How to convert M4A (AAC/ALAC) to FLAC
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Upload your file
Drag and drop a file or click to select one. Keep this page open while the file uploads and converts.
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Convert M4A (AAC/ALAC) to FLAC
NexMedia converts M4A (AAC/ALAC) to FLAC on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
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Download the converted file
When the conversion finishes, the download appears on this page. Your converted file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
About M4A (AAC/ALAC)
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file: the MP4 container holding only audio, usually AAC and sometimes Apple Lossless (ALAC).
Music bought on iTunes, iPhone voice memos and many podcast downloads.
Whether an M4A is lossy or lossless depends on the codec inside, which the file extension does not show.
Convert M4A to FLAC online free, no account required — FLAC is a lossless compressed audio format.
Change M4A to FLAC without losing quality — convert M4A to FLAC free in your browser.
Why won't my car radio or old speaker play my M4A files? The MPEG-4 audio container is newer than MP3, and devices that only decode MP3 cannot read it until it is converted.
About FLAC
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) compresses audio without losing anything: the files are typically half to two thirds the size of WAV and decode back to the exact original samples.
Music archives, CD rips and high-resolution downloads.
FLAC files are several times larger than MP3, and some older players and car stereos do not play them.
Why convert CDs to FLAC instead of MP3? The copy is bit-for-bit identical to the original, so the archive never loses quality however often it is converted later.
What changes when you convert M4A to FLAC
- The audio is decoded and re-encoded as FLAC at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical.
Settings you can change
Before you convert M4A to FLAC, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Limits
Each plan sets a maximum file size and a number of conversions per day, and video and audio files also have a maximum length. Guests can convert files up to 100 megabytes and 5 per day; a free account raises this to 500 megabytes and 25 per day; paid plans go up to 100 gigabytes.
Your converted FLAC file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
M4A to FLAC: questions and answers
Does converting M4A to FLAC reduce quality?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as FLAC at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical.
What is the difference between M4A and FLAC?
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually holding AAC. FLAC is a lossless compressed audio format.
Can I change the settings when converting M4A to FLAC?
Before you convert M4A to FLAC, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Do I need an account to convert M4A to FLAC?
No. You can convert M4A to FLAC without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted FLAC file kept?
The FLAC file you convert from M4A is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
When I convert M4A to FLAC, is the audio re-encoded?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as FLAC at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical.
Will converting M4A to FLAC change my original file?
No. The conversion reads your M4A and writes a new FLAC file, leaving your original M4A file untouched.