You cannot “choose” M4A over MP3 in iTunes—Apple delivers everything in M4A by default. Here’s how to download your purchased music:
It is important to clarify what you mean by "download": itunes m4a music download install
✅ Older iTunes purchases (before 2009) used protected .m4p files. Those will not play on non-Apple devices. Re-download them today—Apple now delivers DRM-free .m4a . You cannot “choose” M4A over MP3 in iTunes—Apple
The "Music" app has replaced iTunes. However, the logic remains identical: You download M4A files through the or the iTunes Store within the app. itunes m4a music download install
in the sidebar, and find your purchases under your account to redownload them. Ensuring M4A format: