M4P (protected AAC)
Also known as: M4P, .m4p file, protected AAC, DRM iTunes
M4P (.m4p) is a protected AAC audio file that carries DRM (digital rights management), historically sold by the older iTunes Store. The DRM ties playback to authorized Apple accounts and devices, so an .m4p will not play freely the way an unprotected .m4a or MP3 does.
- Protected AAC audio with FairPlay DRM
- Legacy of the old iTunes Music Store
- Plays only on authorized Apple accounts
What the “P” means
M4P holds AAC audio inside an MP4 container, just like the more common .m4a, but the “P” stands for protected: it includes FairPlay DRM. That copy protection was used by the early iTunes Music Store before Apple moved to DRM-free downloads.
Because of the DRM, an .m4p file only plays on devices signed in to the account that bought it. Files you rip yourself or buy DRM-free today are normally .m4a, not .m4p.
Playing M4P today
Authorized Apple devices and the Music app play .m4p tracks tied to your account. Other players and phones generally cannot, because they cannot read the DRM.
These files are largely a legacy of old iTunes purchases. If you have the right to a DRM-free copy, Apple’s services or a re-download usually provide an unprotected version, and ordinary AAC/M4A files convert to MP3 freely while protected ones do not.