Apple Music allows active subscribers to download millions of tracks for offline listening. However, when you check the properties of these downloaded tracks, you will notice they come with an .m4p file extension. This specific format is encrypted with Apple's FairPlay Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection, restricting playback strictly to Apple-authorized devices and music apps.
If you want to play your Apple Music collection on MP3 players, Android devices, car audio systems, or home sound systems, converting Apple Music M4P to a standard, non-DRM format is essential. Among all target formats, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is one of the top choices because it maintains superior sound quality at small file sizes.
In this guide, we will walk you through how to convert Apple Music M4P to AAC step-by-step using reliable tools. Follow along with these reliable methods to get started.
Part 1. Can You Convert Apple Music M4P to AAC?
Yes, but not with an ordinary file converter if the M4P content is protected Apple Music audio.
To understand why, it helps to break down what M4P and AAC actually are:
- AAC (Advanced Audio Coding): AAC is a popular audio coding standard for lossy digital audio compression. It offers better sound quality than MP3 at similar bitrates and is widely supported by modern audio devices, smart TVs, and media software.
- M4P: M4P is Apple's proprietary extension for audio files encoded in AAC format with FairPlay DRM protection.
When we talk about converting Apple Music M4P to unprotected AAC, the best and standard container for AAC audio is M4A. In fact, iTunes non-DRM music is encoded in AAC with a .m4a extension.
See also: How to Convert Apple Music M4P to M4A
Because M4P files are locked by encryption, standard online converters or traditional media software (like iTunes or Windows Media Player) cannot read or convert raw Apple Music streams directly into standalone .aac files.
If you own unprotected iTunes tracks, you will need a reliable converter to create standard, local AAC copies. For non-DRM files, conventional online converters usually get the job done.
Part 2. How to Convert Apple Music M4P to DRM-Free AAC
For users who specifically need AAC output, AudFree Audio Capture is a practical option. Instead of treating Apple Music M4P as an ordinary file that can simply be reformatted, it captures the audio played through supported streaming services and saves it as a local audio file.
This approach is useful when AAC is the format you need for a particular device, media player, editing application, or personal audio workflow.
Why Use AudFree Audio Capture?
AudFree Audio Capture is designed as a flexible local-audio tool for streaming services. It can capture Apple Music playback and export the audio to common formats, including AAC, MP3, FLAC, and more, while allowing you to customize available audio settings. It also supports batch processing and can retain available track information, making it more convenient than manually processing songs one by one.
How to Convert Apple Music M4P to Unprotected AAC via AudFree Audio Capture
- Step 1. Add Apple Music App or Apple Music Web Player as the Audio Source
- Install and launch AudFree Audio Capture on your Windows or Mac computer. From the main interface, select the supported Apple Music web player or audio source you want to use. Sign in to your Apple Music account if required and prepare the songs or playlists you want to process.
- Step 2. Set AAC as the Output Format
- Open the program's output or recording settings at the bottom-left and select AAC as the target format. You can also adjust available parameters such as bit rate, sample rate, and other audio settings according to your needs.
- Step 3. Play Apple Music and Start Capturing
- Open the Apple Music track, album, or playlist you want to capture and start the process in AudFree Audio Capture. The program processes the audio playback and saves it according to your selected output settings.
When recording via the Chrome web player, AudFree may ask you to restart your browser if it's already open. Simply follow the on-screen prompts to continue.
When the process is finished, open the output folder to locate the generated AAC files. You can then organize the files in your preferred local music library or transfer them to compatible devices and applications. This gives you a standard local AAC-based workflow instead of relying exclusively on Apple Music's in-app offline playback.
Make sure you only use locally created audio files in ways permitted by the applicable service terms and copyright laws. This method is intended for personal audio workflows and compatibility purposes.
