How to Convert M4P to MP3 [6 Ways in 2024]

Part 1. Convert M4P to MP3: What You Should Know

What Is M4P Format and MP3 Format

M4P is a protected MPEG-4 audio, developed by Apple in early 2000s. Simply put, M4P format is an AAC audio file plus an exclusive Apple lock due to DRM protection. That means the .m4p files can only be played on authorized Apple devices. So, you can't play M4P on Windows or Android unless you remove DRM from Apple Music or iTunes.

On the other hand, MP3 is a widely accepted audio format that compresses sound data while maintaining decent quality, making it compatible with nearly all devices.

You can check the table below to understand the differences between M4P and MP3:

	M4P	MP3
Compression	Lossy	Lossy
Multimedia DRM protection	✔️	❌
Compatibility	Apple devices with iTunes installed	Almost all devices and music players
File size	Larger	Smaller
Quality	Higher quality	High quality
Bitrate	128 - 256 kbps	96 - 320 kbps

M4P to MP3: Benefits Overview

As for now, the M4P format has been no longer used by Apple. However, some songs you purchased from iTunes Store during 2003-2009 may still be the M4P format, which can only be played on Apple devices with your Apple ID. Therefore, converting M4P files to the more versatile and widely supported MP3 format is a more convenient idea.

To sum up, converting M4P files to MP3 offers several advantages:

• You can listen to your purchased iTunes songs on Android/Windows/other MP3 players.
• You can back up Apple Music songs even if your Apple ID or purchased history lost one day.
• You can import the converted Apple Music to Capcut, DJ, and other software for edits.

Part 2. How to Convert Protected M4P to MP3 on Mac/Win

There are many M4P to MP3 converters on the Internet that claim to help you handle the conversion. But the conversion proccess of many tools are rarely successful. When it comes to industry-leading tools, AudFree M4P to MP3 Converter must be on the top of the list. It can not only effortlessly remove Apple Music format locks, but also convert Apple Music M4P to MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, and so on.

Besides, it's an all-in-one audio converter, fully compatible with Windows and Mac systems. And there is no data loss after conversion - the original quality and ID3 tags of M4P songs will be preserved after 30X conversion speed. This way, you can save all your MP3 songs forever locally and listen to them offline even without a subscription.

Steps to Convert Protected M4P to MP3 on Mac/Win via AudFree Auditior

Hit the above download button to install this M4P to MP3 software on your Windows or Mac computer. Please download the M4P songs from Apple Music/iTunes with your existing Apple Music account beforehand.

Step 1 Import M4P Songs to AudFree Auditior

Make sure you have authorized your computer with the correct iTunes account to ensure the M4P songs will be played well. After that, drag the M4P audio files or the whole folder from your computer's hard drive directly to this top Apple Music converter. If you like, you can also use the first 'Add' button in the bottom left corner to load multiple files at one time.

Step 2Customize M4P Songs Output Format to MP3

Once the M4P files are added to AudFree Auditior, just click the first lower-right 'Audio' button. From the pop-up Format Setting window, select the audio output format to MP3. Next, go ahead to define other audio properties such as codec, channel, sample rate, etc. By clicking on the 'Edit' icon to the right of each track, you will be directed to a window where you can edit the ID3 tags of your MP3 music.

Step 3Download and Convert Apple Music M4P to MP3

Now click the 'Convert' button, and the AudFree Auditior will batch convert M4P to MP3 files. Once done, you can get the converted MP3 songs from the History folder. Afterward, you can play Apple songs on multiple MP3-compatible devices and players without any restrictions.

Pros and Cons

Pros of converting iTunes M4P to MP3 via AudFree Auditior

✔️ Convert DRM protected M4P to MP3 and more formtas at 30X speed in batch

✔️ Enable to customize Audio Quality and Parameters like bitrate, sample rate, etc.

✔️ Keep lossless audio quality and full ID 3 tags from Apple Music/iTunes

✔️ Easy to use with intuitive user interface

Cons of converting iTunes M4P to MP3 via AudFree Auditior

❌ Require to install the iTunes/Apple Music app on your computer.

Part 3. How to Convert M4P to MP3 Free Online [Top 3 M4P Converters]

As for converting M4P files to MP3 online, here are three top online tools that help you change M4P files to MP3 for free. You can also check more best M4P to MP3 converters review here.

