- Part 1. What Is FLAC?
- Part 2. Does Apple Music Support FLAC?
- Part 3. How to Convert Apple Music to FLAC Losslessly
- Part 4. FAQs About Apple Music to FLAC Lossless Format
Part 1. What Is FLAC?
FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. It is a lossless compression format that reduces file size without any loss of audio data, so a decoded FLAC file is bit-for-bit identical to the original source. Audiophiles and archivists favor FLAC because it combines high fidelity, wide software and hardware support, and robust metadata handling. FLAC is open and royalty free, making it a durable choice for long term music storage and sharing.
- Lossless compression: no quality loss when encoding and decoding.
- Good compression ratios: typically reduces file size significantly versus raw WAV.
- Metadata support: tags and cover art are stored with the file.
- Fast seeking and streaming friendly.
- Open and royalty free; wide platform support.
- Ideal for archiving and transcoding without introducing generation loss.
Part 2. Does Apple Music Support FLAC?
Apple Music does not distribute FLAC files as its native streaming or download format. Apple uses Apple Lossless Audio Codec, ALAC, for its lossless catalog and for downloadable lossless tracks available to subscribers.
ALAC and FLAC are both lossless and deliver equivalent audio quality, but Apple chooses ALAC because it is integrated into Apple Music and Apple devices. If you need FLAC files specifically, you will need to convert from Apple Music (ALAC stream) to FLAC using a converter that captures lossless streams.
Part 3. How to Convert Apple Music to FLAC Losslessly
Converting Apple Music to FLAC losslessly typically requires software that can capture the Apple Music stream and export it to a lossless container while preserving metadata. TuneMobie Apple Music Converter is a widely used tool that integrates a built-in Apple Music web player, lets you sign in to your Apple Music account, and convert albums or playlists to FLAC and other formats. The converter claims to keep ID3 metadata, artwork, and maintain high-quality output while offering batch conversion and flexible output naming and sorting rules. If your goal is an Apple Music FLAC download for use on non-Apple players, TuneMobie provides a straightforward path.
- Built-in Apple Music web player: access library and playlists directly.
- Output to FLAC and other formats: choose FLAC for lossless archives.
- Batch convert whole Apple Music albums and playlists in one job.
- Preserve ID3 tags, album art, track number, and other metadata.
- Custom output settings: bitrate, file name template, folder structure.
- Fast conversion speeds and queue management for large libraries.
- Works on Windows and Mac with similar UI and feature set.
Step 1: Open TuneMobie Apple Music Converter. Use the built-in Apple Music web player and click Sign In (upper right). After sign-in, your Apple Music library and playlists appear in the left panel.
Step 2: Open Settings, select FLAC and choose bitrate (up to 320 kbps). Set output folder, rename and sorting rules, and any post-conversion action such as opening the output folder when finished.
Step 3: Browse the built-in player to an album or playlist and open its detail page to list tracks. Click Add to list to queue all songs, or pick individual tracks to add.
Step 4: Tracks are checked by default. Uncheck any you do not want. Click Convert. TuneMobie captures the audio stream and ID3 metadata, then creates files in the chosen format and folder. If FLAC is selected, your output will be FLAC files ready for playback on FLAC-compatible players.
FAQs About Apple Music to FLAC Lossless Format
1. Can I Download Apple Music FLAC?
Not directly from Apple Music. Apple lets subscribers download lossless tracks as ALAC. To get FLAC, convert the Apple Music lossless stream to FLAC with a converter like TuneMobie.
2. Can I Play FLAC Files on Apple Music?
Apple Music app does not natively use FLAC as its streaming or download format. You can play FLAC on some Apple devices using third-party players or by converting FLAC to ALAC for native playback.
3. Is ALAC as good as FLAC?
Yes. ALAC and FLAC are both lossless. They preserve the original audio data. Differences are about ecosystem compatibility, not audio quality. ALAC is the Apple-native choice.
Conclusion
If you want Apple Music FLAC files, the practical route today is to use a converter that captures Apple Music lossless streams and exports FLAC with metadata intact. Apple Music does not provide FLAC downloads natively, but ALAC delivers the same audio fidelity inside Apple devices. Tools like TuneMobie Apple Music Converter let you convert Apple Music to FLAC for wider playback options while preserving tags and album structure. Use the steps above to perform a lossless Apple Music FLAC download workflow for your personal collection.