Downloading music in M4A format from iTunes (now Apple Music on Mac) is the standard for purchased songs, as it provides high-quality, DRM-free audio that is widely compatible with most modern devices. How to Download Purchases as M4A

My file ends in .M4P. What is that?

.M4P is an older protected format used by Apple before 2009. If you have these old files in your library, you may have issues playing them on newer devices. Apple offered a way to upgrade these to DRM-free iTunes Plus tracks in the past, but that program has largely ended. You may need to burn these to a CD and re-rip them to strip the protection.

. However, MP3 is more universally compatible with older hardware M4A vs. M4P: M4A files are and can be played on non-Apple devices

• If a file is DRM-protected, you can’t directly convert/remove DRM in iTunes. Use Apple-authorized methods like upgrading purchases to DRM-free through iTunes Plus if available.

1. Purchasing from the iTunes Store: You can buy individual songs or albums from the iTunes Store, which will download as M4A files.
2. Using Apple Music: If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can download M4A files from the Apple Music library.
3. Converting from other formats: If you have existing music files in other formats (e.g., MP3), you can convert them to M4A using third-party software or online tools.