3 Proven Methods to Remove DRM from iTunes Music

Part 2. Should You Remove DRM from iTunes Music?

DRM becomes noticeable when users try to move, back up, or reuse music outside Apple devices or apps. For normal listening within Apple Music, DRM does not cause problems, but for users who want full control of their files, it can feel limiting because access depends on subscription status or Apple ID authorization.

Critical Reasons to Remove DRM

• If you want to play your music on non-Apple devices, you should remove DRM.
• If you want to avoid losing access to your iTunes library when your Apple Music subscription ends, you should remove DRM.
• If you need to back up your music collection securely, removing DRM ensures you can always access your files.
• If you want to transfer your songs freely between devices - including non-Apple ones - you should remove DRM.

Everyday Reasons to Remove DRM

• If you're downloading music from Apple Music, removing DRM makes the files truly yours.
• If you've purchased music from iTunes, check if it's labeled as Protected AAC (with DRM) - if so, you should remove it.
• If you're using iTunes Match, combining it with DRM removal will fully unlock your entire music library.

Part 3. How to Check If Your iTunes Music Has DRM

DRM is not clearly labeled in Apple Music, but you can identify it by file type and playback behavior. On Mac or Windows, protected tracks may show as "Protected AAC audio file." A key sign is access—if a song only plays inside Apple apps or stops working after account or subscription changes, it is usually DRM-protected. Once a subscription ends, Apple can no longer verify access rights, so DRM checks fail and access stops.

You can also check the format. DRM-protected tracks are usually M4P files with extra restrictions. Unlike MP3 files, they only work within Apple's ecosystem.

Check DRM Status in iTunes (Mac or Windows)

01 Open iTunes on your Mac or Windows computer and go to your Music library.

02 Right-click a song and choose "Song Info" or "Get Info."

03 Look at the "Kind" field in the details window.

04 If it shows "Protected AAC audio file," the song is DRM-protected and only plays in Apple apps.  If it shows "iTunes Plus" or "Purchased AAC audio file," the song is DRM-free and can be used in other players.

Check DRM Status in Apple Music App

01 Open the Apple Music app on iPhone or Mac and go to your library.

02 Select a song and tap the three dots or right-click it.

03 Open "Song Info" or "Details."

04 If it shows "Apple Music" or "Protected," the song is DRM-protected and cannot be used outside Apple apps.

Check iCloud Music Library or iTunes Match

01 Open your music library in iTunes or Apple Music.

02 Look for a cloud icon next to the song.

03 Cloud-stored songs are usually DRM-free.

04 Some older downloaded files may still have DRM.

05 iTunes Match can replace older protected songs with DRM-free versions when available.

Check Purchase Date and Format

01 Open your Apple ID purchase history.

02 Check when the song was bought.

03 Songs purchased before April 2009 are more likely to be DRM-protected.

04 Songs purchased after this date are usually DRM-free AAC files.

Check File Extension on Your Device

01 Find the downloaded song file on your computer.

02 Right-click and open file info or properties.

03 If the file ends in ".m4p," it is a protected Apple Music file.

04 These files only play inside Apple apps and are DRM-protected.

Part 4. Part 4. How to Remove DRM from iTunes Music Using Requiem

Older iTunes purchases protected by FairPlay DRM may require a different approach from current DRM-free purchases. Requiem 4.1 was designed to decrypt these files without re-encoding the audio, helping preserve their original quality.

Requiem requires a compatible older version of iTunes, such as iTunes 10.7 or earlier. Once installed, it scans the iTunes library for protected tracks. Users can also drag and drop individual files or folders, and the program creates unprotected copies using iTunes' DRM library and decryption routines.

However, Requiem is no longer maintained and does not support modern iTunes versions, which limits its use to older libraries.

01 Ensure iTunes 10.7 is installed. If a newer version is on your computer, uninstall it to avoid conflicts.

02 Download Requiem 4.1 from a trusted source.

03 Navigate to your iTunes library folder (e.g., C:\Users\[Your Name]\Music\iTunes on Windows) and rename the folder for backup.

