"I have about a 1000 songs in my iTunes library that are formatted .m4p. I want to convert them to .m4a. What procedures/tools are available to accomplish this process?"
M4P files usually come from old iTunes purchases made before 2009 or newer Apple Music downloads. Most M4P files found in the Apple Music section of the iTunes Media folder are protected by DRM, which locks them to iTunes and authorized Apple devices. As long as you stay in Apple's ecosystem with an active Apple Music subscription, this isn't a problem. But once you try to play these files on other players or devices, the limits of a DRM-protected format become clear. Converting M4P to M4A removes these restrictions and gives you more control over your music.
Apple's DRM can cause downloaded M4P files to stop playing when a subscription ends. M4A files, by contrast, remain fully accessible and playable.
In this post, we'll cover several ways to convert M4P to M4A, including using a third-party tool like ViWizard Apple Music Converter. Once converted, your music stays yours, without worrying about losing access later.
Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.
Part 1. Understanding M4P, M4A, and AAC
Before you start converting anything, it helps to understand what these files really are. If you've ever downloaded music from Apple Music, you've probably tried to find the files on your computer and ended up in the iTunes Media folder. But it's not always clear what the difference is between M4P, M4A, and AAC.
At first glance, these files look and sound the same. That's why many people get confused. The real difference is DRM. Some files are locked to iTunes and authorized Apple devices, while others are not.
- M4P = AAC audio + DRM protection (restricted)
- M4A = AAC audio without DRM (transferable)
- AAC = The audio format used in both
What Is M4P?
M4P is a music format used for songs bought from the iTunes Store. When you download music from Apple Music or iTunes, it's usually saved as an M4P file. You can find these files in your iTunes Media folder (Username\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media). M4P files have DRM (Digital Rights Management), which locks the file so it only plays on Apple devices linked to your Apple ID. If you try playing it elsewhere, it won't work.
What Is M4A?
M4A is another Apple music format, but it doesn't have DRM. This means you can move, share, and play it on almost any device or app without restrictions.
What Is AAC?
AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) is the audio format inside both M4P and M4A files. It replaced MP3 and provides better sound at the same file size. M4P and M4A often sound identical because they both use AAC audio, which is why the difference isn't obvious at first. AAC files can be saved in two ways:
- M4A (unprotected AAC): Can be played anywhere
- M4P (DRM-protected AAC): Only be played on Apple-approved devices
Comparing M4P and M4A Formats:
| Feature | M4P | M4A |
| Compatibility | Tied to the Apple ecosystem (iTunes) | Compatible with a wide range of devices, media players, and platforms |
| Compression | Generally compressed | Highly compressed |
| Audio Quality | High-quality audio | High-quality audio |
| File Size | Relatively larger file size | Smaller file size |
| File Extension | .m4p | .m4a |
| DRM Protection | Yes, DRM-protected | No DRM protection |
| Usage Flexibility | Limited to authorized devices/accounts | Versatile for playback and sharing |
Bottom Line:
Just because your iTunes songs are in M4P format doesn't mean you can only play them in iTunes. If you've ever tried moving an old iTunes song to another device, you may have noticed it won't play. That's because M4P files are locked with DRM, which means they only work on iTunes and authorized computers. To play them on other players like VLC, Poweramp, or any non-Apple device, you need to convert them to M4A.
Both M4P and M4A use AAC (Advanced Audio Codec), so the sound quality is very similar. The main difference is that M4P files are protected, while M4A files are not. Ready to convert M4P to M4A? One popular tool you can use is ViWizard Apple Music Converter.
Part 2. How to Convert M4P to M4A by Removing DRM with ViWizard Apple Music Converter
When converting M4P to M4A, removing DRM is the option many users choose. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using ViWizard Apple Music Converter. The idea is simple: keep the original AAC sound, remove the DRM, and save the song as a normal M4A file. After conversion, your Apple Music downloads or purchases can play on other devices without needing the Apple Music app or an active subscription. This method works for full libraries, not just a few songs.
ViWizard Apple Music Converter is made to convert and download Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and more into open audio files. Besides M4A, it can also convert files to formats like MP3, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC. A big advantage is that it keeps the original sound quality. It also saves song info like titles, artists, and album art, which makes your music library easier to manage instead of ending up with messy files.
To get started, download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your computer. It works on both Windows and Mac and offers a free trial.
