How to Transfer Your Apple Music Library to Plex Media Server

If you are an audiophile who saved a large music collection on your local computer, you may like to access and listen to those favorite songs everywhere and anytime. In this case, an all-round music streaming solution such as Plex is necessary. As a powerful central hub for your media collection, Plex is able to store and stream all your media files including music, movies, and TV shows from any device anytime.

However, it's not as easy as you expect if you want to stream Apple Music to Plex Media Server. Something called DRM is used to encrypt Apple Music from being shared to other platforms without the authorization of Apple Music. But don't worry. Here we are about to show you a workaround on how to easily play Apple Music through Plex Media Server in order to make Apple Music accessible on any device.

Part 1. Apple Music to Plex - What You'll Need

1. Plex Media Server - Best Alternatives to iTunes for Apple Music

Plex is a client-server media player system and software suite comprising two main components including Plex Media Server and Plex Media Player. Since Apple is sunsetting iTunes and establishing three new apps to carry the load going forward, Plex has become the best replacement of iTunes. With Plex Media Server, you can get something better.

As a desktop application running on Windows, macOS, and Linux-compatibles including some types of NAS devices, Plex can serve as a central hub to organize video, audio, and photos from your collections and from online services, enabling users to access and stream various contents on a protable device like tablet or game consoles like Xbox One where Plex is installed.

2. ViWizard Audio Converter - Best Tool to Get DRM-free Apple Music Files

You may have already realized that Plex is not able to stream songs from Apple Music directly. But are you awere of the reasons? In fact, the cause that makes Apple Music unaccessible with Plex is Apple's DRM copyright protection. Apple uses this technology and restriction to control the use and distribution of its media contents.

Currently, only Apple approved devices have the privilege to play Apple Music songs. Therefore, if you want to stream Apple Music to other devices via Plex Media Server, the first important key is to get rid of the DRM protection from Apple Music. Now you meet ViWizard Audio Converter, a powerful and easy-to-use DRM removel soultion for Apple Music users.

ViWizard Audio Converter is compatible with Windows and Mac computers which is specialized in converting Apple Music contents to common audio formats, including MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, and M4B. Aside from Apple Music song, iTunes files, iTunes audiobooks and even Audible aduiobooks you synced with iTunes are supported in this ViWizard software. It's able to preserve the origianl ID3 tags and audio quality while stripping off the DRM protection. After conversion, you can freely transfer Apple Music tracks to Plex for playback.

Part 2. How to Download Apple Music Files for Plex Media Server

For streaming Apple Music to Plex, you need to download and install ViWizard Audio Converter and Plex Media Server to your computer first. Then you can follow the below steps to convert Apple Music to MP3 and then upload unprotected Apple Music files to Plex for playing.

Firstly, launch iTunes on your Windows or Music on your Mac. Then find Apple Music tracks you want to convert and download them to your computer drive. Now start your conversion using ViWizard Audio Converter.

Step 1Select Apple Music songs to convert

Open ViWizard Audio Converter on your computer and go to add music tracks you want to convert. Click the Add icon at the top center to load the songs you saved offline from iTunes or Apple Music and then add them to the conversion list. Also, you can add Apple Music songs to the converter by drag-and-drop.

Step 2Adjust the output audio parameters

Click the Format panel and then choose any outout audio format supported by Plex Media Server. ViWizard software supports MP3, WAV, AAC, M4A, M4B, and FLAC formats with customization of audio codec, bit rate, sample rate, and channel. In the pop-up window, you can set MP3 as the output format as MP3 is supported by most of devices and platforms.

Step 3Start removing DRM from Apple Music

Now click on the Convert button to start converting DRM-locked Apple Music songs to DRM-free MP3 format. When the process is done, you can click the history icon to browse the converted Apple Music in the history list. Furthermore, you can click the Search icon to locate the folder where you choose to save those music files.

Part 3. How to Upload Apple Music Files to Plex Media Server

Now you have the ability to upload the DRM-free Apple Music files to Plex Media Server at any time without any upload limits. Once uploaded, you can stream them through Plex on all your devices with the Plex app.

How to set up your Plex Media Server with on-screen instructions?

You can follow any steps on the screen to set up your own Plex Media Server and create your music library for the downloaded Apple Music.

1. Depending on your computer device, go to https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/ to have the Plex Media Server. Select Choose Distribution and your OS to download and install it to your device. Once installed, launch the Plex Media Server.

2. If you don't have a Plex account, please use one of the main methods here to sign up for Plex.

3. Give a name to your Plex Server to continue.

4. After that, Plex will ask if you wish to sync your data across all your Plex Media Servers, such as Plex Movies & TV, Discover and more. Select "YES, START SYNCING" or "NO".

5. To finish your Plex Media Server setup, you'll need to create a new music library for your Apple Music downloads. Select "ADD LIBRARY" > "Select type" > "Music". You'll also need to name your music library and choose your language for information gathered from the internet.

6. Select Next. To upload your Apple Music downloads to that music library, select BROWSE FOR MEDIA FOLDER. In the pop-up, head to your source folder and click "ADD LIBRARY". You can also add multiple source folders to Plex and Plex will take care of the rest.

How to create a music library on Plex Media Server for Apple Music?

1. If you already have your own Plex Media Server, you can launch the Plex Media Server desktop app to create a music library for your Apple Music downloads.

2. Click the tool icon in the upper right corner. This will open the settings menu. Please also ensure you select the correct Plex Media Server displayed in the drop-down menu.

3. In the left menu, select "Select type" > "Music".

4. Name the music library and also choose your language.

5. Select Next. Select "BROWSE FOR MEDIA FOLDER" to add the source folder where all the downloaded Apple Music files stored on. Select "ADD" to upload the files to your music library.

6. Select Next and Plex will scan your media and the files are now in your Plex library.

How to organize your Apple Music library on Plex Media Server?

Once you create your Apple Music library in the Plex Media Server app, Plex will organize it automatically, and makes it beautiful. You can now follow these steps to access your Apple Music library.

1. In the Plex Media Server app, click on the top icon in the upper right corner.

2. In the side menu, scroll down to Manage > Libraries.

3. Go into your Apple Music library.

4. Now you're able to view, play, edit and organize any Apple Music files in your music library.

Extra Tip: How to Get Unlimited Streaming with Plex for iOS App

You're now able to stream these Apple Music files with one Plex Media Server. If you have iOS device, you can have the Plex for iOS app from the App Store to access these features for free.

However, there're some limitations without unlocking the app. When playing or viewing media from your Plex Media Server on the device:

Please consider to unlock or activate the Plex for iOS app to have the unlimited experience when streaming from your own Plex Media Server. Your options are as follows:

1. Plex Pass Subscription

2. One-Time Purchase in the App

3. Previous Purchase

You can start the Plex Pass Subscription at any time through iTunes. If you are not interested in a subscription, you can choose to unlock Plex for iOS through a simple, one-time purchase. Go pro with Plex Pass >>

IMPORTANT: Doing the in-app purchase of Plex for Ios does not give you a Plex Pass subscription; it only unlocks the app itself to remove the limitations above.

Conclusion

Deciding where to store your media files is always an important step for your playback on your device. Once iTunes was a magical musical playground that ushered in an exciting new world of digital music, now Plex is the best replacement of iTunes. With the assistance of ViWizard Audio Converter, you can upload Apple Music into Plex for playing anytime.