How to Play Apple Music on Any MP3 Player

By Justin SabrinaUpdated on August 20, 2024

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Get Apple Music onto your MP3 player and enjoy them anytime, anywhere!

Apple Music is one of the most popular streaming music service with over 100 million songs. You can access its music library through the Apple Music app or iTunes program on Apple-approved devices, such as iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod, Apple TV, etc. But if you want to play Apple Music on a portable MP3 player like Snoy Walkman player, SanDisk, iPod Nano, there's a challenge. First, you cannot download music to MP3 players from Apple Music directly even with a subscription. For another, due to Apple FairPlay, you are unable to transfer the downloaded tracks to an MP3 player.

Thankfully, most MP3 players supports MP3 audio files. You can utilize a tool like UkeySoft Apple Music Converter to convert Apple Music to MP3 for MP3 player. Check out this post, we will share you the detailed guide on how to play Apple Music on any MP3 player in 4 workable ways.

CONTENTS

Can You Play Apple Music on MP3 Player Directly?

Need a compatible MP3 player. If you have an Apple Music compatible MP3 player, then playing Apple Music on MP3 player is quite easy. However, most generic MP3 players don't support the Apple Music App, except the iPod Touch. Currently, the iPod Touch (5th to 7th generation) supports to install the Apple Music app from App Store. This means you can listen to your favorite Apple Music tracks on iPod Touch, and even download them offline.

Most MP3 players cannot read DRM-encrypted Apple Music tracks. But if you use other MP3 players like Sony Walkman, SanDisk, iPod Nano, etc., you are not allowed to put Apple Music downloads to your MP3 player. First of all, the downloaded tracks in the Apple Music App are saved in encrypted .M4P (AAC) file format, which can only be accessible within the App. Most MP3 players don't support the Apple Music App, and have no Internet access, and Apple Music needs an Internet connection to verify that you have an active subscription to play the downloaded tracks.

Solutions: One way is to switch to a compatible MP3 player, such as an iPod Touch. Another way is to use a third-party Apple Music to MP3 converter. Keep reading.

Part 1. How to Play Apple Music on MP3 Player (iPod Touch)

Preparation:

• A supported device: iPod Touch (5th to 7th generation).
• An Apple ID: Access the Apple Music catalog and your music library.
• An active Apple Music subscription: Apple Music Premium/Student/Family, or Apple One, or bundle plan.
• A stable Internet connection: Connect your iPod Touch to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Part 2. How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Files for MP3 Players

In this part, we will introduce 3 ways on how to download and convert Apple Music to MP3, M4A or other popular audio formats on a Mac or PC computer. Afterward, you'll be able to transfer the MP3 Apple Music files to any MP3 player, such as iPod Nano, iPod shuffle, iPod classic, Apple iPod touch without Wi-Fi, Sony Walkman, SanDisk mp3 player, FiiO M6/M5, Astell & Kern A&ultima SP1000M, Hidizs mp3 player, ONKYO Hi-Res digital audio player, Cowon Plenue music player, Surfans F20 HiFi MP3 Player, etc.

Method 1. Convert Apple Music to MP3 via UkeySoft Apple Music Converter 👍

If you wish to play your Apple Music on any MP3 player, all you need is to convert Apple Music to MP3 files. From the best Apple Music converters, we found a decent tool - UkeySoft Apple Music Converter. It can help you convert your Apple Music library to MP3, M4A or other plain formats.

UkeySoft Apple Music Converter is a quite professional Apple Music to MP3 converter, which can convert Apple Music songs/playlists/albums to DRM-free MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV and AIFF with ID3 tags and metadata retained. The built-in Apple Music web player enables you to browse, search, play and convert any music tracks without iTunes app. The conversion can be up to 10X faster speed but with zero quality loss (320kbps, 512kbps, 640kbps selectable). Plus, it also supports batch conversion, so you can convert all Apple music tracks in a time-saving manner. After conversion, you can freely play Apple Music songs, playlists on any MP3 players, such as Sony Walkman, Archos, Sandisk, Creative Zen, iRiver, Cowon, etc.

KEY FEATURES

UkeySoft Apple Music Converter offers broad compatibility, supporting a variety of Windows operating systems including Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Mac OS versions ranging from 10.9 to 10.15, including the latest macOS 13 Ventura.

