Downloading iTunes movies to an external hard drive offers a convenient way to back up your purchases and enjoy them on different devices without relying solely on iCloud storage. While directly downloading movies from iTunes to an external drive isn’t straightforward due to DRM restrictions, this guide provides detailed workarounds and solutions to achieve this, allowing you to manage your digital library effectively.
Understanding the Challenges: DRM and iTunes Movies
Before diving into the methods, it’s crucial to understand the technological hurdle: Digital Rights Management (DRM). iTunes movies are protected by FairPlay DRM, designed to prevent unauthorized copying. This protection limits where and how you can play the movies you’ve purchased. Consequently, you can’t simply drag and drop iTunes movie files from your computer to an external drive and expect them to play on any device. Understanding this limitation is the first step to finding practical solutions.
Method 1: Using iTunes Match for Offline Access and Backup
While not a direct download to an external drive, iTunes Match offers a workaround. This Apple service ($24.99/year) scans your music library (including iTunes movies, though primary benefit is music) and makes it available across all your devices.
Steps for Utilizing iTunes Match:
- Subscribe to iTunes Match: Open iTunes (or the Music app on macOS Catalina and later) and navigate to the iTunes Store (or Music Store). Subscribe to iTunes Match.
- Update iCloud Music Library: After subscribing, iTunes will scan your music library and match your songs to the iTunes Store. This process also recognizes movies in your library.
- Download to Computer: On your computer, download the desired movies from the iCloud Music Library (through iTunes/Music app) to your local drive.
- Copy to External Hard Drive: Once downloaded to your local drive, you can then copy the movie files (typically in the .m4v format) to your external hard drive.
Important Considerations:
- iTunes Match primarily focuses on music; movie availability might be limited.
- This method doesn’t remove DRM; it facilitates download from iCloud to your computer first, and then to the external drive. You still need an authorized Apple device to play these movies legally.
Method 2: Utilizing a DRM Removal Tool (Legal Considerations)
Disclaimer: Removing DRM from copyrighted content may violate copyright laws in your jurisdiction. This section is provided for informational purposes only, and you are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable laws.
There are DRM removal tools available that claim to strip the DRM protection from iTunes movies, allowing you to convert them to DRM-free formats like MP4. This allows for more flexibility in playback and storage.
Steps for Using a DRM Removal Tool:
- Research and Choose a Reputable Tool: Several DRM removal tools exist (search for “iTunes DRM removal tools”). Read reviews and ensure the tool is compatible with your operating system and iTunes version.
- Download and Install the Software: Follow the installation instructions provided by the software vendor.
- Import iTunes Movies: The software will typically allow you to import your iTunes movies directly from your iTunes library.
- Initiate DRM Removal and Conversion: Choose the desired output format (MP4 is a common choice) and start the conversion process.
- Copy to External Hard Drive: Once the conversion is complete, the DRM-free movie files can be copied to your external hard drive.
Risks Associated with DRM Removal:
- Legality: Removing DRM may be illegal in your region.
- Software Quality: DRM removal tools can be unreliable or contain malware.
- Loss of Quality: The conversion process may result in some loss of video or audio quality.
Method 3: Screen Recording (Lower Quality Option)
This is a last-resort, lower-quality method. You can record the iTunes movie playing on your screen using screen recording software.
Steps for Screen Recording:
- Choose Screen Recording Software: Several screen recording programs are available (e.g., OBS Studio, QuickTime Player).
- Configure Recording Settings: Adjust the recording settings to capture the entire screen or a specific window.
- Start Recording: Begin recording and play the iTunes movie.
- Stop Recording: Once the movie has finished playing, stop the recording.
- Edit and Save: Edit the recording to remove any unnecessary sections and save it to a file.
- Copy to External Hard Drive: Transfer the recorded movie file to your external hard drive.
Drawbacks of Screen Recording:
- Lower Quality: Screen recordings will generally have lower video and audio quality compared to the original movie.
- Time-Consuming: You have to play the entire movie while recording.
- System Resources: Screen recording can be resource-intensive and may slow down your computer.
- DRM Detection: Apple’s DRM might detect screen recording attempts and stop playback.
FAQs: Deep Diving into iTunes Movie Storage
FAQ 1: Will moving iTunes movies to an external hard drive delete them from my iTunes library?
No, moving the files themselves doesn’t automatically delete them from your iTunes library. However, if you later remove the original files from your computer, iTunes will need to access the external hard drive to play them. Ensure the external drive is connected and powered on.
FAQ 2: What happens if I try to play an iTunes movie directly from an external hard drive without DRM removal?
If the movie is still protected by DRM, you will only be able to play it on devices authorized with your Apple ID that also have iTunes (or the Apple TV app). You’ll need to ensure iTunes is open and authorized on that computer, and that the external drive remains connected.
FAQ 3: What file format are iTunes movies typically in?
iTunes movies are usually in the .m4v format, which is a container format that can contain video, audio, and metadata. It’s often protected by FairPlay DRM.
FAQ 4: Can I play iTunes movies on non-Apple devices if they are on an external hard drive?
Not directly, if the movies are still DRM-protected. You’ll need either to use an Apple device with your authorized Apple ID or to remove the DRM (with associated legal risks).
FAQ 5: How can I tell if an iTunes movie is DRM-protected?
Generally, if you downloaded the movie from the iTunes Store and haven’t explicitly removed DRM using a third-party tool, it is most likely protected. Attempting to copy or transfer the file to a non-authorized device is a good indicator – if it doesn’t play, it’s likely DRM-protected.
FAQ 6: Is it legal to remove DRM from iTunes movies I purchased?
The legality of DRM removal varies by jurisdiction. In many places, it’s illegal to circumvent DRM, even for personal use, if it violates copyright laws. Consult with legal counsel if you have concerns about the legal implications.
FAQ 7: What are the advantages of storing iTunes movies on an external hard drive?
Advantages include: freeing up space on your computer, creating backups of your purchases, and allowing access to your movies on multiple computers (with the aforementioned DRM restrictions in mind).
FAQ 8: What size external hard drive should I get for storing iTunes movies?
This depends on the number and size of your movies. A good rule of thumb is to calculate the total size of your existing movie library and then add a safety margin of at least 25% for future purchases. Movies can range from 1GB to 10GB or more depending on resolution and length.
FAQ 9: Can I stream iTunes movies from an external hard drive using Plex or similar media servers?
Yes, but only if you have successfully removed the DRM. Plex and similar media servers typically don’t support DRM-protected content.
FAQ 10: What should I do if my external hard drive containing iTunes movies fails?
Always have a backup! Consider creating a second backup on another external hard drive or using a cloud storage service.
FAQ 11: Will transferring iTunes movies to an external hard drive affect the video or audio quality?
The quality shouldn’t be affected during a simple file transfer. However, if you use a DRM removal tool that involves video conversion, there might be some quality loss. Screen recording will almost always result in lower quality.
FAQ 12: Is there an official Apple-supported method to directly download iTunes movies to an external hard drive?
No, Apple does not provide a direct, official method for bypassing DRM and downloading iTunes movies directly to an external hard drive. The methods outlined above are workarounds.