Convert M4P to iPod Audio — Free Online Converter
Convert iTunes Protected AAC (.m4p) to iPod Audio (.ipod-audio) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or registration....
Secure Transfer
HTTPS encrypted uploads
Privacy First
Files auto-deleted after processing
No Registration
Start converting instantly
Works Everywhere
Any browser, any device
How to Convert
Upload your .m4p file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .m4a file when it's ready.
About M4P to iPod Audio Conversion
M4P is Apple's DRM-protected iTunes format. iPod Audio produces AAC in M4A — the native codec every iPod was designed around. The iPod Classic's Wolfson/Cirrus Logic DAC includes dedicated AAC hardware decoders, and every iPod model since 2001 plays AAC natively.
Since unprotected M4P and M4A share identical MPEG-4 container structure, this conversion is a stream copy that strips DRM metadata — producing clean M4A files that sync seamlessly through iTunes to any iPod.
Why Convert M4P to iPod Audio?
Old M4P files from the early iTunes Store (2003-2009) may not sync to iPod correctly due to residual DRM flags. Even after DRM removal, iTunes may still treat M4P files as protected, preventing sync. Converting to clean M4A resolves these sync issues.
The iPod Classic's hardware AAC decoder provides 30+ hours of battery life — but only when the firmware correctly identifies the file as unprotected M4A. DRM-flagged M4P files may trigger software decode paths with reduced battery performance.
Common Use Cases
- Fixing iTunes sync issues with old M4P files that fail to transfer to iPod
- Cleaning up an iTunes library of DRM-era purchases for iPod Classic
- Ensuring maximum iPod battery life by providing clean AAC files to the hardware decoder
- Preparing old iTunes purchases for iPod Nano/Shuffle with limited storage
- Normalizing a library containing mixed M4P and M4A files for consistent iPod sync
How It Works
FFmpeg performs stream copy (-c:a copy) from M4P to M4A. The AAC bitstream transfers bit-identically while DRM metadata atoms are removed. iTunes-compatible metadata (artist, album, artwork, track numbers) is preserved through the shared MPEG-4 container structure. The clean M4A syncs to iPod via iTunes without DRM-related errors.
Quality & Performance
Perfectly lossless via stream copy. The AAC audio is bit-identical in the output M4A file. No decoding or re-encoding occurs.
Device Compatibility
| Device | M4P | iPod Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Recommended Settings by Platform
Spotify
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 320 kbps
OGG Vorbis preferred
Apple Music
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 256 kbps
AAC format required
SoundCloud
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
Lossless FLAC/WAV for best quality
Podcast
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
MP3 mono for spoken word
Tips for Best Results
- 1Stream copy for instant lossless conversion — preserves exact AAC quality
- 2Verify DRM is removed before conversion — iTunes Match is the easiest upgrade
- 3Clean M4A files sync to iPod without DRM-related errors
- 4Batch convert your entire M4P collection for a clean iPod library
- 5Test sync a few files before batch converting to confirm iPod compatibility
M4P to iPod Audio resolves DRM-related sync issues by producing clean M4A files optimized for iPod hardware AAC decoding. Instant, lossless conversion.