Bonus Tip: A Dedicated Apple Music Converter for Faster Batch Processing
While AudFree Audio Capture excels at recording direct .aac files when you specifically need standalone AAC files, users with large Apple Music libraries or extensive playlists may prefer a dedicated Apple Music converter for faster batch processing. AudFree Apple Music Converter is built specifically for batch DRM removal from Apple Music at up to 17X speed.
Although it doesn't currently offer standalone AAC as an output format, its M4A option can be useful when you want an AAC-based MPEG-4 audio file in the common .m4a format.
AudFree Apple Music Converter
- Losslessly convert Apple Music to MP3, M4A, FLAC, etc.
- Support MP3, M4A, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, and more
- Batch-process Apple Music tracks and playlists
- Customize output audio parameters, and preserve available ID3 tags as well as artwork
See also: How to Listen to Apple Music Offline
In short, choose AudFree Audio Capture if standalone AAC is the format you specifically need. If you have a large Apple Music library and prioritize faster batch processing, AudFree Apple Music Converter may be the more efficient option.
Part 3. How to Convert Regular M4P to AAC Online
If you have older, non-DRM M4P files (such as non-encrypted personal audio files or legacy iTunes purchases) and prefer not to install desktop software, you can use a free online converter like FreeConvert.
Online file converters usually cannot decrypt FairPlay DRM. If your M4P files were downloaded directly from an active Apple Music streaming subscription, online tools will return an error or fail to convert the file. This method is strictly for DRM-free M4P files. In that situation, the Apple Music capture approach in Part 2 is more relevant.
See also: How to Remove DRM from Apple Music
Step 1. Open the web browser on your mobile or desktop device.
Step 2. Enter FreeConvert official website and click on 'Audio Converter' from the Tools menu at the top.
Step 3. Scroll down the webpage and choose 'AAC Converter'.
Step 4. Then find and click on 'M4P to AAC' to enter the M4P to AAC Converter webpage.
Step 5. Tap the 'Choose Files' button on the screen to import your M4P files for converting. You can pick up files from your local device, or cloud services.
Step 6. After loading files, go to adjust output audio codec, volume, and else.
Step 7. Later, click on the 'Convert' button to start converting M4P to AAC.
Step 8. Once converted, hit on the 'Download AAC' button to keep the files on your device for use.
Part 4. FAQs About Apple Music M4P to AAC
Why don't some Apple Music converters offer a direct .aac file extension?
Raw .aac files lack structured container support for metadata. As a result, standalone .aac tracks often lose track numbers, album artwork, and artist information when transferred between devices. Containers like .m4a keep the underlying AAC audio quality fully intact while ensuring media players display song details correctly.
Can I convert Apple Music M4P to AAC using iTunes or Apple Music App?
No. The built-in converter feature in iTunes or Apple Music only works on non-protected files (such as imported MP3s or unencrypted AAC tracks). It will not convert DRM-encrypted M4P streaming downloads.
Will converting M4P to AAC reduce sound quality?
If you use AudFree Audio Capture or AudFree Apple Music Converter, quality loss is virtually unnoticeable. Both programs capture or extract original audio parameters (such as sample rate and bit rate) to match the original 256kbps AAC quality offered by Apple Music. However, if the source is Apple Music Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless (ALAC), converting it to AAC will result in some quality loss because AAC is a lossy format.
Can I play converted Apple Music AAC audio on Android and car stereos?
Yes! Unlike M4P, DRM-free AAC (.aac) and M4A (.m4a) files are natively supported across Android devices, Windows Media Player, VLC, smart TVs, and modern car audio systems via USB drives.
Conclusion
Converting Apple Music M4P to AAC is possible, but the approach depends on whether the file is protected by FairPlay DRM. For DRM-protected Apple Music tracks, AudFree Audio Capture provides a practical way to create standalone AAC files with customizable audio settings, while AudFree Apple Music Converter is better suited to large libraries and faster batch processing, with M4A available as an AAC-based alternative.
For older DRM-free M4P files, an online converter can be a simpler option. Choose the method that best fits your file type, output format, and listening needs.
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