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M4A to MP3 converter

M4A to MP3 Converter: iPhone Voice Memos and iTunes Audio to MP3

Convert M4A files to MP3 at 128 to 320 kbps, including iPhone Voice Memos and Apple Lossless files. Free, in your browser, with nothing uploaded.

  • M4A files only
  • File is not uploaded
  • 128 to 320 kbps
  • Up to 150 MB

Start here

Convert your M4A to MP3

The file stays in this browser.

  1. Choose your M4A file
  2. Pick the MP3 quality
  3. Download your MP3

Drop your M4A file here

M4A files only, up to 150 MB. The file stays in this browser.

Audio quality

Duration is not available yet, so there is no size estimate.

.mp3

One file at a time, up to 150 MB. Quality choices are 128, 192, 256, and 320 kbps.

Audio conversion uses FFmpeg through the single-threaded @ffmpeg/core 0.12.10 build, licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later. FFmpeg. ffmpeg.wasm.

M4A is Apple's favorite audio format. Your iPhone's Voice Memos and songs bought from the iTunes Store are M4A files. They play fine on Apple devices but can fail on older car stereos, some Android apps, web forms and transcription tools. This free online M4A to MP3 converter turns them into MP3s that work everywhere, without sending your recordings to a server. For raw .aac files, use AAC to MP3.

How it works

How do I convert M4A to MP3?

Five audio format waveforms compared side by side
  1. Click Browse files or drag the M4A onto the converter.
  2. Choose the Audio quality: 128 kbps for voice, 192 kbps for music.
  3. Click Convert to MP3.
  4. Click Download MP3.

How it works

How do I convert an iPhone voice memo to MP3?

This page works as a voice memo to MP3 converter in two steps. First, save the memo as a file. In Voice Memos, tap the recording, tap the More or Share button, choose Save to Files and pick a folder. Apple says recordings are exported in .m4a format by default. Then:

  1. Open this page in Safari on the same iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse files, choose Choose Files and open the folder where you saved the memo.
  3. Pick 128 kbps, which is plenty for speech, and tap Convert to MP3.
  4. Tap Download MP3. The file lands in Files > Downloads, ready to share.

On a Mac, drag a recording out of the Voice Memos app into a Finder window, then drop that file onto this page.

Basics

What is an M4A file?

M4A is an MPEG-4 file that holds only audio. The extension tells players "no video here." Inside, the sound is usually AAC, a lossy codec, or sometimes ALAC (Apple Lossless). Both convert here; we tested Apple Lossless M4A files. Protected iTunes files from before 2009 use the .m4p extension and are not accepted.

Inside the M4ATypical sourceSuggested MP3 bitrate
AAC, voiceVoice Memos, call recorders128 kbps
AAC, musiciTunes Store purchases, Apple Music app imports192 or 256 kbps
ALAC (Apple Lossless)CD imports set to Apple Lossless320 kbps

You will sometimes see M4A misspelled as "MA4" or confused with "MP4A". MP4A is the code an MP4 uses for AAC audio, so it is the same kind of sound.

Formats

Will converting M4A to MP3 reduce quality?

Slightly, if the M4A holds AAC, because you are re-compressing compressed audio. Use the same bitrate as the source or a step above. A 128 kbps AAC song converted at 192 kbps keeps practically all of its quality. Going to 320 kbps only makes the file bigger. From Apple Lossless, 320 kbps gives an excellent MP3.

Why Convertola

Why is the MP3 bigger than my M4A?

AAC is more efficient than MP3, so MP3 needs more data for similar sound. In our test, a one-minute AAC M4A at 128 kbps weighed 972,905 bytes. Its MP3 at 192 kbps weighed 1,441,474 bytes, about 1.5 times as much. You gain compatibility, not space.

Limits

Limits of the M4A to MP3 page

This page accepts .m4a files only, up to 150 MB and one at a time. It does not convert Apple Music or other streaming downloads, which are protected and are not regular files. It does not edit tags or trim audio. For any other file, use the main MP3 converter.

More detail in our guides: Convert to MP3 on a Mac: Music App, QuickTime or Your Browser and Best MP4 to MP3 Converter: What Actually Matters.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about M4A to MP3

Is this M4A to MP3 converter free?

Yes. It is free with no sign-up, and the conversion happens in your browser.

Are my voice memos uploaded?

No. The M4A stays on your iPhone or computer. Only the MP3 you download is created.

What bitrate should I use for voice memos?

128 kbps. It keeps speech clear and makes the smallest MP3.

Can I convert Apple Lossless (ALAC) M4A files?

Yes. Apple Lossless M4A files convert like any other M4A. Choose 320 kbps to keep as much detail as possible.

Is M4A better quality than MP3?

At the same bitrate, AAC in an M4A usually sounds a little better than MP3. MP3 is chosen for compatibility.

Can I convert M4A to MP3 on Windows?

Yes. Open this page in Edge, Chrome or Firefox and drag the M4A from File Explorer onto the converter.

Get started

Convert your M4A to MP3

Choose the M4A, pick a bitrate and download an MP3 that plays on any device.

Choose an M4A

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