Apple Music is no longer just for iPhones. It works on Macs, Windows PCs, and even Android. With the Apple Music app (Apple Music Preview for Windows), desktop users can add their favorite songs and download them for offline listening. On older Windows and Mac systems, you can still use iTunes to download Apple Music songs and iTunes purchases.
In this guide, we will show how to download Apple Music songs to a computer on both Windows and Mac. You will need an active Apple Music subscription ($11.99 per month) or a free trial. Subscribers can download music directly through the official apps, and those who want MP3 files can use ViWizard Apple Music Converter. Downloaded music should be for personal use only. Once saved, files can be stored on a PC and transferred to other devices like an iPhone, iPad, USB drive, or burned to a CD.
- Listen offline with an Apple Music subscription.
- Downloads only work in the Apple Music app with your Apple ID.
- Download up to 100,000 songs.
- Supports Lossless and Dolby Atmos downloads on computers.
- Downloaded tracks are DRM-protected and not permanent.
- Purchased songs from the iTunes Store are DRM-free.
- Your library and downloads may be removed if your subscription ends.
- Sync Library does not automatically download music files to every device.
Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.
Method 1: Download Apple Music Songs from the Apple Music App [Windows 11 & Mac]
Downloading songs through the Apple Music app is the easiest way to listen offline on a computer. On a Mac, the Music app replaces iTunes, and Windows 11 users can install Apple Music from the Microsoft Store. After signing in with your Apple ID and turning on Sync Library, you can browse "Albums," "Playlists," and "Songs" from your collection or explore Apple's music catalog. Click the Download button to download directly, or use the Add button (Add to Library or Add to Playlist) to save the music to your library first and download it later.
Downloaded songs are device specific and will not sync across devices using the same Apple ID. They must be downloaded again on each device such as an iPhone, iPad, or another computer. The download does not create normal audio files but protected AAC files with the .m4p extension and cannot be moved around. Files are stored by default at C:\Users\Username\Music\Apple Music. To get usable, non protected formats like MP3, you can use ViWizard Apple Music Converter.
For Windows 11 (using the Apple Music app)
Open the Microsoft Store and install the Apple Music app.
Launch the app and sign in with your Apple ID.
Browse or search for songs, albums, or playlists.
If Dolby Atmos is available, you'll notice an indicator near the music—choose to download in that format for the immersive experience.
Click the + icon to add music to your library.
Click the download icon to save it offline.
To check for updates, open the Microsoft Store, go to Library, and select Get updates.
Downloaded files are stored under:
For Mac (macOS Catalina and later, using the Apple Music app)
Open the Apple Music app.
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Search for music and look for the Dolby Atmos indicator next to tracks or albums.
In Apple Music's Preferences, ensure the setting to download Dolby Atmos content is enabled.
Click the + button to add music to your library.
Click the download icon to save it offline.
Music is stored in the Music folder, managed by the app. You can adjust the storage location in the app's settings.
Files are managed under:
Method 2: Download Apple Music Songs from iTunes to PC or Mac [Windows 10 & Mac]
For Windows 10 or older Macs, iTunes is still the main option to download Apple Music songs. Open the app, click Music in the top left menu, go to Library, and click the iCloud Download button next to songs or albums.
Downloaded songs can play without an internet connection but still require an active subscription. If the subscription ends, the files remain on the computer but cannot be played. iTunes also helps organize playlists, manage albums, and sync music with an iPhone or iPad.
For Windows 10 (using iTunes)
Download iTunes from the Microsoft Store and install it.
Launch iTunes and sign in with your Apple ID.
Browse Apple Music content or go to your Library.
Look for Dolby Atmos availability where applicable and ensure your settings enable downloading it.
Click the + icon to add the music to your library.
Once added, click the download icon next to the track, album, or playlist to start downloading.
All Apple Music downloads are in M4P format with DRM protection and playable only through Apple-authorized apps or devices.
