AIFF, Apple Lossless, and WAV. To convert your library, first consolidate files via File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate. Then hold Option when opening the Music app and select Choose Library, pointing to your old iTunes folder. Check Song Info (or Get Info) > File > Kind - if it's "Purchased AAC" or "MPEG audio file," you're ready. For "Apple Music AAC" files, ViWizard Apple Music Converter can save time and prevent errors.

Step 1 Open iTunes on your computer and make sure your library is visible.

Step 2 Either purchase songs from the iTunes Store, import an supported CD, or add local files using File > Add File to Library or Add Folder to Library.

Step 3 Open Preferences (Edit > Preferences on Windows, iTunes > Preferences on Mac) and go to the General tab.

Step 4 Click the Import Settings… button, set Import Using to MP3 Encoder, and click OK to confirm.

Step 5 Close Preferences, then select the songs in your library that you want to convert.

Step 6 From the menu, go to File > Convert > Create MP3 Version. The new MP3 files will appear next to your original tracks and are ready to play anywhere or transfer.

Using VLC Media Player:

VLC can convert DRM-free tracks. Go to File > Convert / Stream (or Media > Convert / Save on Windows), add your files, select MP3, adjust bit or sample rates if needed, and click Start. VLC doesn't preserve playlists, so you'll need to recreate them manually in iTunes or Music.

Tip: For multiple albums, queue them up first and manage files afterward to avoid repeating steps for each track.

Step 1 Download and install VLC Media Player from the official site, then open it.

Step 2 Go to Media > Convert / Save (or press Ctrl + R on Windows, Cmd + Shift + S on Mac).

Step 3 In the Open Media window, click Add and select the music files you want to convert.

Step 4 Click Convert / Save, then choose Audio: MP3 as the conversion profile.

Step 5 Under Destination, click Browse, select a folder, name the file, and ensure it ends with .mp3.

Step 6 Click Start to begin the conversion. When finished, your MP3s will appear in the chosen folder, ready to play or transfer.

Part 4. Add Converted MP3 Files Back to Your iTunes Library

After conversion, add MP3s back to iTunes. Check album art, metadata, and remove duplicates to keep your library tidy and playlists functional. If you want to stick to local MP3s while using iTunes or Music, turn off Sync Library to prevent iCloud uploads.

Step 1 Open iTunes on your Windows PC, or open the Music app on a Mac.

Step 2 Drag your converted MP3 files directly into the iTunes or Music library window (or go to File > Add to Library and browse to select them).

Step 3 Once imported, check the Recently Added section to make sure your songs appear.

Step 4 If you want, right-click a song and choose Get Info to review or update the track details (like title, artist, or album).

Step 5 To replace the original DRM-protected version: find the original song in your library, right-click it, and select Delete from Library, then confirm.

Step 6 Double-check that the new MP3 version is correctly added and organized in your library.

Part 5. Play Your iTunes (Apple Music) Library as MP3 on Windows & Mac

MP3s play smoothly on Windows Media Player, VLC, and most apps supporting standard audio formats. They make switching between devices or platforms easy without worrying about compatibility.

Using Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is built into Windows and plays MP3 files easily. Simply add your converted MP3 folder to the library, browse your songs, and click Play. It's simple and quick, though playlists from iTunes need to be recreated manually.

Step 1 Open Windows Media Player and go to the Library view.

Step 2 Click Organize in the top menu, then select Manage Libraries > Music to ensure your iTunes library folder is included.

Step 3 Browse your iTunes library within Windows Media Player and locate the MP3 files you want to play.

Step 4 Double-click a song to play it, or select multiple tracks and click Play to create a temporary playlist.

Step 5 To save a playlist, click Create Playlist at the bottom, name it, and drag your selected tracks into it.

Step 6 Adjust playback settings such as shuffle, repeat, or crossfade from the Now Playing menu as needed.

Using VLC Media Player

VLC is a free, cross-platform media player that also plays MP3 files. Open a folder or file to play music, or use the Playlist view to organize tracks. It's flexible and lightweight, but it doesn't automatically preserve iTunes playlists, so you'll need to set them up manually.

Step 1 Open VLC Media Player and go to Media > Open Folder... to locate your iTunes MP3 folder.

Step 2 Select the folder and click Select Folder (Windows) or Open (Mac) to import the tracks into VLC.

Step 3 Click Play to start listening to your songs immediately, or use the playlist panel to reorder tracks.

Step 4 To save the playlist, go to Media > Save Playlist to File... and choose M3U or XSPF format.

Step 5 Use VLC's playback options to adjust equalizer, loop, or randomize tracks if desired.

Part 6. Transfer Your iTunes (Apple Music) Library as MP3 to Other Devices

Once in MP3 format, your music works on nearly any device, including phones, tablets, MP3 players, USB drives, or cloud storage. I back up to both USB and cloud for safety. For very large libraries, keep an eye on file sizes and storage, but MP3 is about as flexible as it gets.

Transferring Converted iTunes (Apple Music) Library to iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Option 1: Sync Manually Without Subscription

Step 1 Connect your Apple device to your computer using a USB cable.

Step 2 Open iTunes and click the device icon at the top-left corner.

Step 3 Go to Music > Sync Music, then choose either specific playlists, artists, or your entire library.

Step 4 Click Apply to start syncing. Your MP3s will now appear on your device.

Option 2: Use "Sync Library" with Apple Music Subscription

Step 1 On Mac, go to Music > Settings > General and check Sync Library; on Windows, go to Edit > Preferences > General and check iCloud Music Library.

Step 2 Sign in with the same Apple ID on all your devices.

Step 3 Your MP3s will automatically upload and be available in the Apple Music app.

Transferring Converted iTunes (Apple Music) Library to Android Devices

Step 1 Connect your Android phone or tablet to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 2 On the device, select File Transfer mode.

Step 3 Open the Android storage on your computer and locate the Music folder.

Step 4 Drag your MP3 files into the Music folder.

Step 5 Safely eject your device. The MP3s are now available in your music player app.

Transferring Converted iTunes (Apple Music) Library to MP3 Player

Step 1 Connect your MP3 player to your computer via USB and wait for it to appear in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).

Step 2 Open your iTunes MP3 folder and locate the tracks you want to transfer.

Step 3 Select the desired MP3 files and drag them to the MP3 player folder.

Step 4 Safely eject your MP3 player from the computer once the transfer is complete.

Step 5 Disconnect the device and check that your songs appear correctly in the MP3 player's library.

Step 6 Organize the tracks into playlists on the MP3 player if the device supports it.

Transferring Converted iTunes (Apple Music) Library to USB

Step 1 Insert a USB flash drive into your computer and wait for it to appear in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).

Step 2 Open the iTunes MP3 folder and choose the songs or albums you want to copy.

Step 3 Drag the selected files to the USB drive folder and wait for the transfer to complete.

Step 4 Safely eject the USB drive from your computer.

Step 5 Plug the USB drive into another device to confirm the MP3 files are accessible.

Bonus Tip: MP3 vs. DRM-Free AAC vs. DRM-Protected AAC

If you're using iTunes or subscribed to Apple Music, you've likely come across multiple audio formats - some of which can be limiting depending on how you plan to use your music.

Here's a breakdown of the three common formats and why converting to MP3 may be your best bet:

Summary

For the two methods to convert iTunes library to MP3, which one do you prefer? If your songs are not protected, you can use iTunes, Apple Music, or ViWizard Audio Converter to export songs from iTunes library to MP3. If your songs are protected, like iTunes songs bought before 2009 or Apple Music songs, you need to use ViWizard to convert iTunes library to MP3.