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You can download Apple Music songs, albums, and playlists to a Mac or Windows PC for offline listening. These subscription downloads play through Apple Music; they are not portable MP3 files and do not become permanent purchases.
Before you download
You need an Apple Music subscription, the Apple Account associated with it, an internet connection for the initial download, and enough free disk space. Apple’s current instructions use the same basic sequence on Mac and PC: add music to your library, then download it. Apple’s instructions for adding and downloading music cover both computers.
- Mac: Use the built-in Music app.
- Windows: Use the Apple Music app for Windows, available through the Microsoft Store. Apple recommends iTunes for Windows as a fallback for PCs that do not meet the newer apps’ requirements or for users who need the older workflow. Apple’s Windows app guidance explains the options.
Download Apple Music on a Mac
- Open the Music app and sign in with the Apple Account that has the Apple Music subscription.
- Find the song, album, or playlist you want.
- Add it to your library. For a song, move the pointer over it and click Add. For an album or playlist, click Add at the top.
- Click the Download button for the song, or the Download button at the top of an album or playlist. The item is then stored for offline playback in Music.
Download Apple Music on Windows
- Install and open the Apple Music app for Windows, then sign in with your Apple Account.
- Find the song, album, or playlist.
- Add it to your library: hover over a song and choose Add, or click Add at the top of an album or playlist.
- Choose the song’s Download button, or the Download button at the top of the album or playlist.
If your PC cannot run Apple’s dedicated apps, use iTunes for Windows where supported. It is a fallback, not the primary Windows route for Apple Music downloads.
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One song
In Apple Music, find the track and add it to your library if it is not already there. Hover over the track and click Download. If it is already in the library, skip Add and choose Download.
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An album
Open the album, click Add at the top if needed, then click Download at the top.
A playlist
Open the playlist, add it to your library if necessary, and click Download at the top. The downloaded playlist reflects its contents at the time you download it; later playlist edits can change what appears in the playlist.
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Button appearance can vary with app updates, but the essential order is to add the item to the library and then download it. Apple’s step-by-step guide shows the current workflow.
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Apple Music stores subscription downloads locally so the app can play them without an internet connection. Apple does not present these as ordinary user-owned MP3 files. Its Mac and Windows guides say Apple Music downloads cannot be manually transferred to another device or burned to a disc; download the content directly through Apple Music on each device instead. Mac guide · Windows guide
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For that reason, a folder path to an app-managed cache is not a supported way to obtain a portable music file. Do not expect an Apple Music download to appear as a usable MP3 in Finder or File Explorer.
What happens if you cancel Apple Music?
Downloading a catalog track gives you offline access while you remain entitled to the Apple Music service; it does not turn the track into a permanent purchase. Apple’s service terms say downloads may be limited or expire, some content may not be downloadable, and content can become unavailable if Apple loses the rights to provide it. Do not treat subscription downloads as an archive. Apple Media Services terms
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Download music you bought from the iTunes Store
Purchased songs are different from Apple Music catalog downloads. Apple says purchased digital media can be downloaded to a compatible Mac or Windows PC for continued offline access, subject to Apple Account and content-availability rules. Apple’s guidance on downloading purchased content
On a Mac
- Open Music and choose Account in the menu bar.
- Select Purchased, then choose Albums or Songs.
- Click the Download button beside an item, or choose Download All when available.
If the purchase is missing, check that Music is signed in to the Apple Account used to buy it. The computer may need authorization for that account. Apple’s Mac redownload instructions also cover hidden purchases.
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On Windows
- Open Apple Music and click your name at the bottom of the sidebar.
- Select Purchased.
- Choose the album or song and click its Download button.
The computer may need authorization with the Apple Account that made the purchase. If an item is absent, check the account and hidden purchases using Apple’s Windows redownload instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the Download button is missing or greyed out
Work through these checks in order:
- Add the item to your library. Apple’s normal catalog workflow requires this before downloading.
- Check the account. Make sure you are signed in with the Apple Account that has the subscription or purchase.
- Check whether it is already downloaded. The control may show a different status or offer a removal option instead.
- Confirm your subscription entitlement for Apple Music catalog content.
- Check the connection. An initial download requires internet access.
- Check available disk space and free storage if needed.
- Update and restart the app. Sign out and back in if the issue persists.
- For a purchase, authorize the computer with the Apple Account used to buy it.
- Check hidden purchases if purchased music does not appear.
- Consider availability. Music catalogs vary by country or region, and a track may have been removed or may not be downloadable.
Free up space without removing music from your library
Choose Remove Download when you want to clear local storage but keep the library entry. You can stream it again when connected to the internet. Choose Delete from Library only when you intend to remove the item from the library; that change can affect synchronized libraries on other devices. Apple distinguishes the two actions in its Remove Download and Delete from Library guidance.
Can you convert Apple Music downloads to MP3?
There is no Apple-supported way to convert Apple Music subscription downloads into portable MP3 files or remove their service protection. Apple’s built-in conversion tools apply to compatible music files already in your library; they are not a method for converting subscription downloads. Avoid treating third-party converter or stream-ripping tools as an official solution.
For compatible library files, Apple documents conversion on Mac via Music > Settings > Files > Import Settings, then select songs and choose File > Convert > Create [format] Version. In iTunes for Windows, use Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings, then select songs and choose File > Convert > Create [format] Version. Older purchased songs encoded as Protected AAC cannot be converted. Converting between compressed formats can reduce quality, and converting a compressed file to an uncompressed format does not restore detail already lost. Apple’s file-conversion instructions
Apple Music download or iTunes Store purchase?
| Option | What you get | After an Apple Music subscription ends | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Music catalog download | Offline playback inside Apple Music; not a portable MP3 | It is not a permanent purchase; access depends on service entitlement and availability | Listening offline to a broad catalog on a laptop |
| iTunes Store purchase | A purchased copy downloadable through your Apple Account | Intended as a permanent purchase, subject to Apple’s account and content-availability rules | Keeping particular albums or songs without relying on an Apple Music subscription |
| Your own music file | An imported or copied file in a supported format | Not dependent on an Apple Music subscription | Using music files you already own, subject to their format and rights |
Apple’s US Apple Music page advertises offline listening and Mac/Windows support, while its plan information can vary and should be checked directly for current regional terms. Apple Music
Quick Recap
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