Convert a song to a different file format on your Mac with the Apple Music app
On your Mac, you can convert a song to a different file format and keep a copy of the original.
About compression
When you convert a song to certain compressed formats, some data may be lost. These compressed formats give you a much smaller file size, which allows you to store more songs, but the sound quality might not be as good as the original, uncompressed format.
For best results, if you want your music in a different format, import it again from the original source using the new encoding format. You may 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.
Convert songs in your music library on your Mac
Open the Apple Music app.
In the menu bar, choose Music, then choose Settings.
Click the Files tab, then click Import Settings.
Click the menu next to Import Using, then choose the encoding format you want to convert the song to.
Click OK.
Select the songs in your library you want to convert.
Choose File, then choose Convert.
Choose Create [format] Version.
New song files will appear in your library next to the original files.
Convert songs from files in a folder or on a disk on your Mac
You can import songs into the Apple Music app and convert them at the same time. This creates a converted copy of the file in your music library, based on your preferences.
Open the Apple Music app.
In the menu bar, choose Music, then choose Settings.
Click the Files tab, then click Import Settings.
Click the menu next to Import Using, then choose the encoding format you want to convert the songs to.
Click OK.
On your keyboard, hold down the Option key and choose File, choose Convert, then choose Convert to [import preference].
Select the folder or disk that contains songs you want to import and convert.
The converted songs will appear in your library alongside the songs in their original format.
About copyright
You can use the Apple Music app to reproduce materials. It is only licensed to you for the reproduction of:
Non-copyrighted materials
Materials for which you own the copyright
Materials you are authorised 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.
Older purchased songs are encoded in a Protected AAC format that prevents them from being converted.
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