iTunes Support told me there is an "Update your Library" app that will upgrade my old files to a newer format and I should then be able to convert the M4P files to MP3. Can anyone tell me where to find the app?
Hi,
If the music was purchased from iTunes Store prior to 2009 , it will protected AAC. You can upgrade by purchasing iTunes Match. Subscribe to iTunes Match – Apple Support. If you don’t have many tracks, you could burn to CD then reimport as mp3.
If the music was downloaded from Apple Music, you can’t convert to mp3.
Jim
Hi,
If the tracks were purchased in 2007, they will still be protected. After 2009 Apple provided a facility to upgrade those tracks at a small charge per track to iTunes plus until iTunes Match was introduced.
You could Subscribe to iTunes Match – Apple Support but you may still be able to burn those tracks to CD then reimport as mp3.
Jim
Hi,
If the songs were purchased from iTunes Store, they should not be protected. Try deleting them and the redownload. Redownload apps, music, films, TV programmes and books – Apple Support
Jim
I purchased about 120 songs from iTunes between 2012 and 2014. About half are M4a and the other half are M4p. I have no idea what made some songs protected and others not but it looks like it's a bed I'll have to lie in. Just wanted to thank you for taking time to share your thoughts. (c:
Hi James - Thanks for the tip! I tried the Redownload procedure on a couple of files in my library that were listed as purchased in April of 2012. When I clicked the download icon the files were restored, still protected. Also the date of purchase changed from April 2012 to January of 2007. Apparently I forgot that the library had been refreshed in 2012 (probably when the Shuffle I originally purchased died and I replaced it with a Nano?). I think I probably need to try iTunes Support again in hopes I can find someone with a big enough hammer. Thanks very much for your time and consideration.
David
Trying transfer old iTunes from Protected ACC to MP3.