04 Open iTunes 10.7, download the songs you want to remove DRM from, and deauthorize/de-authorize your computer.

05 Close iTunes and open Requiem. It will automatically detect DRM-protected files in your library.

06 Requiem will remove DRM and create DRM-free copies of your tracks. Open iTunes to confirm the files are DRM-free.

Read More: Requiem 4.1 Review & Guide

Part 5. How to Convert iTunes Music to DRM-Free Audio Files Using iTunes

For DRM-free iTunes Plus purchases that need to work with another device or music player, iTunes' built-in converter can save copies in a different audio format without requiring additional software.

Open Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings, choose a format such as MP3, AAC, AIFF, or WAV, and click OK. Select the songs, then go to File > Convert > Create [format] Version. iTunes saves the converted copies while keeping the original files.

This process changes the audio format but does not remove DRM. As a result, it cannot convert older protected purchases or Apple Music subscription downloads.

01 Open iTunes and go to Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings.

02 Under Import Using, choose your preferred output format, such as MP3, AAC, AIFF, or WAV. Click OK to save the settings.

03 Return to your iTunes library and select the DRM-free songs you want to convert. You can select multiple tracks at once.

04 Go to File > Convert > Create [format] Version. The menu option will reflect the format you selected in Import Settings.

05 Wait for iTunes to finish converting the selected songs. It will create new copies in the chosen format while keeping the original files.

06 Locate the converted tracks in your iTunes library and check their file formats.

Part 6. How to Convert Apple Music Songs to DRM-Free Audio Files Using ViWizard Apple Music Converter

Apple Music subscribers who want separate audio files may look to third-party software such as ViWizard Apple Music Converter. It is designed to help users convert Apple Music songs to MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, and AIFF.

To use it, install the application on Windows or Mac and sign in to Apple Music through its built-in player. Select the tracks, albums, playlists or artists you want to convert, choose an output format, and adjust settings such as bitrate and sample rate. Click Convert to save the files to a selected folder. Converted tracks are also available in the program's History section.

ViWizard supports batch conversion of Apple Music songs and can retain details such as song titles and album information. Its free trial converts only the first 30 seconds of each song, while full-length conversion requires a paid license.

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: Install the app and sign in to Apple Music

Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on a Windows PC or Mac. Open the program and use the built-in Apple Music web player. Sign in with your Apple ID so your full music library loads inside the interface, including songs, albums, and playlists.

Step 2: Set output format

Before choosing any music, open the settings or preferences menu. Select MP3 as the output format for wide device support. You can also adjust quality settings such as bit rate or sample rate. If needed, keep options like song info, album art, and metadata enabled so files stay organized after conversion.

Step 3: Select Apple Music content to convert

Browse your Apple Music library inside the app, similar to a normal music player. Choose playlists, albums, or individual songs. Add them to the conversion list using the Add button or plus icon. Once ready, click Convert to start processing the selected Apple Music tracks into local audio files.

Step 4: Access and use converted DRM-free files

After conversion finishes, open the output folder or check the history section in ViWizard. The songs will be saved as standard audio files without DRM protection. You can now play them outside Apple Music, transfer them to phones or USB drives, or keep them as backups on your computer, while still keeping track details like titles and artwork.

Part 7. What Are the Alternatives to Removing DRM from iTunes Music?

The most reliable DRM-free music comes from iTunes purchases made after Apple removed DRM from most store content. These songs are usually standard AAC files. After purchase, they can also be converted into formats like MP3, WAV, or Apple Lossless (ALAC).

Users can also import local music or ripped CDs into iTunes, but these do not come from Apple's catalog. Because of this, purchasing DRM-free tracks remains the most consistent option to avoid DRM restrictions.

Part 8. Conclusion

The right way to get DRM-free music depends on where your songs come from. Current iTunes Store purchases are generally DRM-free, while Apple Music downloads and some older iTunes purchases may still have restrictions.

If you want music that works across different devices, buying songs from the iTunes Store or importing them from CDs is the simplest option. For music you already own, Requiem was designed for older protected iTunes purchases, while iTunes' built-in converter can change the format of DRM-free files without removing DRM. For Apple Music, try ViWizard Apple Music Converter, which helps convert subscription tracks into separate audio files!