How to Remove DRM from Apple Music in 6 Ways [Latest Guide]

Part 1. What Is Apple Music DRM and Why Do We Need to Remove It

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a technology used by Apple or other companies to limit your usage of the digital content, including music, movies, and TV shows, from unauthorized copying and distribution. By the way, FairPlay is Apple's proprietary DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology. The Apple Music tracks are encoded in a protected AAC format (specifically an M4P file), which contains FairPlay DRM protection.

Note: Apple Music songs purchased from iTunes after 2009 are DRM-free. Other Apple Music songs are DRM-protected.

Limitations of Apple Music DRM-protected Songs

1. Device Restriction: You can only play the downloaded Apple Music tracks on an Apple-authorized device logged into your Apple Music account.

2. Usage Limitations: You can't use Apple Music files in other programs like video editors, etc.

3. Subscription Lock: You will lose access to all the downloaded Apple Music songs in your library if you cancel your Apple Music subscription.

Why We Need to Remove Apple Music DRM

From the above, we know that DRM limits the number of devices on which a user can play Apple Music and restricts the ability to share or transfer files. Removing Apple Music DRM can bring several benefits, some of which are listed below:

📌 Free to play and use Apple Music on any device and platform.
📌 Listen to downloaded Apple Music offline without activating your subscription.
📌 Ability to share Apple Music songs with friends and family.
📌 Backup Apple Music files to any device or cloud storage service forever.

💡 Tips: How to Find Apple Music DRM-Protected Songs

Before using Apple Music DRM remover to remove DRM from Apple Music, you need to check if your songs are protected. Follow these few simple steps to find DRM-protected songs in your Apple Music library.

Step 1. Open the Apple Music or iTunes app on your device and navigate to the song you want to check.

Step 2. Tap on the "..." button next to the song title. Or tap View in the top menu bar, then choose Column Browser > Show Column Browser > Kinds.

Step 3. Select "Song Info" from the dropdown menu.

Step 4. Look for the "Kind" section in the Song Info window.

Step 5. If the file type is listed as "Protected AAC audio file", then the Apple song is DRM-protected.

Part 2. How to Remove DRM from Apple Music by AudFree Apple Music DRM Removal

Songs downloaded from Apple Music are encrypted by FairPlay DRM copyright technology. When you cancel your subscription, all music streams will automatically disappear from your music library. That is to say, you can't really have the downloaded Apple Music unless you remove DRM from Apple Music songs. To break this limitation, you need a professional Apple Music DRM removal tool - AudFree Apple Music Converter.

It is designed to get rid of DRM from Apple Music while converting music to MP3, AIFF, Lossless, WAV, FLAC, M4A, M4B and so on. As the fastest DRM remover, this smart tool works 17 times faster without touching the original audio files. All ID3 tags can be 100% saved in the converted DRM-free audio tracks. After that, you can play Apple Music freely on any device and player and keep Apple Music permanently without paying a subscription fee.

Best for: Users who want to remove Apple Music DRM from all music contents with the built-in Apple Music web player with fast speed, batch conversion and high quality, no need to download Apple Music songs in advance.

Now, let's follow the steps below to learn how to get rid of DRM protection on Apple Music via AudFree Apple Music Converter.

Step 1Import Apple Music M4P files to AudFree Audio Converter

When you install and launch AudFree Apple Music Converter from your computer desktop (Windows 10, Windows 11, or Mac computer), you will see its main screen. Then, choose favorite Apple Music songs from the built-in Apple Music web player. Next, tap the 'add music' > 'Add to list' option to import Apple Music files to AudFree.

Note: No need to downloaded Apple Music on your computer in advance.

Step 2Customize output format and other parameters

Apple Music files are encoded in M4P format, which is not compatible with many popular devices. Please click the Menu icon > Preferences > Conversion option to define output format as MP3, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and more. And you can personalize the sample rate, bit rate and audio channel as you like in this window.

Step 3Remove DRM from Apple Music M4P to MP3

Once all settings are OK, please touch the 'Converting' > 'Convert' button at the bottom-right corner of the main interface to start to remove DRM from M4P to MP3 with ease. After the conversion, you can locate unprotected Apple Music on your computer's destination folder and transfer them to wanted devices for offline playback.

By the way, you can follow the video below to learn how to use this program to strip DRM from Apple Music.

Bonus Tips: Besides, you can remove Apple Music DRM protection via AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder. It is an all-in-one tool for streaming music files.

Part 3. How to Get Rid of DRM Protection on Apple Music via iTunes Match

Since Apple Music and iTunes music songs purchased before 2009 are DRM-protected, you can just use iTunes Match to unprotect Apple songs. iTunes Match is a service provided by Apple that allows you to store your music library in iCloud, making it accessible on all of your Apple devices. It works to encode up to 100,000 songs in DRM-free AAC format at 256kbps and then transfer them to the iCloud library. Then you are enabled to stream or download those tracks on all devices you have.

Best for: Users who want to remove DRM from Apple Music songs directly with an iTunes Match subscription

Note: Some old M4P songs can't be matched with the DRM-free version.

