Older Windows users still use the classic iTunes app.

If you’ve ever searched for “download iTunes M4A,” you’re probably trying to get your music library in a high-quality, Apple-friendly format. Here’s the reality today:

No — Apple Music streaming songs are encrypted (even if downloaded offline for listening within the app). They cannot be moved as regular .m4a files. You can only permanently download M4A files for music you bought (not streamed).