Can NCM format music be played in the car?
3 Answers
NCM format music cannot be played in the car. The NCM format is an encrypted format exclusive to NetEase Cloud Music and is not supported by other players. This is a measure taken by NetEase Cloud Music to protect copyright, applied to the original audio format, so only software capable of decoding it can play the files universally. If you wish to play NCM files, you can convert them to MP3 format. The specific method is as follows: 1. Open the NCM batch conversion software, click on 'Drag files to the list box above' located at the bottom left of the conversion software; 2. In the new pop-up window, click on the NCM format song you want to convert; 3. Check the NCM format song in the software window, then click the 'Start Conversion' button; 4. In the new pop-up window, select the save directory for the converted MP3 format song, click the 'OK' button, and wait for the software to display a successful conversion notification.
As a long-time NetEase Cloud Music user, I love listening to songs while driving. The NCM format is NetEase's encrypted format, making it nearly impossible to play directly in cars since vehicle systems can't install dedicated software like computers. My old Nissan Sylphy simply doesn't recognize such files - inserting a USB drive with NCM files directly shows format errors. Later I learned to convert them to MP3 using Format Factory after downloading, which slightly reduces audio quality but saves a lot of hassle. While newer electric vehicles like Tesla might support direct NetEase Cloud Music app connection, older gasoline cars really have to rely on conversion. My suggestion is to pair with mobile Bluetooth for practicality and easier song selection.
I remember last year when I tried playing NCM files in my friend's Camry, the car's infotainment system immediately threw an error. Actually, most car audio players can only recognize conventional formats like MP3 and WMA. Encrypted formats with copyright protection like NCM require dedicated decoders. My car's manual clearly lists the supported audio formats, and NCM isn't mentioned at all. If you really want to play them on the original car system, you can either use NetEase Cloud Music's official conversion tool to export MP3 files, or buy a car phone mount and play via Bluetooth—the latter actually provides more stable sound quality.