View also: Apple Music vs iTunes Match

Step 1. Sign up and subscribe for iTunes Match on your computer or iOS device.

[On Windows PC or macOS Mojave 10.14 and Older]

• Open iTunes and click on the middle Store button at the top of the window.
• Select 'iTunes Match' from the 'Features' section.
• Fill in your billing information and click the 'Subscribe' button.

[On macOS Catalina 10.15 to macOS Sequoia 15]

• On the Apple Music app, click on 'iTunes Store' in the sidebar.
• Under 'Features', select 'iTunes Match'.
• Then confirm billing information and select the 'Subscribe' button.

Step 2. After subscribing, wait for iTunes Match to scan your music library and match your songs with its database.

Step 3. Once your music library is matched, go to the iTunes library, find and delete the DRM-protected iTunes/Apple Music songs. Then you can click the iCloud Download icon to download DRM-free versions of your songs from iTunes Match.

Step 4. You can then cancel your subscription to Apple Music and keep the unprotected songs for playback anywhere.

Pros: It is official and easy to use

Cons:

1. Cost $24.99 per year;
2. Sometimes it can't match songs;
3. Only works for songs available in the iTunes Store

Part 4. How to Remove DRM from Apple Music Free via Audacity

The tools above need to pay for full features. If you're interested in a free Apple Music DRM removal to remove Apple Music DRM or iTunes music DRM, you can't go wrong with Audacity. It is a powerful audio recorder with additional features. It is specifically designed to capture and record sound playing on your computer, including streaming audio from Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, and more.

With this iTunes/Apple Music DRM removal free software, you can rip music tracks as unprotected MP3, FLAC, or other audio tracks, bypassing the annoying copyright restrictions to play Apple Music songs on any device. However, if you are a beginner, you may find the tutorial for this software a bit complicated. Here are the steps for this tool.

Best for: Users who want to use a recording way to get rid of DRM protection on Apple Music

Step 1. Install and launch Audacity on your computer.

Step 2. Click on 'Edit' from the top toolbar and pick 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu.

Step 3. On the new pop-up window, tap the 'Audio Settings' option from the left sidebar. Then select 'Windows WASAPI' from the 'Audio Host Box' section.

Step 4. From the left panel on the Preferences window, choose 'Recording' and uncheck the 'Software playthrough of input' option.

Step 5. Go to the home screen. Then tap on the top 'Record' button and then start playing the iTunes or Apple Music song you want to record. Click the 'Stop' button to end the recording process and save the DRM-free Apple Music track to your computer.

Pros: Free

Cons:

1. A little complex to use;
2. Recording is time-consuming

Part 5. How to Remove Apple Music DRM Free by iTunes/Apple Music App

Another method to remove DRM from Apple Music is burning Apple Music to CD via iTunes or Apple Music app. When you burn an Apple Music song to a CD, the DRM protection is removed in the process. This allows you to rip the CD back into your computer as an MP3 file, which can be played on any device that supports MP3 playback.

It's important to note that burning Apple Music songs to a CD and then ripping them back to your computer can result in a loss of audio quality. Additionally, this process can be time-consuming and may not be practical if you have a large music library.

Best for: Users who own several songs need to remove Apple Music DRM and burn Apple Music to CD for playback

Step 1. Open iTunes or Apple Music app on your computer and create a new playlist.

Step 2. Add the Apple Music tracks you want to make DRM free to the playlist.

Step 3. Insert a blank CD into your computer's CD drive.

Step 4. Click on the playlist you just created and select "File" > "Burn Playlist to Disk".

Step 5. In the pop-up window, select "Audio CD" as the disc format and click "Burn".

Step 6. Once the burning process is complete, eject the CD from your computer.

Step 7. Re-insert the CD into your computer's CD drive.

Step 8. Open iTunes and click on the "Import CD" button that appears in the top right corner.

Step 9. iTunes will begin importing the DRM-free Apple Music songs from the CD into your library.

Pros: Free

Cons:

1. The process is slow;
2. Requires a physical CD burner;
3. Output lossy audio quality due to double-compression process

Part 6. How to Get Rid of DRM Protection on Apple Music Free by GitHub Tool

If you are familiar with JavaScript, then you can try the Apple Music DRM removal GitHub tool to remove DRM from Apple Music. This tool is Manzana-Apple-Music-Downloader. It is an open-source Python program on GitHub, which can help strip Apple Music DRM and download Apple Music songs and albums.

Best for: Tech-savvy users who want to strip DRM from Apple Music via command line

Step 1. First, you need to install MP4Box, mp4decrypt (bento4) and ccextractor on your computer.

Step 2. Go to GitHub to find and download Manzana-Apple-Music-Downloader package on your computer.

Step 3. Next, install it using git command git clone https://github.com/dropcreations/Manzana-Apple-Music-Downloader.git. Or do that via Python. Please install Python first (Python v3.9 is better) via command pip install -r requirements.txt. NOTE: Try using python3 or pip3 if python or pip doesn't work for you.

