Convert Purchased DRM-Protected Songs to DRM-Free Versions

Convert Purchased DRM-Protected Songs to DRM-Free Versions
as per iTunes / Help / Usage rights for iTunes Store purchases:
"All songs offered by the iTunes Store now come without DRM protection. These DRM-free songs, called iTunes Plus, have no usage restrictions and feature high-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding.
If you have older iTunes Store purchases that are now available as iTunes Plus downloads, you may upgrade your existing purchases. To do so, visit the iTunes Store and follow the onscreen instructions."
Looking at iTunes / Store / Purchased, which shows the list of songs that I have purchased, I do not see how I can tell if my older songs are with or without DRM protection.
How do I identify what songs have DRM protection? I want to convert any purchased music, which have DRM protection, to newer DRM-free versions.
Thank you.

Yank,
The upgrade program described in that document was discontinued by Apple a few months ago. Here are the options now:
If you have a lot of tracks to upgrade, you can do it by subscribing to iTunes Match and following the instructions by which to delete your DRM copy and download the non-DRM matched copy. See the section "Can I upgrade my previously purchased music to iTunes Plus?" in this guide: iTunes Store: iTunes Plus Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you only have a few to upgrade, you can buy them singly.
How do I identify what songs have DRM protection?
In your library, use Songs view, and look at the "Kind" column for ones with the word "Protected."
If you do not see Kind, enable it by going to View > View Options.

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HT4914 I would like to get a DRM free version of my older iTunes songs. Is this possible?

I would like to get a DRM free version of my older iunes songs. Is this possible?

The only ways to do this now is either by subscribing to iTunes Match or by re-purchasing the tracks. You can, however, burn the protected tracks to audio CD which will work just like any other audio CD.
Regards.

Why can't I tunes match provide drm free versions for purchased music?

I bought Itunes match thinking that I was going to upgrade my entire library of purchased music from what was promised in their ads. most of my music does not seem to be available in drm free versions. is that normal?

Hi,
Most music can be upgraded with only a very small number not qualifying because the version of track is no longer available. Upgrading is not automatic. You need to delete the original and download upgraded version.
Jim

How to repurchase music to get DRM-free versions

I have a few tracks which I bought from iTunes in the time when they were protected by DRM. I now want to change these to DRM-free versions, but can't find a way to do this. As there are only 7 tracks, iTunes match is not sensible as it costs more than the cost of the tracks themselves. I would be happy enough to re-purchase them, but can't find a way to do this.
I tried deleting one track from my iTunes library, but in the iTunes store it still showed in my purchases and not in the "not on my computer" list, so I was unable to buy it again. (I restored it later from my iPod.)
Is there any way to remove a track both from the library and purchase history, so that it can be purchased again?

NSH,
There used to be a program to upgrade individual tracks for 30 cents (USA) each, but it was discontinued in 2012.
So if you don't prefer Match, here are your options:
Burn to audio CD and rip back as MP3.
If you really want to re-buy, buy them from Amazon Digital Music or Google Play Music and add them to your iTunes library.

I can't get itunes to acknowledge that I need to redownload a DRM-FREE version of the music I already paid for.

What it says in the subject line. I have a huge number of songs that I'm just now realizing are "Protected AAC audio files," which is a load of complete crock, but whatever. I've tried following the incredibly convoluted and asinine directions about deleting the DRM version first, then going to the itunes store and clicking on purchased songs and re-downloading each one, individually, by hand. This is an unbelievably stupid and time-wasting method, but if it worked, I'd only be moderately peeved.
However, it doesn't work. Itunes refuses to acknowledge that the DRM version is no longer on my computer; as far as they're concerned, it's downloaded, so there's no way to redownload the non-protected version. Never mind that I've now been scammed into signing up for that stupid Match program, which I fully intend to discontinue as soon as I resolve this idiocy - apparently ITunes just flat-out doesn't have the ability to tell which songs they should just automatically replace because DRM is no longer a thing.
If the solution is obvious and I'm missing it, I'd be really happy to hear it - reply to this and mock me for not getting the issue. That's totally cool! But please don't tell me that I'm going to have to literally re-purchase almost 2K songs just because Apple can't do its job.

Have you tried using the Applications DVD that came with your MBP. It will work just fine. It CAME with your computer it is yours to use on that computer.
Give it a try.

I have updated my iPad to iOS 6.0 and there are a few things which do not work now. Crossword Solver will not accept anything but letters and logo quiz (purchased) will not connect, but the free version does. What can I do about these faults?

My iPad 2 was updated to iOS 6.0 and now I cannot use Logo Quiz purchased version, or crossword Solver. What can I do about this?

Contact the developer of the apps in question.

DRM Free Upgrade: All or nothing?

