Apple TV+ & iTunes Purchases
The DRM wall — what you bought and what you'll lose
⚠️ The hard truth
If you've spent hundreds of dollars on iTunes movies over the years, you cannot take that library with you when you leave Apple. Your purchases are FairPlay DRM-locked. Apple does not provide a DRM-free export option. The content remains accessible through the Apple TV app on supported devices (including some Roku and Fire TV hardware), but it is not portable to a Linux machine, a de-Googled Android phone, or a Windows media server.
What it is
Apple sells movies, TV shows, and books through the iTunes Store (now Apple TV and Apple Books), and offers Apple TV+ as a subscription streaming service at $9.99/month. This is the most acute DRM problem in the Apple ecosystem: content you've paid for can only be watched on Apple devices or via the Apple TV app on select third-party hardware (Roku, Fire TV, Smart TVs). There is no legal way to export an iTunes purchased film and play it on a non-Apple, non-Apple-TV-app device.
What you lose
- All purchased iTunes movies and TV shows on non-Apple/non-Apple-TV-app devices
- Apple TV+ original content subscription (can be canceled, not portable)
- iTunes music purchases from the pre-streaming era (though Apple Music DRM has been removed for most purchased tracks — see note)
- Apple Books purchased content
iTunes music note
Music purchased from iTunes and downloaded to your library is DRM-free MP3/AAC and fully portable. You own those files. This is the one exception. If you have a local iTunes music library from the pre-streaming era, those files are yours to keep.
Your options for iTunes movies
- Continue accessing purchased content via the Apple TV app — available on Roku, Fire TV, Samsung/LG/Sony Smart TVs, and PlayStation. You don't need an Apple device, just the Apple TV app and your Apple ID.
- Accept the loss and rebuild your library on a DRM-free platform going forward
- Purchase future movies from Vudu or Movies Anywhere — both offer DRM-free downloads in many cases and Movies Anywhere links purchases across multiple storefronts
Movies Anywhere
Movies Anywhere (moviesanywhere.com) links your iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and Amazon movie purchases into one library. If a movie is available on Movies Anywhere, a purchase on any connected storefront is accessible on all others. This is the closest thing to portability for digital movie purchases.
Not all iTunes purchases are Movies Anywhere eligible — Disney, Universal, and some other studios participate, but not all. Check moviesanywhere.com before assuming your library will transfer.
Alternatives
- Movies Anywhere — Connect your iTunes library. Some purchases become cross-platform. Free service.
- Vudu — Walmart-owned digital storefront. Strong DRM-free download selection. Connected to Movies Anywhere.
- Kaleidescape — Premium home theater platform with full DRM-free 4K downloads. Expensive but actually portable. For enthusiasts.
- Plex — Self-hosted media server. If you own physical Blu-rays, rip them to your own Plex library and stream to any device. No DRM, no subscription required for local streaming. Legal to rip Blu-rays you own in most jurisdictions for personal use.
Migration steps
- Connect your Apple ID to Movies Anywhere (moviesanywhere.com) and check which purchases transfer
- Install the Apple TV app on your Roku or Smart TV — maintain access to your iTunes library there
- Export your DRM-free iTunes music files to a local drive before leaving Apple
- Cancel Apple TV+ subscription (Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions)
- Accept the genuine loss of DRM-locked content that doesn't have Movies Anywhere equivalents
- For future purchases, use Movies Anywhere-compatible storefronts (Vudu) or buy physical media