Fewer and fewer Apple users know that once upon a time, iTunes music was also copy-protected by Apple's FairPlay DRM system. Apple didn't free the music sold in the iTunes store until 2009. If you ever purchased songs from the iTunes Store back before 2009, then there's a chance that all the music is protected.
Removing DRM from these "antique" songs from iTunes is the only way you can polish them up and literally "fair play" them as you want. Otherwise, you cannot play these iTunes songs on those common music players except Apple's own devices, nor can you share iTunes music with your friends or on other platforms. So, how do you remove DRM from iTunes music? Today, here we'll introduce several simple solutions to help you completely remove DRM from iTunes music.
This is a collection of some best iTunes DRM removal tools to help you get away from iTunes ecosystem by completely removing FairPlay DRM from iTunes M4V movies, TV shows, books, and M4P music.
Part 1. Does iTunes Have DRM?
iTunes Store content is still DRM-protected. This includes rented music, TV shows, and digital music from the iTunes Store, which are encrypted with FairPlay. However, when you purchase content from the iTunes Store and receive the downloads, you typically get DRM-free files.
While it's easy to understand the situation with movies, things are more complex when it comes to music. When you download music from your Apple Music library, it's protected by DRM, even if it wasn't initially. This means it can only be played with an active Apple Music subscription. However, if you purchase music from the iTunes Store, the downloaded files usually don't have extra DRM, unless they already did. You can easily check by examining the file info to see if it's listed as "protected AAC" (with DRM) or not.
iTunes Match, on the other hand, provides DRM-free downloads regardless of whether you're subscribed to Apple Music or not.
Your choice of subscription determines whether your music has DRM. If you only have Apple Music, your downloads will have DRM. But with just iTunes Match, they'll be DRM-free, regardless of whether they're matched to the iTunes Store or not. If you have both Apple Music and iTunes Match, downloads from Apple Music will have DRM, but others won't.
Understanding this can be tricky, especially if you're trying to remove DRM from iTunes. Apple Music allows you to download songs for offline listening, but they come with DRM. If you cancel your subscription, you may lose access to these downloads. To remove these limits, you'll need the assistance of ViWizard. It simplifies the process for you.
For iTunes Music:
Subscription Type | Stream & Download All Songs in Apple Music Library | Re-download Purchases Without DRM | Matched Ripped Songs (Store/Library) | Upload Ripped Songs (Not in Store/Library) |
None | No | Yes | No | No |
iTunes Match Only | No | Yes | Yes with DRM | Yes without DRM |
Apple Music Only | Yes with DRM | Yes (and with DRM if from Apple Music) | Yes with DRM | Yes without DRM |
Both | Yes with DRM | Yes (and with DRM if from Apple Music) | Yes without DRM | Yes without DRM |
For iTunes Movies & TV Shows:
Subscription Type | Stream & Download All Movies/TV Shows in iTunes Library | Re-download Purchases Without DRM | Upload Own Movies/TV Shows | Offline Viewing Without Subscription |
None | No | Yes | No | No |
iTunes Match Only | No | Yes | No | No |
Apple TV+ Only | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Both | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Part 2. How to Remove DRM from iTunes
There're various methods tailored to different subscription types and content formats available on iTunes.
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Using ViWizard Apple Music Converter (for iTunes Music & Audiobooks)
ViWizard Apple Music Converter is an easy-to-use tool designed to remove DRM from various types of content in iTunes, such as music, podcasts, and even Audible audiobooks. It works seamlessly on both Windows and Mac computers, making it easy to get rid of DRM and organize your iTunes library. With ViWizard, you can effortlessly convert DRM-protected content into popular formats like MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, M4A, and M4B. The process is simple: just select the tracks you want, choose the desired format, and start the conversion. An added advantage? You gain more control of your music library and create a backup as a DRM-free version.
