Convert a song to a different file format with the Apple Music app or iTunes for Windows

Learn how to convert a song to a different file format and keep a copy of the original.

You can use the Apple Music app on Mac or iTunes for Windows to convert song files between compressed and uncompressed formats. For example, you might want to import some uncompressed files into your music library as compressed files to save disk space. Examples of compressed formats are MP3 and Apple Lossless Encoder. Examples of uncompressed formats are AIFF or WAV.

You shouldn't notice reduced sound quality when you:

  • Convert between uncompressed formats
  • Go from a compressed to an uncompressed format

You might notice reduced sound quality when you:

  • Convert between compressed formats
  • Go from an uncompressed to a compressed format

Learn more about audio compression.

For best results, if you want your music in a different format, import again from the original source using the new encoding format.

You can convert the format of songs that are in your music library, in a folder, or on a disk.

Convert songs in your music library

Follow the steps below for your device.

On your Mac

  1. Open the Apple Music app.
  2. In the menu bar, choose Music > Preferences.
  3. Click the Files tab, then click Import Settings.
  4. Click the menu next to Import Using, then choose the encoding format that you want to convert the song to.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Select the songs in your library that you want to convert.
  7. Choose File > Convert, then Create [format] Version.

New song files appear in your library next to the original files.

On your PC

  1. Open iTunes for Windows.
  2. In the menu bar, choose Edit > Preferences.
  3. Click the General tab, then click Import Settings.
  4. Click the menu next to Import Using, then choose the encoding format that you want to convert the song to.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Select the songs in your library that you want to convert.
  7. Choose File > Convert, then Create [format] Version.

New song files appear in your library next to the original files.

Convert songs from files in a folder or on a disk

You can import songs into the Apple Music app or iTunes for Windows and convert them at the same time. This creates a converted copy of the file in your music library, based on your preferences in the Apple Music app or iTunes for Windows.

To convert all of the songs in a folder or on a disk, follow the steps below for your device.

Older purchased songs are encoded in a Protected AAC format that prevents them from being converted.

On your Mac

  1. Open the Apple Music app.
  2. In the menu bar, choose Music > Preferences.
  3. Click the Files tab, then click Import Settings.
  4. Click the menu next to Import Using, then choose the encoding format that you want to convert the songs to.
  5. Click OK.
  6. On your keyboard, hold down the Option key and choose File > Convert > Convert to [import preference].
  7. Select the folder or disk that contains songs that you want to import and convert.

The songs in their original format and the converted songs appear in your library.

On your PC

  1. Open iTunes for Windows.
  2. In the menu bar, choose Edit > Preferences.
  3. Click the General tab, then click Import Settings.
  4. Click the menu next to Import Using, then choose the encoding format that you want to convert the songs to.
  5. Click OK.
  6. On your keyboard, hold down the Shift key and choose File > Convert > Convert to [import preference].
  7. Select the folder or disk that contains songs that you want to import and convert.

The songs in their original format and the converted songs appear in your library.

Learn more

When you convert a file with the Apple Music app or iTunes for Windows, the original file remains unchanged in the same location. The Apple Music app and iTunes for Windows creates the converted file from a copy of the original.

About compression

When you convert a song to certain compressed formats, some data might be lost. These compressed formats give you a much smaller file size, which lets you store more songs. But, the sound quality might not be as good as the original, uncompressed format.

You might not hear a difference between a compressed and uncompressed song. This can depend on the song, your speakers or headphones, or your music device.

If you compress a song and it loses data, you can't uncompress it to retrieve the data. If you convert a song from a compressed to an uncompressed format, its quality doesn't improve. The file only takes up more disk space. An example is when you convert a song in MP3 format (a compressed format) to AIFF (an uncompressed format). The song takes up much more space on your hard disk, but sounds the same as the compressed file. To take advantage of uncompressed formats, you should import songs in these formats.

About copyright

You can use the Apple Music app and iTunes for Windows to reproduce materials. It is licensed to you only for reproduction of:

  • Non-copyrighted materials
  • Materials for which you own the copyright
  • Materials you are authorized or legally permitted to reproduce

If you are uncertain about your right to copy any material, you should contact your legal advisor. For more information, see the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions.

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