How to add CDs as purchased items in Apple Music?

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Level 1

4 points

How to add CDs as purchased items in Apple Music?

So I noticed that when I use Apple Music and go under the purchased tab, it doesn’t show my CDs as purchased items is that because they’re technically not purchased digitally? If so, is there a way to add them to that so that I can listen to them natively? Or would I have to purchase the album digitally in order to do so? Like a double purchase, which would be ridiculous.

Also, iTunes itself doesn’t register CDs as purchased content. For an example, I have the thriller album by Michael Jackson, yet if I were to look up the song thriller, it’s still available to purchase even though I have it via CD.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: ITunes VS CDs

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

277,907 points

Oct 28, 2025 4:52 AM in response to 4p2des

It is because they haven't been purchased from the iTunes Store. The purchased designation only applies to content purchased from the iTunes Store. There is no need to buy anything from there that you already own and can download and import or rip from other sources. It is up to you to take care not to make duplicate purchases. Adding your own music to iTunes or Apple Music (the app) doesn't hide it from the iTunes Store search engine, or flag up when your library has an existing copy of that item, useful as such a feature might be.

tt2

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Answer 2

xWauwau

Level 3

650 points

Oct 28, 2025 4:59 AM in response to 4p2des

Whatever, in case you were talking about Apple Music, as long as your CD Album was made available on Apple Music through its publisher, and you have an active subscription, you will of course be able to listen to it there.

If you are talking about iTunes, you would of course have to purchase it again, because it's the same system as it is with books or films. Nobody is giving you a digital copy of it for free, except, maybe some publishers do? It would certainly be very uncommon.

Also, how would iTunes be supposed to know if you own a physical copy?

So, I am sorry if you are disappointed by the system, but there's not really a legal way to get around it currently.

Some would recommend extracting audio files from the CD to not be limited to the physical copy. Don't do that, it probably violates DRM. (piracy only at your own responsibility)

As tt2 said, if you are looking for a song in iTunes that you have imported from your CD, it will not be hidden from the iTunes Store search engine and you'll have to pay some extra attention.

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