REWINDWhy Apple Music songs will not import into another player, and what works
Apple Music songs will not import into other players because subscription tracks are DRM-protected: they are encrypted, tied to your account and kept inside the Music app, not as files you can reach. Songs you bought from the iTunes Store since 2009, CD rips and Bandcamp downloads are plain files and do import.
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Which songs can you import and which can't you?
It depends on how you got the track, not on which app shows it. The table sorts the common cases. For the same idea from the store side, see our list of places to buy DRM-free music.
| Where the song came from | Can you import it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Music subscription download | No | DRM-protected and kept inside the Music app |
| Spotify or other streaming download | No | DRM-protected and tied to the service |
| iTunes Store purchase, 2009 or later | Yes | Sold as DRM-free AAC at 256 kbit/s |
| iTunes Store purchase, before 2009 | Maybe | Originally sold with FairPlay protection; check the file |
| Bandcamp, Qobuz or Amazon download | Yes | Plain files such as MP3, FLAC or AAC |
| CD you ripped yourself | Yes | You made the file |
Why are Apple Music downloads locked?
A subscription does not sell you a copy. It lets you listen while you pay, and the download for offline use is a temporary, encrypted cache. That is DRM. Apple's DRM system is called FairPlay, and the FairPlay article explains that its first version wrapped iTunes Store AAC audio in AES encryption, opened by a key tied to your account. Subscription downloads are protected as well.
Apple Music itself launched in June 2015 as a subscription, as the Apple Music article records. The earlier iTunes Store was a different model: you bought a song. Since January 2009 those purchases have been DRM-free, per the iTunes Store article. If your subscription ends, downloaded subscription tracks stop playing. Purchased tracks keep working.
Checklist: why won't this track import?
- Find where the track came from. If you only ever streamed or downloaded it inside the Music app, it is protected. Stop here and use the legal options below.
- Look for the file in the Files app. Subscription downloads are not visible there. If you see a normal file, continue.
- Check for a cloud icon. A file that lives in iCloud and is not downloaded cannot be copied. Tap it to download first. REWIND reports such files so that you know which ones to fetch.
- Check the file type. REWIND imports MP3, AAC/M4A, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, FLAC and CAF. Other types, such as OGG, Opus, DSD, APE or WMA, will not import.
- Look at the extension. A file ending in .m4p is an older protected iTunes purchase. A file ending in .m4a is usually unprotected.
- Try again with a single track, then with the whole folder, to find out whether one file is the problem.
Which file types does REWIND accept?
Each format has its own page: MP3, AAC and M4A, ALAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF and CAF. Our overview of DRM-protected music explains the locked case in more detail.
| Type | Imports? |
|---|---|
| MP3 | Yes |
| AAC / M4A (unprotected) | Yes |
| ALAC | Yes |
| WAV and AIFF | Yes |
| FLAC | Yes |
| CAF | Yes |
| OGG, Opus, DSD, APE, WMA | No |
| DRM-protected streaming downloads | No |
What about common situations?
A few cases come up again and again.
- I bought the album years ago in iTunes. Check the extension and try opening it in another app. If it plays, import it. If it carries .m4p, it is an older protected file, and buying the track again as a DRM-free file is the clean fix.
- A friend sent me an M4A. Most likely it is a normal AAC file and will import. Save it to Files first, then pick it in the app.
- I ripped a CD in my computer's music app. If you chose AAC, MP3, ALAC, WAV or AIFF, the files import. Pick lossless if you plan to keep them for years.
- I have a playlist in Apple Music. A playlist is a list of references to streams, not files, so there is nothing to import. Rebuild it from files you own, or write a handwritten-style mixtape label in REWIND.
How do you get a copy you can import?
Buy the song again as a file. The iTunes Store sells DRM-free tracks, and Bandcamp, Qobuz and similar stores sell downloads in several formats. If you own the CD, rip it. A rip is an exact copy of 16-bit, 44.1 kHz audio, and you can store it as FLAC or ALAC without losing anything.
We do not cover tools that strip protection. Using them can break the service's terms and the law where you live, and the copy you get is not really yours. Buying or ripping a clean file is simpler, and it also pays the artist when you buy.
Why use a separate offline player at all?
A streaming app is excellent for discovery. A file player is for the music you own. REWIND needs no account, no ads and no network to play, collects no data, and keeps your files on the phone. It shows the music on drawn retro machines, with reels, discs and wheels that move as the song plays. The comparison with the Apple Music app covers the differences honestly.
When your files are ready, add them from the Files app. Pick a folder or single tracks, and REWIND copies them in.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I import my Apple Music songs?
Apple Music subscription downloads are DRM-protected and kept inside the Music app, not as separate files. Other apps cannot read them, and REWIND cannot import them.
Can I import songs I bought on iTunes?
Usually yes. The iTunes Store has sold DRM-free AAC files since January 2009. Older purchases might still be protected, so check that the file opens as a normal file.
What does a cloud icon next to a file mean?
The file is in iCloud and not stored on your iPhone yet. Download it first, then import it. REWIND reports iCloud files that are not downloaded.
Does REWIND work with Apple Music or Spotify?
No. REWIND plays your own audio files offline. Apple Music and Spotify tracks are DRM-protected and cannot be imported.
What is the easiest way to get importable music?
Buy DRM-free downloads from stores like Bandcamp or the iTunes Store, or rip your own CDs to FLAC, ALAC or MP3, then import them from the Files app.
Keep exploring
DRM-Protected MusicWhy streaming downloads cannot be imported, and which DRM-free sources work.Where to Buy DRM-Free MusicWhere to get music as files you own: Bandcamp, iTunes, Qobuz, Amazon, Beatport and CD rips, plus how to check a file is DRM-free.How to Add Music Files to iPhone Without iTunesFour ways to get MP3, FLAC and M4A files onto an iPhone, and how to import a whole folder into a player.REWIND vs Apple Music AppApple Music streams a subscription catalog. REWIND plays your own files on retro machines. Different jobs, often used together.Offline Music Library for iPhoneImport folders or tracks from Files. Tags, cover art, search, favorites, shuffle and repeat. Offline.
AAC and M4A on iPhoneThe successor to MP3. Sizes, how to load AAC on iPhone, and how REWIND plays it.