This article shows you how to convert a digital audio file in M4P format (DRM protected format) to a regular MP3 file using iTunes and a computer. Files in M4P format cannot be shared or played except through the use of iTunes, while MP3 files can be transferred and played on any electronic device equipped with a multimedia player. If you have purchased songs in M4P format directly through the iTunes store, you can delete them and re-download the version in MP3 format, but only if you have subscribed to the iTunes Match service (paid service provided by Apple). Alternatively, you will still be able to convert the songs in question into MP3 format by importing them directly from a music CD that you have previously burned yourself.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Using iTunes Match
Step 1. Subscribe to the iTunes Match service
This is a paid service provided by Apple that allows you to store your music in digital format on iCloud and to re-download for free any song you have already purchased in the past. If the songs you have already purchased are in M4P format, downloading them again will get you the unprotected version in MP3 format. If you haven't signed up for iTunes Match yet, you can do it right now by following these simple instructions:
- Launch iTunes;
- Access the card Store of the program;
- Select the link iTunes Match displayed on the right side of the window;
- Press the blue button Subscribe;
- Provide your Apple ID login credentials;
- If prompted, enter information about the billing and payment method you have chosen to use. iTunes Match costs 24.99 € per year;
- As a last step, press the button Subscribe.
Step 2. Launch iTunes
It features a multicolored music note icon on a white background.
- If you have already used it to subscribe to the iTunes Match service, you can skip this step.
- You may be prompted to update iTunes. In this case, press the button Download iTunes, displayed in the window that appeared, then wait for the program to update. You may need to restart your computer before you can proceed.
Step 3. Make sure you are signed in to your Apple ID
Access the menu Account located in the upper left corner of the iTunes window (if you are using the Windows version) or on the screen (if you are using a Mac), then choose the option Sign in … from the drop-down menu and log in using your Apple ID login credentials (email address and password).
- If at the top of the menu Account your name is displayed, you can skip this step.
- If the name visible at the top of the menu Account is different than your Apple ID, choose the option Go out, then log in following the instructions described in the step.
Step 4. Locate the music you want to convert
This can be a single song, a set of songs, or an entire album.
Make sure they are all items you purchased from the Apple store. Protected audio files that have not previously been purchased through iTunes will not be able to be converted using this procedure
Step 5. Delete the current song or album
Select the file or album name to highlight it, then press the Delete key (on Windows systems) or access the menu File and choose the option Delete from library (on Mac). You may be prompted to confirm your action.
If your chosen songs are stored on your computer, you may have to choose to keep them or delete them by moving them to the system recycle bin. It is better to opt for deleting the files in question to avoid getting confused in the next steps
Step 6. Select the Store item (if you are using the Windows version of iTunes) or iTunes Store (on Mac).
It is one of the tabs displayed at the top of the iTunes window. This way you will have access to the program store.
If iTunes can't view the store contents, make sure your computer is connected to the internet
Step 7. Select the Purchases link
It is located on the right side of the program window.
Step 8. Select the Not in my library entry
It is one of the tabs displayed at the top of the program window. This will only show items already purchased that are not currently in the iTunes media library. This step should highlight all the songs deleted in the previous steps.
Step 9. Locate the song or album you just removed from your iTunes library
Step 10. Select the "Download" item characterized by the icon
It is a cloud-shaped icon placed next to the song or album in question. By selecting it, the unsecured version of the chosen item will be downloaded to your computer.
All the chosen songs will be downloaded in M4A format, which is one of the audio formats supported by iTunes. If you don't need to play the downloaded files outside of iTunes, you don't need to convert them to MP3 format either
Step 11. Convert the new unprotected files to MP3 format
To create the MP3 version of the song or album in question, you simply have to select it, access the menu File, choose the option Convert and select the item Create MP3 version from the appeared submenu. If the indicated option is not visible, perform this sequence of instructions first:
- Access the menu File (on Windows systems) or iTunes (on Mac);
- Choose the voice Preferences… from the drop-down menu appeared;
- Push the button Import settings placed inside the card General (if it is not visible, make sure you are inside the indicated form);
- Access the "Import using" drop-down menu;
- Choose the option MP3 encoder;
- Push the button OK on both open dialogs.
Step 12. Access the newly converted music
To open the window where the newly created MP3 files are stored, select a song or album, access the menu File and choose the voice Show in Explorer (on Windows systems) or Show in Finder (on Mac).
Performing this step for any of the songs you've converted will give you access to the folder where all the music you've downloaded with iTunes is stored
Method 2 of 2: Using a Burned CD
Step 1. Understand how the procedure described in this method works
If you need to convert protected songs without having to use iTunes Match, you can burn them to optical media and then import them back into your iTunes library in MP3 format from the newly created CD. However, it should be noted that this method does not always work and that burning and subsequent importing of the files into MP3 format will result in a loss in terms of sound quality.
