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M4A to MP3 Converter

Convert your M4A files to MP3 format. Private — converted on your device.

Processed on your device — files never leave your machine

Drop your M4A file here or click to browse

Converted on your device — files never uploaded

How to Convert M4A to MP3

  1. 1 Upload your M4A file
  2. 2 Converted on your device — files never uploaded
  3. 3 Download your MP3 file

M4A to MP3: Apple audio for any player

M4A is the audio-only form of the MP4 container. iTunes Store downloads, iPhone Voice Memos and many podcast and phone recordings arrive as M4A, most holding AAC and some Apple Lossless (ALAC). MP3 is the safer choice for an older car stereo, a portable player, DJ software or an upload form that turns M4A away.

Both kinds decode on your device, Apple Lossless included, and leave as an MP3 at the setting you pick: a constant 128, 192, 256 or 320 kbps, or variable-bitrate V0. From a 256 kbps AAC file, 256 or 320 kbps keeps the copy closest to its source; lower settings save space and give up detail. The MP3 is written at 44.1 or 48 kHz, so a high-resolution Apple Lossless file is resampled: 88.2 kHz to 44.1 kHz, 96 kHz to 48 kHz.

Copy-protected .m4p files, the iTunes Store's format before 2009, are not supported: nothing on this page decrypts them. Title, artist and artwork stay behind in the M4A. Files over 30 minutes are refused, as is one too large for your device's memory, a limit that is lower on a phone or tablet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is M4A or MP3 better quality?
Both M4A (usually AAC) and MP3 are lossy formats. MP3 has the widest device compatibility. Quality depends on the bitrate — 320 kbps is near-transparent for most listeners.
Will I lose quality converting M4A to MP3?
Each lossy re-encoding loses a small amount of quality. For one conversion at 320 kbps, the loss is negligible. Avoid converting back and forth between lossy formats repeatedly.
How long does conversion take?
Seconds for most files. Conversion runs entirely on your device — no upload wait, no server queue. Files up to 30 minutes long are supported.
Can I convert songs bought from the iTunes Store?
Yes, if they are plain .m4a files, which the store has sold since 2009. Older protected .m4p purchases and Apple Music downloads are encrypted, and this converter cannot decrypt them.
Are the song title and artwork copied?
No. The MP3 is written without ID3 tags or cover art. Add them afterwards in your music library app or a tag editor.
Is Apple Lossless a good source for MP3?
Yes. It holds the full original audio, so the MP3 is one lossy generation away from the recording rather than two, as it is when the M4A holds AAC.
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