Windows 7 or later on 64bit required

Try it Free

Mac OS X 10.11 or higher

Try it Free

Details Steps to Convert Apple Music to MP3 for MP3 Player

# Original Apple Music Track VS. Converted Apple Music Track
It's worth mentioning that the converter won't affect the original Apple Music quality, as the below screenshot about compared the original Apple Music AAC audio file and the converted Apple Music track(.MP3), you would find the output audio quality will be exactly the same as the original Apple Music quality (256 Kbps, 44.1 kHz) after converting. Now, you can copy the converted Apple Music(.MP3) to MP3 player for listening in anywhere you want.

Download the Apple Music Converter and start to convert Apple Music songs to MP3 format and put them onto your MP3 player.

Method 2. Download Apple Music to MP3 for Free via Online Tool

If you don't want to install extra desktop software, you can also rely on an online tool. As a free online Apple Music downloader, APLMate enables to download Apple Music to MP3 by copying and pasting the music link. After which, you can move these MP3 files to your MP3 player for offline listening. Here's how it works:

Method 3. Convert iTunes Music to MP3 in iTunes/Music App

As of April 2009, Apple no longer uses DRM copy protection for songs and albums purchased from the iTunes Store. If you have purchased iTunes songs or albums, the downloaded files are in the AAC format. Therefore, you need convert iTunes songs from AAC to MP3 format if you want to enjoy them on your MP3 player. Thankfully, iTunes is also an audio converter. Let's see how to convert unprotected iTunes music and play iTunes music on MP3 player:

Part 3. How to Transfer MP3 Apple Music Files to Any MP3 Player

After converting the Apple Music songs to MP3 format, you can now transfer them to any MP3 players like iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Shuffle, Sony Walkman, Onkyo MP3 Player, AGPtEK, Astell, FiiO X3, ect.

1) Copy Apple Music to Generic MP3 Players

For generic MP3 players such as Sony Walkman, Sandisk MP3 player, Onkyo MP3 player, AGPtEK, Astell, FiiO X3, you can directly plug your MP3 player into your computer via cable. Then copy and paste the converted Apple Music songs to the MP3 player direstly.

● Transfer Apple Music from PC to Generic MP3 Players:

Step 1. Plug the MP3 player into the USB port of the computer
Step 2. Open the folder of the MP3 player
Step 3. Copy the Apple Music songs(in MP3 format)song and directly paste from computer to the folder

● Transfer Apple Music from Mac to Generic MP3 Players

For Mac users, you cannot directly copy songs, videos, photos and other files from Mac to USB drive/ MP3 player, you can open files stored on USB drives/ MP3 player, but you can't edit, copy, move, or delete those files using your Mac. However, if you want to transfer songs from Mac to generic MP3 players, you need an add-on NTFS.

Read guide: Download Apple Music to MP3 player on Mac

I have ever used Tuxera Microsoft NTFS for Mac, it is developed for reading & writing Windows drives. After installing this Microsoft NTFS for Mac, I can do everything with Windows drives on my MacBook Pro. Now, I can directly copy songs from Mac to MP3 player, like copying files from Windows PC to USB drive.

Step 1. Download and install Tuxera Microsoft NTFS on Mac computer
Step 2. Connect MP3 player to Mac with USB cable or directly plug the MP3 player into the USB port of the Mac computer.
Step 3. Open Tuxera Microsoft NTFS and your MP3 player’s folder opened
Step 4. Directly copy the converted Apple Music from Mac to the folder of your MP3 player.

2) Transfer Apple Music from Computer to Apple iPod Nano/Classic/Shuffle/Touch

● Sync Apple Music from Computer to iPod Nano/Classic/Shuffle and iPod Touch via iTunes

For Windows and macOS 10.14 and below, you can use the iTunes to sync songs from computer to your iPod Nano/Classic/Shuffle, iPod touch, iPhone or iPad.

Step 1. Launch iTunes and create a blank playlist.

Step 2. Import the converted Apple Music songs (in MP3 or M4A format) to iTunes library (the new created blank playlist).

Step 3. Connect the iPod nano to the computer using the USB cable. The iTunes will detect it automatically, then in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window, click the iPod Nano icon.