Step 4. After that, run the program. You will be asked to put your Widevine device files into the device directory. Please copy your widevine device directory to it.

Step 5. Next, you need to get mediaUserToken from cookies and add it to your program.

Step 6. Now, you can use command to enter Apple Music link address to remove DRM from Apple Music and download Apple Music songs locally.

Pros: It is totally free

Cons:

1. Difficult to use for most users;
2. No customer support;
3. May be outdated once Apple updates its protection

Part 7. How to Remove DRM from Apple Music Free via Requiem 4.1

Requiem 4.1 is also a free Apple Music DRM removal software. It is designed to remove DRM protection from various types of media files, including music, movies, and eBooks. The program is open-source, and it is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. However, it hasn't been updated in a long time. To use it, you need to downgrade the iTunes app to an older version 10.7 or lower.

Best for: User who has an old computer and an older version of iTunes app to remove DRM from Apple Music and iTunes music

Step 1. Download and install Requiem 4.1 on your computer.

Step 2. Open iTunes and play the Apple Music songs you want to remove DRM from.

Step 3. Close iTunes and open Requiem 4.1.

Step 4. Requiem 4.1 will automatically detect the Apple Music songs you played in iTunes.

Step 5. Click on the "Remove DRM" button to start to remove DRM from Apple Music for free.

Pros: It was once a free and powerful tool

Cons:

1. It is outdated, not working with latest operating systems and Apple Music versions;
2. Difficult to find a safe download for the program

Part 8. Compare Ways to Remove Apple Music DRM

Here are 6 ways for you to use to remove DRM from Apple Music and iTunes music. But which one is better? Now, please check the comarison table below to learn more.

Features/Ways	Via AudFree Apple Music Converter	Via iTunes Match	Via Audacity	Via iTunes	Via GitHub Tool	Via Requiem
Compatible OS	Mac/Windows	Mac/Windows	Mac/Windows/Linux	Mac/Windows	Mac/Windows/Linux	Windows
Supported Output Format	MP3, AIFF, Lossless, WAV, FLAC, M4A, M4B	M4A (AAC)	MP3, FLAC, etc.	MP3, AAC, WAV	M4A (AAC)	M4A (AAC)
Apple Music App Required	❌	✔	✔	✔	❌	❌
Conversion Speed	13X	1X	1X	1X	1X	1X
Output Quality	Lossless/High	High (256kbps)	Lossy	Lossy	High	High
Batch Conversion	✔	❌	❌	❌	✔	❌
Keep ID3 Tags	✔	✔	✔	❌	✔	✔
Ease of Use	Very easy	Easy	Medium	Medium	Very difficult	Difficult
Success Rate	100%	Medium	High	High	Medium	Low
Price	$14.95/month	$24.99/year	Free	Free	Free	Free
Ratings	⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️	⭐️⭐️⭐️	⭐️⭐️⭐️	⭐️⭐️⭐️	⭐️⭐️	⭐️⭐️

Part 9. FAQs about Apple Music DRM

Q1: Is It Legal to Remove DRM from Apple Music?

A: The legality of getting rid of DRM on Apple Music is controversial. Generally, it is legal to take DRM off Apple Music for personal backup and use. But it is absolutely illegal to do it for commercial purposes.

Q2: How to Choose an Apple Music DRM Removal Software?

A: There are some criteria for it, including output sound quality, conversion speed, ease of use, ID3 tags preservation, stability, supported OS, consistent updates, price plans, and so on.

Q3: Is There a Free Apple Music DRM Removal?

A: Yes. You can use iTunes or Apple Music app to burn a playlist to CD to remove DRM protection for free. Or, you can use tools like Audacity, Manzana-Apple-Music-Downloader on GitHub, etc.

Q4: How Can I Get Rid of DRM Protection on iTunes Purchases?

A: If you had purchased songs from the iTunes Store after 2009, they are DRM-free files. But before that time, the iTunes purchases are DRM-protected. So, you need to use iTunes Match or a converter tool like AudFree Apple Music Converter to get DRM-free version's songs.

Q5: What Is the Best Apple Music DRM Removal Software?

A: The best one should be tools like AudFree Apple Music Converter due to its reliability, speed, high-quality output and more powerful features.

Q6: Will Apple Ban My Account for Removing DRM?

A: Not likely. Removing DRM from Apple Music with reputable converters is safe. They won't hack your account. They just record the music stream in a way that Apple can't detect.

Q7: How Can I Remove DRM from Apple Music on iPhone?

A: You can use Telegram Bot or else on your iOS devices to make it.

Part 10. In Conclusion

There are several methods to remove Apple Music DRM. Each method has its own pros and cons. But among all these tools, AudFree Apple Music Converter is the best Apple Music DRM removal tool. It is professional and is available for backing up Apple Music as local audio files forever. While Requiem 4.1 is a free DRM remover, but it may not work with the latest version of iTunes. iTunes Match, Audacity and iTunes are also viable options, but they may require additional steps. GitHub tool is not user-friendly for most users.

Just take action and choose the most suitable method to enjoy DRM-free Apple Music. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.