I'd like to take adavantage of the offer to upgrade my library but today there is only one of my purchased albums being offered for upgrade.
If I take the offer today, do I forego the "special offer" price to upgrade other albums that I've previously purchased assuming they become available in iTunes Plus at some later point in time?
Are more and more pre-existing albums going to be added to iTunes Plus or is this it?
Mike

As of today, there's no time limit on upgrading a track or album to the DRM-free versions. The only limit is if you wish to use the "Complete Your Album" feature and move to the DRM-free versions; for that, there may be a time limit. For more information, see the iTunes Plus Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Are more and more pre-existing albums going to be added to iTunes Plus or is this it?
Eventually the full catalog of material distributed by EMI though the iTunes Store should be made available in the new format. When, or more accurately if, content from other record labels will ever be made available is unknown, but thus far the other labels have been resisting the idea of dropping DRM on any of their content.

TS1702 When I backed up my ipad because I thought I had a problem with it in which I didnt, I went to restore my ipad and now some of my app that I had purchased are not there, the free version is on my Ipad and Icloud but not the purchased version?

I thought I had a problem with my Ipad in which I didnt, so I backed up my Ipad and restored it, but now Some of my apps that I have purchased are not available only the free version, not the purchased version. I would have to purchase again and it is not backed up into my Icloud either ?

I assume that you will have to set up as new since it will not let you restore from the backup. Then after you set it up, you can restore from the iCloud backup. The backup should not disappear be use you are setting this device up as new. Your backup should still be in iCloud.
However, after you activate the iPd and update the software, you will have to erase the device in order to restore from the Cloud backup, that is the only way to get to the iCloud backup.
Copied from the article that linked you to this discussion ....
Resolution
Update your device to the latest version of iOS to be able to restore the backup.

HT201272 I bought the Full Version of following App for my iPad 5 months ago: Interaction of Color by Josef Albers, I just bought a mini iPad and on the purchased apps option only the Free version shows, and when asking for the full version it asks me to

I have already tried the steps above, among the options of purchased apps I only get the free version not the complete version I had already bought

dmason wrote:
I had this problem as well. I was under the gun on time and just purchased it anyway. After installation I contacted support and they refunded me the amount.
You should have a backup of your servers regardless of circumstances. You would then be able to restore the server software.
When Apple repair machines they will often just swap it or swap the hard disk and will not make any effort to transfer your files. They assume you are doing a backup. Anybody running servers absolutely has a responsibility to ensure they have aduequate backups even more than 'normal' users. While Time Machine may not be wholely suitable for backing up servers Time Machine is so simple even normal users can use it and therefore no longer have any excuse for not doing backups.

I would like to convert former purchases to DRM free. Where did the tab on the right side of iTunes Store go. What's it labeled? Can I still do these upgrades?

I would like to convert former purchases to DRM free. Where did the tab on the right side of iTunes Store go. What's it labeled? Can I still do these upgrades? I've done some in the past and would like to do some more and can't figure out how anymore.

I would like to convert former purchases to DRM free. Where did the tab on the right side of iTunes Store go. What's it labeled? Can I still do these upgrades? I've done some in the past and would like to do some more and can't figure out how anymore.

How to upgrade protected AAC files to iTunes Plus (DRM-free)?

Hi everyone. I have been purchasing music from the iTunes Music Store ever since it opened here in the US. Along the way I have purchased both protected AAC files (the original 128 kbps files), iTunes Plus files, and I've upgraded some of the protected to iTunes Plus files for $0.30 over the last few years. I now have approximately 900 "protected AAC files" left that I wanted to upgrade to iTunes Plus and see the only way to do that now is via iTunes Match.
My dilema is this... I have approximately 900+ files that I want to upgrade and don't feel like manually deleting every track, finding it in the iTunes Music Store, and then redownloading (in the iTunes Plus format). Is there a way to do all 900+ at one time?
Thank you,
Keith

First you need to enable the iCloud Status, Bit Rate and Kind columns so you can see which tracks are "matched" and which are "uploaded." Any tracks that are "uploaded" will not be upgraded. To enable these columns switch to Song view then pull down View > View Options and select the appropriate check boxes then close the small window. Once this is done you can see the tracks that are protected and matched. These tracks can then be deleted from the iTunes library and the HDD (but make sure you have them backed up first, just in case) then downloaded from the cloud. They will then be DRM-free 256 Kbps AAC files.
As Jim points out you will not get a 100% match rate. The process simply isn't that good.

LEGALLY convert iTunes DRM protected .MP4 to .MP3 on a Mac?

How can I legally do this?
I'm looking to move my library off of my Mac, and onto a PC without using iTunes, and am trying to use a more "open" file format.

From the terms of use of this forum:
"Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store."
Itunes has been DRM free ( itunes plus) for a while now. Do you have a lot that is DRM protected?

