How to Add Apple Music to Plex Media Server

By James Blair Updated on 2023-01-24 / Update for Apple Music Tips

Plex Media Server is a wonderful application designed to make it easy for you to manage your large media library on the go. It supports adding and playing all your media files on a wide range of devices such as your iPhone, Android device, Xbox one, Roku and PS4 among many others.

So can Plex Media Server work with Apple Music, the most favorite music streaming service for Apple fans? This gives you a lot of options when you want to play your Apple Music on any other device that don't support the Apple Music app. Although it could be a little difficult to add Apple Music to Plex, there is an effective way to do this. In this article, we want to help you get Apple Music on Plex. Let's get started.

apple music plex

Part 1. Apple Music Plex: How Plex Media Server Works to Replace iTunes

Plex Media Server is well-designed to help you access any media file on as many devices and web browsers. As a highly advanced media player, you can use Plex to access, organize and store your media files in one place.

When it comes to controlling Apple Music playback, iTunes is probably the first thing you think of. But Apple is killing iTunes on Mac and building three new apps to manage different audio files. So, as one of the best competitors to iTunes, Plex nowadays could be the best iTunes alternative. Especially when Apple Music and Plex integration is available. You can explore Apple Music on many portable and popular devices via Plex Media Server.

Part 2. How to Stream Apple Music through Plex - Tool Required

If you are an Apple Music subscriber, you will know that downloaded Apple Music are encoded in protected M4P format, which can't be recognized by third-party apps, including Plex Media Server. Because Plex-supported media formats are following: AAC and MP3.

In this case, the best way to add Apple Music to Plex is to break protection and do format conversion. To do this, we can meet AudFree Audio Converter. This is a powerful music converter designed to convert your Apple Music tracks to a common format supported by Plex for easy adding Apple Music to Plex. And it will retain the high audio quality of Apple Music songs you download. Most importantly, with the help of this tool, you can keep and play Apple Music via Plex on many devices even after you no longer use the platform.

AudFree Apple Music Converter

audfree apple music converter
  • Convert Apple Music to different types of audio files including MP3, FLAC, ACC, among many others
  • Convert not only Apple Music but also iTunes audiobooks, Audible files at 30X speed
  • Retains the lossless quality of Apple Music files and support batch conversion
  • Customize the audio format and related parameters of Apple Music

The AudFree Audio Converter is easy to use to download and convert your Apple Music songs for Plex Media Server. Please connect Apple Music with Plex, please follow these steps:

Step 1Register AudFree Audio Converter
launch and register audfree auditior
Simply download the AudFree Audio Converter program on your computer and then install it. Once installed, launch the program. Now navigate the user interface and click to open the "Menu Bar" and then select "Register". Once this is done, key in the user license and complete the process.
Step 2Import Apple Music files you want to add to Plex
put apple music files into audfree software
Now simply go to your hard drive and find all your Apple Music songs you will want to convert and use on Plex and drag and drop them on the tool's conversion window. The tool supports batch conversion which means that you add many Apple Music songs at a go. Alternatively, you can click the first '+' button to load Apple Music library and select songs to convert.
Step 3Select Apple Music output settings for Plex
set apple music output format for plex
To play music from Plex on Apple Music, you need to convert Apple Music to MP3 or AAC format. To do this simply, click the "audio" icon on the Apple Music converter and then select the output format of Apple Music as MP3. You can also edit other features such as the sample rate and the codec if you wish to here. Once done, click "OK" to apply them once for all.
Step 4Convert Apple Music to Plex-compatible files
convert apple music for plex
To get Apple Music songs in the format you want, simply click "Convert" button and AudFree Audio Converter will begin converting Apple Music to target audio files you set before. Once done, go to the converted file by clicking the 'Converted' button and access your songs for playing on Plex.

Part 3. How to Add Apple Music to Plex Media Server

Now that all your Apple Music songs are compatible with Plex. So how do you then get Apple Music on Plex Media Server? That's easy, simply follow these steps:

Step 1: Download and Install Plex Media Server on Your Computer

You cannot play anything on Plex Media Server until you have the program installed on your computer. Head to the Official Plex page and download the software to your computer. Once downloaded install it. The program will be launched automatically. Make sure that you sign up for an account and then sign into your account.

sign in your plex account

Step 2: Add Apple Music to Plex Media Server

Navigate Plex's user interface and open "Add Library" then select "Music" then hit the "Next" icon followed by "Browse for media folder". Now find your converted Apple Music library and add them to the Plex library.

add apple music to plex

Step 3: Organize and Play Apple Music on Plex

You have connected Apple Music with Plex, you can now do with them what you want. You can play Apple Music songs easily, or stream Apple Music via Plex on any device by going to the device, signing into your Plex account on the device and accessing all the recently added songs.

stream apple music through plex

Part 4. FAQs about Apple Music on Plex

Q1. Can Plex play Apple Music?

Apple Music only allows its content to be streamed on supported devices. This makes it hard to get Apple Music on Plex directly. However, using tools such as AudFree Audio Converter you can download and convert Apple Music to a Plex-supported format and then play them on the platform.


Q2. How to use Apple Music with Plex?

After you have added Apple Music to Plex Media Server, you can access, stream, or organize Apple Music via Plex like using common audio files.

Q3. Does iTunes work with Plex?

Plex Media Server does not support the M4V files and M4P files which are used by iTunes. This is what makes it impossible to directly link iTunes with Plex.

Q4. How to add iTunes music to Plex?

If you have purchased music on iTunes, then it's easy to add iTunes music to Plex via the steps we mentioned above. iTunes music purchases are encoded in unprotected MP3 format that is supported by Plex directly.

Part 5. In Conclusion

Plex is an awesome media player for organizing and playing songs from a wide range of sources. From this article, you can also get the way to add Apple Music to Plex Media Server for managing music connection in one place without limits. What's more, if some audio files that are not compatible with Plex, you can also use AudFree Audio Converter to convert audio format with ease. With the assistance of this audio converter, you can control any music file via Plex.

James Blair

James Blair

Staff Editor

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James Blair is an experienced writer and music lover. Reviews and tips on using popular music, like Apple Music, can be found in his articles.
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AudFree Auditior

30X convert Apple Music, iTunes podcasts, audiobooks and Audible books. to MP3, etc.