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 Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your PC or Mac. When installing, just click through the prompts. On Windows, you may need to allow the app through your firewall.
Step 2 Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter. You'll see the built-in Apple Music web player. Click Sign In to authorize ViWizard to access your Apple Music library using your Apple ID and password.
Step 3 Select the songs or playlists you want to convert by navigating to them and clicking the "+" button. ViWizard will then analyze the tracks.
Step 4 Click the menu button at the top and go to Preferences > Conversion. Choose M4A as the output format. You can also adjust the bit rate and sample rate if you want, but the default settings usually preserve the original AAC sound.
Step 5 Click Convert at the bottom. ViWizard will start removing DRM and saving the files as M4A in the folder you select. I recommend choosing a dedicated folder for converted songs to keep everything organized.
Step 6 Once finished, check the folder and play a few files in a compatible media player. They should work everywhere. I usually check the first few tracks to make sure metadata like song titles and album art carried over correctly.
Part 3. How to Upgrade M4P to M4A by Burning to a CD with iTunes/Apple Music
If you want to use an Apple-supported method, you can burn some M4P files to a CD. This only works for iTunes purchases made before 2009 that are linked to your Apple ID. These files are different from Apple Music streaming tracks, which cannot be burned. The process is simple but takes extra steps: burn the songs to an Audio CD, then rip the CD back to M4A. It doesn't work for every song, but it doesn't require a subscription.
Step 1 Open iTunes and find the M4P songs purchased before 2009. Make sure your computer is authorized with the same Apple ID used to buy the songs.
Step 2 Create a new playlist and drag all eligible M4P songs into it. This keeps them separate from newer Apple Music tracks that cannot be burned.
Step 3 Insert a blank CD. Go to File > Burn Playlist to Disc in iTunes. Choose Audio CD as the format. The burn process may take a few minutes.
Step 4 After the CD is burned, remove it and then re-insert it. In iTunes, go to File > Import from CD, and choose M4A as the import format. You now have DRM-free copies of your older M4P files.
Step 5 Check the newly imported M4A files in your library. Rename them or move them into a separate folder so they don't get mixed up with the original M4P files.
Part 4. How to Get M4A by Purchasing Music from iTunes
This is the easiest option. Music bought from iTunes today is sold as DRM-free M4A files, also called iTunes Plus. There's nothing to convert. This works well if you only need a few songs or want a clean music library that will always stay usable.
Step 1 Open the iTunes Store on your computer or device. If it is not visible in the Music app, enable it under Preferences > General > iTunes Store.
Step 2 Search for the song, album, or artist you want. Look for tracks labeled iTunes Plus, which are DRM-free M4A files. I usually check the file size and version to avoid accidentally buying an older, DRM-protected track.
Step 3 Click Buy and confirm. The song will download directly to your iTunes library as M4A.
Step 4 You can now move, copy, or play these songs on any device without restrictions. I recommend downloading them to a backup folder right away to avoid future syncing issues.
Part 5. How to Convert M4P to M4A Online
There are also online tools that claim to convert M4P to M4A. These can be useful if you want something quick and don't want to install software. However, they usually only work with files that are not DRM-protected. For Apple Music or locked M4P files, they are often less reliable than desktop tools like ViWizard Apple Music Converter.
Step 1 Open your preferred online M4P-to-M4A converter, such as FreeConvert's MP4 to M4A converter. Most tools will ask you to upload your M4P files. I usually start with just a few songs to test how well the tool works.
Step 2 Select M4A as the output format. On FreeConvert, click Choose Files to upload your M4P files. Some sites allow you to adjust audio options. If available, I keep the settings at the highest quality to preserve sound.
Step 3 Click Convert and wait for the process to finish. Upload speed depends on your internet connection and file size. Do not close the browser until the conversion is complete, or you may lose your M4A files.
Step 4 Once downloaded, the M4A files will be saved to the Downloads folder. I usually do not rely on online tools for DRM-protected Apple Music files because they often fail or produce incomplete results. For reliable DRM removal, ViWizard Apple Music Converter is a better choice.
Final Word
With both two methods, you can convert M4P to M4A and get high-quality audios finally. But there are still some differences. ViWizard Apple Music Converter has a faster speed. The conversion with the audio converter is 30 times faster than that of the audio capture. And the advantage of the audio capture is that you can record any streaming sound from Amazon Music, Tidal, YouTube Music, and more. Just choose the one you prefer.
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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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