What is Apple Music DRM - Remove DRM from Apple Music


Apple Music uses DRM to restrict where and how the music streaming service can be used. You can only play and download songs on devices that support iTunes or the Music app. When you download songs from Apple Music, you can only play them on that device.

Apple Music does not intend for you to keep these tracks after you stop subscribing, nor does it intend to share them with others who are not subscribed. Therefore, the player checks DRM to make sure you have the right to listen to downloaded songs according to the license agreement.

If you try to play the track on a different device or after your subscription has expired, your file will not pass the DRM test and will not play, usually displaying an error message. To remove these limitations and play Apple Music songs anywhere you want, you need to remove Apple Music DRM.


Part 1 What Is Apple Music FairPlay DRM Protection

FairPlay is a digital rights management (DRM) technology developed by Apple Inc. It was used until April 2009 by the company to protect copyrighted works sold through iTunes Store, allowing only authorized devices to play the content. In 2015, Apple launched the music streaming service - Apple Music, also with DRM protection to all songs in the catalog.

FairPlay DRM limitations:

  • Limited portable hardware compatibility : If you download songs and albums Apple Music catalog, you will find that most (if not all) non-Apple devices won't be able to play them.
  • Restricted number of computers : Unlike DRM-free songs that can be played on an unlimited number of computers, DRM protected M4P songs can only be played on up to five authorized computers.

    Apple Music Converter

  • iTunes/Music is the only media player : FairPlay DRM protected songs can only be played with iTunes/Music app.

    Apple Music Converter

  • Subscription required : Because of the DRM, the downloaded Apple Music tracks or playlists will become inaccessible once the subscription is over.
  • Playlist burn limit :If you add any DRM-protected songs to an iTunes playlist, a limit is imposed on the number of times you can burn it to CD; the limit is currently seven. This restriction can be inconvenient if you've worked on a playlist for some time only to get a message saying the CD couldn't be burned to as many discs as you wanted. However, you can get around this problem by either modifying the playlist or creating a new one.

Part 2 Is It Legal to Remove DRM from Apple Music?

It depends on the purpose. If someone removed DRM from Apple Music for some commercial purposes, them this move is absolutely illegal. If someone subscribed to the service, he can convert the songs into other formats for personal usage. In this way, it is legal.

Part 3 Best Apple Music DRM Removal Software

As the top-rated Apple Music DRM removal solution, Pazu Apple Music Converter is dedicated to help Apple Music users easily and completely remove DRM restrictions from songs/playlists/albums downloaded from Apple Music catalog while converting encrypted audio from M4P format to M4A, MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV and AIFF.

With this DRM removal tool, you are able to freely transfer your Apple Music tracks to any device and player and keep access to those songs even after you cancel Apple Music subscription.

Apple Music Converter

Pazu Apple Music Converter

  • Download Apple Music to MP3, M4A, etc.
  • Preserve 100% original quality.
  • Keep all ID3 tags.
  • Fast download speed.

Part 4 How to Remove DRM from Apple Music

Step 1 Sign in Your Apple ID

Run Pazu Apple Music Converter, click the Sign In button on the top right corner of the program.

Apple Music Converter

Enter your Apple ID to sign in, then the converter will access your Apple Music library automatically.

sign in Apple Music account

Step 2 Customize the Output Settings

Click icon on the top right corner. The settings window will pop up. You can set the output format as MP3 or AAC, and change the audio quality, the output name, the output folder.

Apple Music song format

What’s more, you can also organize the output files by Artist, Album, Artist/Album, or Album/Artist.

file name format

Step 3 Select Tracks to Convert

Click the playlist/artist/album, and click the red Add button on the right side of the program. From the pop-up converting window, select the songs that you want to convert.

open a playlist

add songs

Step 4 Download Apple Music to MP3

After choosing songs, click the Convert button to start downloading Apple Music songs in MP3 format.

open a playlist

Once the conversion is done, click , then you can find all downloaded songs.

convert Apple Music songs