How to convert M4A (AAC/ALAC) to MP3
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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 MP3
NexMedia converts M4A (AAC/ALAC) to MP3 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 MP3 online free, no account required — MP3 is a universally supported lossy audio format.
Change M4A to MP3 without losing quality — convert M4A to MP3 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 MP3
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is a lossy audio format from the early 1990s. It removes the sound listeners are least likely to notice, typically at 128 to 320 kbit/s.
It plays on virtually every device and app, which makes it the default for music files, podcasts and audiobooks.
MP3 tops out at 320 kbit/s and two channels, and every re-encode removes a little more detail.
Why convert music to MP3? Every device, car stereo and app made in the last 25 years plays it, so nothing and nobody is left out.
What changes when you convert M4A to MP3
- The audio is decoded and re-encoded as MP3 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 MP3, 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 MP3 file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
M4A to MP3: questions and answers
Does converting M4A to MP3 reduce quality?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as MP3 at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical.
What is the difference between M4A and MP3?
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually holding AAC. MP3 is a universally supported lossy audio format.
Can I change the settings when converting M4A to MP3?
Before you convert M4A to MP3, 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 MP3?
No. You can convert M4A to MP3 without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted MP3 file kept?
The MP3 file you convert from M4A is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
When I convert M4A to MP3, is the audio re-encoded?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as MP3 at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical.
Will converting M4A to MP3 change my original file?
No. The conversion reads your M4A and writes a new MP3 file, leaving your original M4A file untouched.