Step 4. Near the top of the main iTunes screen, select Music in the left panel, then select Sync Music > Recently Added. Select Apply to import the songs to your iPod.

Alternative Way: Drag and drop songs from the iTunes new created playlists(iTunes main window) to the left panel where the iPod nano is listed. If you have several songs you want to sync at once.
For Mac: Press and hold Ctrl or Command and then select each song.
For Windows: Press Ctrl and then select each song.

Tips: In the second step, you have created a new iTunes playlists and added the converted Apple Music songs to this playlist, then just drag and drop this playlists onto the iPod nano icon in the left pane.

Some Related Question: What does "Some of the files were not copied to the iPhone because iCloud Music Library is enabled on this iPhone." Trying to transfer non iTunes music like CD's from computer to iPhone. What do I do to transfer files?

Solution: If you have iCloud Music Library turned on, you can no longer directly sync music from iTunes onto an iOS device, you would use the iCloud Music Library to upload to iCloud whatever you wanted to sync, and then it would be available to all devices that have iCloud Music Library turned on and are using the same Apple ID as the computer from which you uploaded the track.

If you do not want this, and want to continue to sync through iTunes, then you need to turn off iCloud Music Library on all devices involved.

On the iPhone/iPad go to Settings->Music->iCloud Music Library, and switch it off.

Finally, start syncing the converted Apple Music tracks to iPod nano.

Great, Apple Music songs syncing completed.

Now, you can play those converted Apple Music(MP3 songs) on iPhone, iPad and iPod. Even if you have cancel Apple Music subscription, you still can enjoy them on iOS devices.

● Sync Apple Music from Computer to iPod Nano/Classic/Shuffle and iPod Touch via Finder

If you have update your Mac computer to macOS Catalina, you might found that the iTunes has been removed in macOS Catalina, and an new iOS manager app named Finder in macOS Catalina. Thus, if you want to transfer music to from macOS Catalina to iPod, iPad or iPhone, you should use Finder instead of iTunes.

Step 1. Open a Finder window and create a blank playlist.

Step 2. Import the converted Apple Music songs to Finder library.

Step 3. Connect your iPod nano to the Mac. If prompted, trust your device.

Step 4. Choose your iPod nano and select the type of content you want to sync, namely "Music".

Step 5. Check the option "Sync music on to [your iPod nano name]" and select the items you want to transfer.

Step 6. Click "Apply" to start syncing the converted Apple Music to your iPod nano from the Mac.

3) Transfer Apple Music from Computer to iOS & Android via Third-Party Transfer

This Phone Transfer & Manager(iOS/ Android) not only can help you transfer songs between Windows/Mac computer and iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, but also can help you transfer music between Android and computer. After converting Apple Music to MP3 or M4A format, you can use this iOS transfer tool to transfer songs from PC/Mac to your iPod nano directly. What’s more, it also can sync songs between iPhone/iPad/iPod touch and iTunes, it is the best iTunes/ Finder alternative.

Feature:

• Directly add songs to iPhone, iPad or iPod.
• Import music from computer to any Android devices.
• Transfer videos, photos from PC, Mac to iOS devices.
• Easily to manage your iPhone files on computer.
• Transfer music from iTunes to iOS/ Android devices.
• Music, Ringtones, Playlist, Audiobooks, Music Videos, Podcasts, iTunes U, TV Shows, and more.

FAQs About Playing Apple Music on Any MP3 Player

Final Words

Apple Music doesn't provide the official app for generic MP3 players and older iPod devices. To play Apple Music on any MP3 player, first you need to strip DRM from Apple Music, and convert Apple Music songs to MP3, M4A, or WAV files. Meet the best tool - UkeySoft Apple Music Converter here, it can help you unlock all limits, and convert your Apple Music library to MP3/M4A/WAV/AAC/FLAC/AIFF with high quality at 10X faster speed. Thus, you can easily put Apple Music on MP3 player, and listen to Apple Music on your MP3 player anytime, anywhere!

More than these, you can even move the converted Apple Music songs to USB drive, SD card, smartphone, tablet, and more devices, and add these songs to other players like iTunes, VLC, WMP, Music Bee without restrictions!