For Mac (macOS Mojave and earlier, using iTunes)
Open iTunes.
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Browse or search for music and add it to your library.
Click the cloud icon with a downward arrow to download.
Music is stored under:
Dolby Atmos support is limited or unavailable on older iTunes versions.
Method 3: Download Purchased Apple Music Songs from iTunes to PC or Mac [Windows 10 & Mac]
Purchased music can be downloaded through the iTunes app on any authorized computer, including Windows PCs and Macs. Open the iTunes Store, go to Account > Purchased, then find your previous purchases and click the download button.
Purchased tracks are delivered in Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) format, usually at 256 Kbps with the .m4a file extension. They remain accessible even after canceling Apple Music and can be downloaded more than once on different devices. Once downloaded, you can store them on your computer, transfer them to other devices, or burn them to a CD.
For Windows & Mac:
Open iTunes (Windows or older macOS), or go to the iTunes Store tab in the Music app (newer macOS).
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Navigate to the iTunes Store tab.
Search for the song or album you want.
Click Buy next to the item.
The song will download automatically. To re-download, go to Purchased and click the cloud icon.
To access your purchased songs across devices, turn on iCloud Music Library in settings. Since iTunes purchases are DRM-free, they can be transferred or used freely on authorized devices linked to your Apple ID.
Storage locations:
Windows:
Mac (Catalina or later):
Mac (Mojave or earlier):
Method 4: Download and Convert Apple Music Songs to MP3 on PC or Mac [Windows 10/11 & Mac]
Because Apple Music downloads only work inside the app, many subscribers convert songs to MP3 to make them easier to use. An active Apple Music subscription is still required to keep offline access, and the protected format is less flexible than MP3. While iTunes purchases are DRM free, they are usually more expensive than streaming or converting songs to MP3.
This method requires ViWizard Apple Music Converter. You load your Apple Music library, choose MP3 as the format, and start the conversion. After conversion, the tracks behave like normal audio files. You can store them on your computer, move them to devices that support Apple Music or not, and keep them even after canceling Apple Music.
Tool Required: ViWizard Apple Music Converter
ViWizard Apple Music Converter is an easy to use tool that downloads and converts Apple Music tracks to a Windows or Mac computer. It removes DRM and converts Apple Music songs to MP3, WAV, M4A, M4B, AIFF, and FLAC, and also supports lossless audio downloads. It supports batch conversion for multiple songs, albums, playlists, or an entire music library at up to 20× faster speed. It balances customization options with the original source to deliver results optimized for personal listening.
Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.
Step 1Install ViWizard and Sign In to Apple Music
Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Once installed, open the app and log in to your Apple Music account using the built-in web player. This gives you full access to your Apple Music library so you can pick what you want to save.
Step 2Pick an Output Format (Like MP3)
Go to the settings section before converting. Choose MP3 as your output format—it's the most compatible with all devices. You can also adjust sound quality settings like bit rate, sample rate, and audio channels. If you want to keep synced lyrics or text files, make sure those options are selected too.
Step 3Select the Songs You Want to Keep
Browse through your library inside the ViWizard interface. Choose songs, albums, or playlists you'd like to download. Click the "+" button to add them to the list. When everything's ready, hit the Convert button to start saving your tracks as regular audio files.
Step 4Find and Enjoy Your New Music Files
Once the process finishes, go to the History tab or open the output folder on your computer. You'll see your converted music there—free of DRM, and ready to use however you like. You can play the songs, copy them to a USB drive, move them to your phone, or back them up. All the original details like album art and titles stay with the files, making it easy to keep your collection neat.
Conclusion:
If you decide to constantly renew Apple Music and don't plan to play Apple Music on more devices, you could only download Apple Music songs as cache files for offline listening on PC. But with the help of ViWizard Apple Music Converter, you can download Apple Music songs to PC locally. Furthermore, it convert Apple Music songs to several unprotected audio files for playing anywhere.
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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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