Note: These online M4P to MP3 converters can only convert unprotected iTunes/Apple Music songs.

1. Use FreeConvert to Convert M4P to MP3 Free

FreeConvert.com is an online M4P to MP3 converter that doesn't require any software installation. With an uninterrupted Internet connection, you can use it to effortlessly make M4P convert to MP3 in any web browser.

Using open source and custom software ensures the conversions performed through FreeConvert.com are of high quality. In addition, when you upload M4P files, they are protected by 256-bit SSL encryption and are automatically deleted after 2 hours. This also works well to protect the security and privacy of your documents.

How to Turn M4P into MP3 on FreeConvert

Step 1. Navigate to the FreeConvert.com website. You need to download the Apple Music M4P songs from iTunes in advance

Step 2. Click the 'Choose Files' button and select your favorite M4P file. Or drag and drop it directly to the upload window.

Step 3. Once uploaded, choose 'MP3' from the Output section on the right of the added files to start changing M4P files to MP3.

Step 4. Once done, click the 'Convert' button and you have successfully converted your iTunes library to MP3. After that, you have the privilege to play MP3 songs as you like without any limiting conditions.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✔️ Free to use, no need to install any software

✔️ Convert M4P to MP3 free online

✔️ Ensure privacy and security for uploaded M4P files

✔️ Support multiple input resources

Cons

❌ Slow conversion speed for larger files

❌ Require Internet connection to use

❌ Limited customization options

❌ Low success rate due to unknown errors

2. Use Filezigzag to Convert M4P to MP3 Online

Filezigzag is an online file conversion service that supports over 180 different file formats including 11 audio formats. It allows users to convert various file types, including audio, video, images, documents, and archive files. Therefore, it is also a popular choice for changing M4P files to MP3. However, you can only use M4P files up to 10MB in size for free, and larger files require a paid subscription.

How to Change M4P to MP3 on Filezigzag

Step 1. Go to the official Filezigzag website. Please make sure you have downloaded Apple Music M4P songs in advance.

Step 2. Click the 'Browse for Files' button to select the downloaded M4P files you want to convert, or directly drag and drop your M4P files.

Step 3. Select 'MP3' as the output format under the 'Target Format' section.

Step 4. Tap the 'Start Converting' button to kick off the conversion process.

Step 5. Once finished, hit the 'Download' button to save the MP3 files to your computer or device.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✔️ Supports over 180 different file conversion formats covering 11 audio formats

✔️ No software installation required

✔️ 256-bit SSL encryption protection for uploaded files

Cons

❌ Limited options for customizable related parameters with annoying ads

❌ File size limit of 10MB for the free version

❌ Convert at an extremely low speed

3. Use OnlineConvertFree to Convert M4P Files

The last online M4P to MP3 freeware you can't miss is OnlineConvertFree. It allows users to convert a wide range of file types, including audio, video, images, documents, and archived files. What's more, it supports more than 20 different audio formats, making it a versatile tool for converting normal M4P to MP3. The service is free to use, and no software installation is required.

How to Convert M4P Files to MP3 on OnlineConvertFree

Step 1. Visit the OnlineConvertFree website.

Step 2. Click the 'Choose File' button to select the M4P file to be converted.

Step 3. Select 'MP3' as the output format of the M4P file.

Step 4. Click the 'Convert' button to start the conversion process, the conversion time depends on the size of the file.

Step 5. Select the 'Download' tab to get a more widely compatible MP3 file.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✔️ Support over 20 different audio formats

✔️ Simple and user-friendly interface

✔️ Automatic deletion of uploaded files after 24 hours

✔️ Completely free, no software to install

Cons

❌ Support only one output audio format: MP3

❌ Conversion speed will be slower for larger files or during periods of high traffic

❌ Internet connection is required to use

Part 4. How to Convert M4P to MP3 on Mac/Win With Apple Music/iTunes [2 Ways]

Apart from the above tools, you can also opt to change M4P to 256 kbps MP3 files for your audio files on iTunes directly. Here are two methods to help you convert M4P to MP3 format with iTunes. Just follow the steps below to try it out together.

