# Is there a way to play DRM protected WMA files on a Mac **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406 "2008-12-31T21:37:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/1 "2008-12-31T21:37:14Z")
I bought nine songs from the Microsoft music store a few years ago. I later bought an iPod not realizing that I couldn’t play those songs anymore. And now I have a Mac. Is there a way I can play those songs on a Mac? A free solution would be best, because It would only cost nine bucks to replace them. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/2 "2008-12-31T21:48:17Z")
Burn 'em as audio files to a CD, then rip it with iTunes on the Mac is probably the only way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/3 "2008-12-31T22:09:59Z")
I tried that already. All I got was a copy of the protected files. Thanks anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/4 "2008-12-31T22:38:41Z")
[This seems like it might be helpful to you.](http://www.tuneclone.com/how-to-convert-wma-to-mp3-for-ipod.php) ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/5 "2008-12-31T22:49:57Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > [This seems like it might be helpful to you.](http://www.tuneclone.com/how-to-convert-wma-to-mp3-for-ipod.php) That is a .exe file and as far as I know those won’t play on a Mac. Am I wrong about that? ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/6 "2008-12-31T22:52:50Z")
You’d have to convert them on a PC first. Do you have access to a PC, even temporarily? ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/7 "2008-12-31T22:59:52Z")
Yes, but it’s my sister’s and I was afraid of downloading crap onto it. That file won’t be a problem? ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-play-drm-protected-wma-files-on-a-mac/479406/8 "2008-12-31T23:43:22Z")
It says that I need the password to play the protected files. I’m just going to buy them again from iTunes. Thanks for your help.