Convert .M4A to .MP3

Conversion possible

M4A usually contains AAC (lossy) or Apple Lossless (ALAC). Converting to MP3 makes the file work almost everywhere, at a small cost in quality.

How to convert .M4A to .MP3

1. Use the Music app or iTunes, VLC, Audacity or any FFmpeg-based converter.
2. Choose MP3 with 192 to 320 kbps, or a variable bitrate of similar quality.
3. Convert from the original M4A, not from a file that was already converted.

What to expect

• Both formats use lossy compression, so every conversion costs some quality. Convert once from the original and do not convert the result again.
• Protected M4P files bought with DRM cannot be converted this way.

Created with the help of AI and not yet reviewed editorially. How we use AI and review content

About .M4A

.M4A is a file extension for an audio file encoded with Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) which offers high-quality sound. It is part of the MPEG-4 format and is often used for storing music and other audio content.

.M4A files are audio files commonly used for storing music and podcasts, playable on most devices and platforms.

About .MP3

MP3, or MPEG Audio Layer III, is a digital audio format that uses lossy compression to reduce file size by removing inaudible frequencies. It is widely used for music streaming and storage due to its balance of quality and size.

MP3 is a popular audio format known for its efficient compression, making it ideal for music and podcasts.

Conversion tools

These tools support converting .M4A to .MP3.

Related guides

• How to open .M4A files
• How to open .MP3 files
• File extension index