Step 2. Make sure you are using a blank CD-RW
The abbreviation "RW" indicates that it is a rewritable optical media, which means that it can be formatted and reused multiple times. This is a great tool if you have a large number of songs to convert.
If you wish, you can also choose to use a CD-R, but in this case it can only be used once. This could be a problem if you plan to convert more songs than can be burned to a single CD
Step 3. Insert a blank CD-RW into your computer drive
The optical drive of the computer is characterized by the abbreviation "DVD". If your system does not come with a CD / DVD burner, you will need to purchase an external USB one before you can proceed any further.
- Remember that the CD-RW disc must be blank.
- External CD / DVD writers must be connected to the computer via a USB cable. If your system has USB-C ports (they have a rectangular shape with rounded sides) instead of the regular USB 3.0 ports, you will need to purchase a USB-C to USB 3.0 adapter (or a burner with a USB-C cable).
Step 4. Launch iTunes
It features a multicolored music note icon on a white background.
You may be prompted to update iTunes. In this case, press the button Download iTunes displayed in the window that appeared, then wait for the program to update. Before proceeding, you may need to restart your computer.
Step 5. Sort the list of songs in the library by type
Click the column header Guy of the list. If the latter is not visible, select with the right mouse button the header bar of the columns of the iTunes library, select the check button Guy and press the button OK.
Select the sort options bar with the right mouse button. It is located at the top of the iTunes library
Step 6. Locate the protected audio files
The digital format of these items is "M4P" and will be displayed within the column Guy of the table. All iTunes files in M4P format are DRM protected.
Step 7. Select up to 80 minutes of music
To perform a multiple selection of the songs to convert, hold down the Ctrl key (or ⌘ Command if you are using a Mac) while clicking each single item with the left mouse button. All the chosen songs will appear highlighted in blue.
While most CD-RWs can hold a maximum of 80 minutes of music, some discs can hold a few minutes longer, while others hold a few minutes shorter. So make sure that the total length of the chosen tracks does not exceed the maximum capacity of the CD
Step 8. Create a new playlist using the chosen files
Select one of the songs in question with the right mouse button, choose the option Add to playlist from the context menu that appeared, then click the item New playlist and complete the procedure by assigning a name to the new playlist just created.
If you wish, you can also use an existing playlist, simply by dragging the selected songs to the name of the playlist you want to add them to which you find in the left sidebar of iTunes
Step 9. Press the ⋯ button
It is located in the upper right of the playlist page. A drop-down menu will appear.
But first you may need to select the playlist name displayed in the left sidebar of iTunes in order to view its contents
Step 10. Choose the Burn Playlist to Disc option
It is one of the items in the menu that appeared. This will bring up a new dialog box.
Step 11. Create a disc of MP3 files
Select the "MP3 CD" checkbox, then press the button Burn located at the bottom of the window. All the songs in the playlist will be burned to CD in MP3 format.
Burning the disc can take up to a minute for each song you select, so be patient
Step 12. Import the songs contained in the CD in MP3 format
After burning the CD you should be able to access its content directly from the iTunes window, select all the files it contains and import them into your library in MP3 format. To do this, go to the menu File, choose the item Convert and select the option Create MP3 version.
When all the songs have been converted to MP3 format, you can proceed to delete the respective protected versions from the iTunes library
Step 13. Access the newly converted music
To open the window where the newly created MP3 files are stored, select a song or album, access the menu File and choose the voice Show in Explorer (on Windows systems) or Show in Finder (on Mac).
Performing this step for any of the songs you've converted will give you access to the folder where all the music you've downloaded with iTunes is stored
Step 14. Format the CD-RW before using it to burn other playlists
If you need to convert other songs, be sure to erase the disc before burning more music to it. You can format a single CD-RW up to 1,000 times before it becomes unusable.
Advice
- If you wish, you can rely on one of the many paid online conversion services, however they often turn out to be very expensive and unreliable. Many of the audio converters available on the web that pride themselves on eliminating DRM protection are actually malware or viruses, or simply don't work.
- MP3 files can be played without any problem on almost all electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, consoles, MP3 players, CD / DVD players, televisions, etc.) and are compatible with most video formats.
Warnings
- Do not use the converted songs to generate personal financial profit. This is an illegal activity in most countries due to copyright laws.
- Although hardly noticeable, the process of converting M4P to MP3 using a burned CD generates a slight loss in terms of sound quality.
- Most modern Macs and some portable Windows systems do not come with a CD / DVD player.