Dowloading from I tunes store and converting protected songs

I have dowloaded a number of songs from the ITunes store that I want to use in another program (Microsoft Photo Story 3). Anytime I try to insert t6hese songs it tells me they are protected and cannot be used. I have tried converting them to wav files and the same things happens, it will not allow me. Any ideas?

What is the DRM free music? How do you get this? What if you have already purchased it at the .99 level and you want to upgrade it so it is not protected. Is this possible or do you have to but the song all over again?
I have tried burning them to a CD and then using them in my video program and it still doesn't work.
Thanks for the help!
P.S.: Is there a program similar to I-tunes made by apple that makes DVD slideshows that would be compatible to I-tunes on a Windows, not an apple computer?

Apple doesn't seem DRM-free to me

For many years I used to buy music from a robust Moscow site (mp3sparks), where songs were way cheaper than iTunes. I wasn't drawn by cost savings but because the music was DRM-free. I wasn't thrilled with doing this given U.S. trade representative's complaints on behalf of the U.S. music industry. Then I heard things you buy on iTunes today are DRM free. Safe and legal, supporting my beloved Apple and being fair to artists, I was all for it, and I changed my evil ways. Now, two songs from one album I bought from iTunes last week (March 2013, well into DRM-free iTunes) I'm having trouble playing from a Mac in a different room, and it makes me wonder if I was misled by all the PR about Apple being DRM free. Why is it asking me to authorize to another computer if it is DRM free? And I'm stuck in the won't-authorize loop (see http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1389) where after a Get-Info track check on which account purchased it, I log in correctly but it says "this computer is already authorized" and yet still won't play them.
So thinking it must be a technical error, I'll see if I can't re-download them from iTunes direct onto this second computer but from my Apple ID. I get an alert popping up, "This computer is already associated with an Apple ID. If you download past purchases with your Apple ID, you cannot auto-download past purchases with a different Apple ID for 90 days."
Really? This is Apple's idea of ending DRM protection? Oh Moscow, I think I faintly hear your siren song. OK, so a serious question here… looking for a philosophical answer, not a technical one. A household with two users with different laptop iTunes purchasers, but one server computer powering the hi-fi and network-served library. What's Apple rationale in maintaining all this authorization stuff, what that's that 90-day popup alert trying to protect Apple from in a DRM-free world?
(As I'm writing this, in came a message as long as this one from Katie, Senior iTunes Store Customer Support, and I'll try her solutions for the technical side. I gotta give Katie and Apple kudos for fast response.)

Update
I'm still not thrilled with the proprietary hooks, but I did get more helpful insight from iTunes support. I will never know why two cuts on an album wouldn't behave properly for a 2-user-family situation with several computers and two Apple IDs, but it may have been the universe reacting to my wife's unpleasant music tastes ("The Music of SMASH"). Nevertheless I have left the situation with a slightly better understanding of my situation from helpful Katie in Apple support, this business with the 90-day lockout.
Bottom line: think of it as two different things, authorization versus association. Or more specifically, iTunes song authorization versus computer association with your Apple ID.
Key concept: Association is required to use certain iCloud features such as automatic downloads, re-downloading songs, and iTunes Match. I was deep into iTunes Match when I first recognized the no-play problem and got stuck inside a reauthorization loop. And part of my solution to straightening out my SMASH cuts <wince> was re-downloading, apparently thrusting me hip deep into the Association policy.
I admit I don't completely grasp practical application of all implications of this, but here's a restatement of the 90-day lockout policy as it was explained to me: Each device or computer can only be associated to one Apple ID at a time, and association can be changed once without causing any problems. HOWEVER, once association is initially switched you will be unable to change the device association for 90 days. The device can be removed from your associated device list, but the 90 day restriction remains (there may be extenuating circumstances warranting an exception).
You can get more info on your situation from your iTunes..
    1.    Store > Sign In from the iTunes menu.
    2.    Choose Store > View My (AppleID) Account
    3.    From the Account Information screen, click the Manage Devices line
Next to each device or computer name, you will be able to see when each was associated to your Apple ID. You will also be able to track how many days are remaining before your associated devices. More info: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4627
Hope that helps the next guy trying to re-download a malfunctioning iTune and exasperated with this 90-day lockout threat.

Xbox 360 and iTunes DRM free

Excuse me if this has already been asked, the search feature is disabled.
I am unable to stream my DRM free songs purchased on iTunes to my 360. I thought they were DRM free? I can convert them to MP3 but then that would eat up a lot of space on my hard drive. Is there any other way around this? Thanks.

I have a friend that had the same problem, what you do is individually on each song (or album) whichever you prefer and right click on the song and the menu will come up, there will be an option that says "Create AAC Version" select that and it will create that version of the material and you can burn a cd or put on your xbox

Convert Purchased DRM-Protected Songs to DRM-Free Versions

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