Why have all my MP3 music files been converted to MPEG-4. Can't transfer any files to my new PC

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Level 1

4 points

Why have all my MP3 music files been converted to MPEG-4. Can't transfer any files to my new PC

I have about 50GB of music that I own (ripped from CD's, direct downloads from bands etc). I have not downloaded anything from iTunes or Apple Music, I own these files outright. My laptop is dying so I'm trying to transfer the library to a new PC. My mp3 files are now all showing up as MPEG-4 files (specifically MPEG-4 Audio File (Protected)).

They all have DRM protection on them, so they won't play on my new PC, they won't even transfer into my iTunes account on the new PC. They also won't play on Windows Media Player or VLC on the new PC.

I've seen that MPEG-4 are essentially M4A files. I'll copy the info direct here ((M4A is an audio file format (an extension of the MPEG-4 container) that typically uses the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) codec for compression.)). The file symbol for the music files are a white sheet with the iTunes logo and the words 'MPEG-4'.

It seems as though Apple has edited my MP3 files into protected M4A / MPEG4 files. I have my imports set to 'MP3 Encoding'. I don't have an apple music or itunes match subscription, but maybe I have had in the past?

I tried converting a single song file to mp3 via File - Convert - Convert to mp3 and that played fine when I transferred it to a new PC (on iTunes and on VLC).

I'm pretty annoyed that all my files are converted and I've had no luck with chat and phone support from Apple. But really what I'd like to know is how to mass re-convert these files to MP3's so I can use them again. (especially since I already own them!). I've tried to use ViWizard and TunesKit Audio Convertors, but they won't let me import the files because they are DRM protected.

Thanks for any help, this is being driving me mad.

** I've just removed iTunes from my new PC and rebooted. Now the files are showing up as 'M4P' which apparently is an Apple File, so they definitely have been affected by Apple', info below

'An M4P file is an audio file format developed by Apple, primarily used for music and audiobooks purchased from the iTunes Store. It's essentially an MPEG-4 audio file (.m4a) that's been protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM). This DRM protection limits playback to authorized devices, typically those linked to the user's Apple account. '

Posted on Jul 3, 2025 08:42 AM

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Answer 1

the fiend

Level 7

23,424 points

Jul 5, 2025 01:40 AM in response to ShaunaFB

Are you sure that they are protected? I am not aware that Apple convert (or have ever converted) any songs ripped from a CD into a protected format. Nor would it originally rip them as protected. Protected format was for songs purchased from the iTunes Store, but Apple has not sold music in protected format for several years. iTunes' default import format for CDs is MPEG-4 (shown as AAC and m4a), but not protected.

Here is the properties tab for a protected song that I purchased from the store:

Note the file extension, m4p (which indicates protected)
note the field (tag) that says purchased by
note the kind tag which states protected AAC audio file

Compare this with a non-protected file, also purchased from the iTunes Store (well, given to me for free, but it counts as "purchased"):

Crucially, note that the file extension is m4a and that the kind does not state "protected". The purchased by tag is still present.

Finally, here is a song I ripped from a CD, in iTunes default format of m4a, which is not protected:

If the file is in mp3 format, the kind tag will state MPEG audio file and the file extension is .mp3. Note also, that music ripped from CD does not have the purchased by tag.

What preciusely are you trying to do, which

ShaunaFB wrote:

... they won't play on my new PC,

Ah! More likely is that you have not correctly imported the files into your new iTunes library. What error messages do you get when you try to play the songs?

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

277,723 points

Jul 5, 2025 02:27 AM in response to ShaunaFB

Are you now, or have you been, a subscriber to Apple Music? There was a point in time where content matched to Apple Music might be downloaded to another computer as DRM protected files even though they were DRM-free on the source computer. That should no longer be the case with newly matched/uploaded content now, but if you had used Apple Music to migrate a library from one computer to another in the past then that could have resulted in more DRM-laden content than expected. It would not necessarily have been obvious unless you attempted to use the files with third party software., or allowed the subscription to lapse.

tt2

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Answer 3

ShaunaFB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 5, 2025 03:14 AM in response to the fiend

Hiya, thank you. That is really helpful! When I try to import the music into the new iTunes, there's no error message. It looks like it's importing but then nothing happens. And when I click to play it (iTunes, VLC or WMP), the programme will open, but then nothing happens. When I try to convert it to .mp3 on a conversion service or VLC they block it, and I get a message to say it's DRM protected. But I can see now from your pics above that it's more likely because the music was imported into iTunes under the iTunes folder structure so they got counted as MPEG-4 files. And I didn't have an .mp3 file type saved anywhere.

Found a bit of a work-around to save them, will post below in case anyone comes up against the same issue

Really appreciate the detailed screenshots!

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Answer 4

ShaunaFB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 5, 2025 03:22 AM in response to turingtest2

Hiya, I think that could have been some of it. I'm not on Apple Music but my husband is and could have been signed in on my iTunes at some stage. I've found a work around now, that'll I'll pop below for future confused forum users! But what's interested is when I converted the files to .mp3 and exported the folders, some have song duplicates in mp3 and some had one m4a and one mp3 version.

The (arduous) work around

Go to iTunes - Songs

Select All - File - Convert - Convert to mp3

Let it run FOREVER

Create folders for the bands on documents

Drag and drop each band to the folders

Remove duplicate mp3 or m4a files

Transfer to the new iTunes (drag and drop), but keep the folder structure outside of the iTunes folder

*make sure the import style is set to .mp3 in the new iTunes

It's a pain, but at least I got the music back. You could probably avoid the folder structure thing if you only use the music on iTunes, because it'll sort itself in-programme. But we want it sorted for mp3 players etc.

Thank you both for your help!!! x

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