Pre-2010 DRM-protected ACC audio files do not play in Tahoe

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Level 1

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Pre-2010 DRM-protected ACC audio files do not play in Tahoe

DRM "protected ACC" audio files no longer play in Tahoe.

So far it appears to be, not the authorization, not the number of computers authorized, the same songs play on other computers with older OS versions. Only the protected ACC files (songs downloaded prior to 2010) DRM protected files will not play in Tahoe. Everything else does. They play in Catalina, they play in Sequoia.

Has anyone else run into this? I've tried clearing the music cache and restarting the computer but it did nothing.

Yes I know I can use Music match - and pay the Apple Music fee - to fix them, but my music database gets moved to the cloud, I want it on my laptop.

Is the only solution for this - making playlists, burning discs, and importing them back into Music? Not feasible for me, I have too many songs to do that.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Jun 18, 2026 12:42 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

WheelieNick

Level 9

59,924 points

Sep 5, 2026 1:14 PM in response to Luca_Brasi

Yes, other users upgrading to macOS Tahoe have encountered this exact issue with legacy, pre-2010 DRM-protected AAC files (.m4p / "Protected AAC audio files") refusing to play locally. Apple's modern security and media frameworks in Tahoe have dropped or broken compatibility with these ancient QuickTime-era FairPlay container authorizations, even when the computer remains properly authorized on your Apple Account.

Try this

iTunes Match (Without Apple Music): You mentioned not wanting a streaming subscription that messes with your cloud library. Note that iTunes Match is a separate, standalone annual service ($24.99/year) rather than full Apple Music. It scans your local database and allows you to download clean, DRM-free 256kbps iTunes Plus versions of matched tracks. Your core library stays local on your laptop, but you can upgrade the files in-place without moving everything to a streaming ecosystem. Once upgraded, you can cancel the service after a year and keep the DRM-free files.

Re-downloading from Purchased History: For some users, going to the iTunes Store section within the Music app, navigating to Purchased, deleting the local broken file, and re-downloading pulls down a modern un-protected variant though success varies if the label still enforces legacy constraints on that specific track.

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