Key Features of ViWizard Audio Converter
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- Convert songs, albums, and playlists from Apple Music to MP3
- Remove DRM protection from Apple Music, iTunes, and Audible
- Save the converted audios with the original quality and ID3 tags
- Support the conversion of up to 100 audio formats to others
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- Make sure the Apple Music tracks and audiobooks you want to convert are playable on your computer before downloading them.
- Open the ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your computer.
- Drag the Apple Music tracks or audiobooks you want to convert to the main interface of the converter. Alternatively, you can click the "Load in iTunes" button to import DRM-protected audios.
- Go to the "Format" tab and select MP3 as the default output format. ViWizard offers various input and output formats, so you can customize the settings according to your preferences. You can adjust the codec, channel, sample rate, and bit rate of the songs under the output format.
- After selecting all the desired options, save the changes by clicking "OK."
- Once you've imported the tracks and configured the settings, you can start removing the DRM and converting your Apple Music songs by clicking the "Convert" button.
- After the conversion process is complete, click the "Converted" button to locate the DRM-free Apple Music tracks in the output folder.
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Re-Downloading Purchased Content
If you're okay with investing in DRM-free content, buying from iTunes and re-downloading is a solid choice. It lets you access your purchased content without DRM, making it more versatile across devices. Simply navigate to your purchase history in iTunes, select the eligible content, and download it in DRM-free formats like AAC for music. However, keep in mind that while AAC is DRM-free, it may not be as universally compatible as MP3, which is offered by ViWizard Apple Music Converter. This method is perfect if you primarily use Apple Music devices like iPhone, iPad, or iPod. But for broader accessibility across any device and media player, we still recommend using ViWizard Apple Music Converter for DRM removal.
How to Buy and Download Music on iTunesCan you still buy music on iTunes? Yes, you can purchase music from iTunes even without subscription to Apple Music. However, you still can't play music you've paid for without Apple services, but here's a solution to download and play iTunes music everywhere without restriction.
- Open iTunes on your computer.
- Sign in with your Apple ID if you're not already signed in.
- Click on your name or the "Account" tab in the top menu.
- Select "Purchased" from the dropdown menu.
- Choose "Music," "Movies," "TV Shows," or "Books" depending on the type of content you want to re-download.
- Find the item you want to re-download and click on it.
- Look for the "Download" button or the cloud icon with a downward arrow next to the item.
- Click the "Download" button or the cloud icon to re-download the item to your computer.
- Repeat steps 6-8 for each item you want to re-download.
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Using iTunes Match Subscription
iTunes Match is a handy way to upgrade your iTunes library by swapping DRM-protected tracks for DRM-free versions. While it won't remove DRM from previously purchased tracks, it's still an easy method to enhance your collection. iTunes Match scans your music library and replaces DRM-protected tracks with high-quality, DRM-free versions from the iTunes Store, ensuring better audio quality and compatibility across all your devices. However, for those who are familiar with Apple Music and don't want to change their plan, ViWizard Apple Music Converter is best for complete DRM removal.
iTunes Match VS. Apple Music: Differences You Need To KnowHead to head comparison between iTunes Match and Apple Music, including differences and similarities to help you sort out which service suits you better.
- Open iTunes on your computer.
- Click "Store" (Windows) or "Account" (Mac) in the top menu.
- Select "iTunes Match" at the bottom of the menu.
- Fill in your billing information and click the "Subscribe" button.
- Click "View" in the iTunes menu.
- Select "Show View Options."
- Under the "File" section, choose "Kind."
- Close the window, and you'll see a new column labeled "Kind."
- Look for songs with the "Apple Music AAC audio file" or similar listed in the "Kind" column, indicating DRM protection.
- Click the "File" menu in iTunes.
- Select "Library" and then choose "Update iCloud Music Library."
- iTunes will start the process of matching and upgrading your songs.
- Navigate to the "Music" section in iTunes.
- Select "Library" to access your music library.
- Find the songs with the "Cloud" icon and click it to download the upgraded, DRM-free versions.