Way 1. Convert M4P to MP3 via iTunes Match

iTunes Match is a service used to sync your own music library across all devices. Once you connect it with your iTunes, it will scan your music library, upload songs not in the iTunes, and replace the songs with worse audio quality into a better one. Most importantly, this service can convert iTunes M4P to MP3 easily.

📌 Note: This method only works for purchasing M4P music files from iTunes or Apple. And you need an iTunes Match subscription at $24.99 per year to activate the iTunes Match feature. However, as Apple Music almost contains the iTunes Match features, you can also try the steps below directly on your iTunes or Apple Music app. If it works, you can save the iTunes Match subscription fee.

View Also: Apple Music vs iTunes Match

Step 1. Open the iTunes app/Apple Music on your computer, and click the 'Sign In' button. Then enter your Apple ID and password to sign in to your Apple account.

Step 2. At this time, you can click View > Show View Options, and tick Kind under the File section on the popup window to display the format of your songs in the library. Then, find the M4P songs you want to convert.

Step 3. Click on the target music file and click 'Delete from Library' there. This way, you can refresh the songs information.

Step 4. Hit on the 'Store' option to open the iTunes Store tab and click on the 'Purchased' link option.

Step 5. Select the 'Not in my library' tab and find the song or album you deleted earlier.

Step 6. Finally, click the 'Download' icon and go to File > Convert > Create MP3, thus you can smoothly convert unprotected M4P files to MP3.

Way 2. Convert M4P to MP3 via a Burned CD

You can also convert unprotected M4P to MP3 using a burned CD, this method is applied to those audio files purchased from iTunes. Please remember that each song can only be burned up to 7 times, after burning, the sound quality will be slightly degraded. If you don't mind, follow the steps below to burn Apple Music to CD.

Step 1. Launch the iTunes App on your computer and insert a blank disc into your disc drive.

Step 2. Click 'File' > 'New' > 'Playlist' to create a new playlist and save your protected M4P files in this playlist.

Step 3. Click the 'File' > 'Burn Playlist to Disc' option and adjust the burning settings in a pop-up window named Burn Settings. Once the settings are done, select the 'Burn' button to continue burning.

Step 4. After creating the disc, click 'File' > 'Convert' > 'Create MP3 Version' to save the contents of the disc to your computer.

Step 5. Finally, click 'Edit' > 'Preferences' > 'General' on the iTunes option, and then click the 'Import Settings' button to start ripping those iTunes songs from the CD to your computer.

Step 6. Now, your M4P files are all converted to MP3 format and you can see the converted MP3 music on your computer.

Part 5. FAQs on Converting M4P to MP3

Q1: How Do I Open M4P Files?

A1: In reality, you can use iTunes on your Apple device to open M4P files. It is worth mentioning that the computer using the iTunes app must be authorized to play M4P files, and this can be achieved by logging into iTunes using the same account from which the M4P files were downloaded. Alternatively, you can use QuickTime and PotPlayer to play M4P files.

Q2: How to Open MP3 Files?

A2: As mentioned earlier, MP3 is the most widely used audio file format today, and almost all audio playback tools can play MP3 files. You can play MP3 not only in Windows with Windows Media Player, but you can also play MP3 files in Mac with iTunes.

Q3: Can MP3 Players Play M4P Files?

A3: Unfortunately, M4P files are not compatible with most popular devices, including MP3 players, Android phones, and even iPod Nano. When you want to transfer iTunes M4P files on your portable MP3 player or play them in your car, you are always blocked.

Q4: Is It Legal to Convert M4P to MP3?

A4: In general, it may be legal to convert M4P files to MP3 for personal use.

Q5: Will Converting M4P to MP3 Affect the Quality of the Music?

A5: Yes, since MP3 is a compressed file format and the conversion process itself may result in a slight loss of quality. The degree of loss will depend on the bitrate of the original M4P file and the bitrate of the converted MP3 file.

Part 6. In Conclusion

If you want to convert M4P to MP3 free online, you can choose FreeConvert, Filezigzag, or OnlineConvertFree. But the conversion speed and security as well as the success rate can't be guaranteed. We recommend you use AudFree Apple Music Converter to convert DRM-protected M4P to MP3 without any quality loss. And you can also customize various output parameters to enjoy MP3 songs to your heart's content.