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Using ViWizard M4V Converter (for iTunes Videos)
For both purchased and rented iTunes movies or TV shows, ViWizard DRM M4V Converter provides a solution to update your library by removing DRM from iTunes media. It converts them to popular formats like MP4. Additionally, crucial elements such as 5.1 surround audio, subtitles, audio description (AD), and more are preserved in the DRM-free files.
Key Features of ViWizard M4V Converter
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- Remove DRM protection from iTunes movies, TV episodes, and music videos.
- Convert iTunes movies from M4V to universally compatible MP4 format.
- Support for other common video formats for seamless playback on any device.
- Enjoy purchased or rented iTunes videos offline without an internet connection.
- After downloading the ViWizard software, install it on your computer.
- Open the ViWizard software on your computer.
- Click on the "Library" button within the ViWizard interface to access your iTunes library.
- Browse through your iTunes M4V videos and select the ones you want to remove DRM from.
- Select the desired output format for the converted files. ViWizard offers various options such as MP4, AVI, MOV, and more.
- Customize settings such as video codec, resolution, bitrate, etc., according to your preferences. You can adjust these settings to optimize the output quality.
- Once you've adjusted the settings to your liking, click on the "Convert" button to start the DRM removal and conversion process.
- After the conversion process is complete, navigate to the output folder specified during setup to locate your DRM-free iTunes movies.
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Using Requiem
Another tool you can utilize is Requiem, a specialized tool designed specifically for removing DRM protection from iTunes music and videos. It allows you to play your iTunes content on devices that are not officially authorized by Apple Inc.
While Requiem is powerful in removing DRM, it's important to note that it has certain limitations. These include compatibility issues with newer operating systems and iTunes versions. Please note that Requiem is best suited for users with older iTunes versions and specific operating systems. Its availability and functionality may vary over time, and users should exercise caution and research legal implications when using DRM removal tools.
- Ensure you have iTunes 10.7 installed on your computer. If you have a newer version, uninstall it to avoid conflicts.
- Obtain Requiem 4.1 from a trusted source. Note that Requiem may no longer be actively maintained, so exercise caution when downloading.
- Navigate to your iTunes library directory on your computer. For Windows users, the directory may be "c:/Users/username/Music/iTunes."
- Rename the folder containing your iTunes library to ensure Requiem works correctly.
- Open iTunes 10.7 and download the iTunes content you want to remove DRM from. Use this specific version of iTunes for compatibility.
- Deauthorize your computer and then re-authorize it in iTunes to ensure the DRM-protected files will work correctly.
- Close iTunes to proceed with Requiem.
- Open Requiem 4.1. It will automatically identify DRM-protected iTunes files in your library and proceed to remove the DRM from them.
Part 3. Rip DRM-Free Music from CD in iTunes
If you want to add DRM-free music to your iTunes library, you can rip songs directly from CDs.
- Insert the CD into your computer's CD drive.
- Open iTunes if it doesn't launch automatically.
- iTunes should recognize the CD and display it in the sidebar under "Devices" or "CDs."
- Click on the CD icon to select it.
- iTunes will automatically retrieve track information and display it. Make sure the information is correct.
- Choose your import settings by going to the iTunes menu (on Mac) or Edit menu (on Windows) > Preferences > General > Import Settings.
- Select your preferred audio format (such as MP3 or AAC) and audio quality.
- Click "OK" to save your settings.
- To rip individual tracks, check the boxes next to the songs you want to import. To rip the entire CD, click "Import CD" at the top right corner of the iTunes window.
Wait for iTunes to finish importing the songs. Once done, the songs will appear in your iTunes library as DRM-free files.
Conclusion
In this guide, we've explored the world of iTunes music and how to liberate it from Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions, like using ViWizard Apple Music Converter that works with your entire iTunes library. Also, you can try downloading DRM-free music from iTunes with if you're using iTunes Match. Or you can consider using other tools like ViWizard Audio Capture or a professional Requiem to get DRM-free music from iTunes.
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