M4A to MP3 Converter
M4A is the file extension Apple uses for AAC audio inside an MP4 container. What iTunes and Apple Music produce when you rip a CD or download a track. Most modern devices play M4A directly, but older car stereos, MP3-only USB sticks, and some podcast hosts still need MP3.
How it works
Drop the M4A
Files from iTunes, Apple Music (DRM-free), or any AAC encoder.
Up to 200 MB
Pick a bitrate
iTunes downloads were typically 256 kbps AAC. Re-encoding to 320 kbps MP3 keeps everything audible. 192 kbps is enough for most consumer playback.
Encoder: libmp3lame · CBR
Download
iTunes-style metadata (artist, album, track number, artwork) maps to ID3v2 tags on the MP3.
Standard MP3 with ID3v2
Escape the Apple format
For the car stereo that still won't read M4A
Your phone plays M4A fine, but plug a USB stick into an older car, load a track into DJ software, or send audio to a podcast host, and half of them still demand plain MP3. This converts your iTunes and Apple Music rips into the format that plays absolutely everywhere, no more 'unsupported file' on the dashboard.
Tags come along
Keeps your artist, album, and cover art intact
The annoying part of most converters is they hand you a naked MP3 with no title, no artist, no artwork, a library nightmare. This maps the iTunes-style metadata straight onto ID3v2 tags, so the converted file still shows up properly in your player instead of as 'Unknown Artist, Track 01'.
Straight answer on DRM
Old locked iTunes purchases can't be converted
If your file ends in .m4p, a purchase from before Apple dropped DRM in 2009, it's locked, and no browser tool can open it. Everything since is .m4a and converts cleanly, including Apple Lossless. And like every tool here, the whole thing runs in your browser: no upload, no signup, no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between M4A and AAC?
AAC is the codec. The actual audio compression algorithm. M4A is the container. A stripped-down MP4 file holding only audio. So an .m4a is an .aac stream wrapped in MP4. ffmpeg unwraps the AAC stream, decodes it, and re-encodes to MP3.
Will old iTunes purchases work?
DRM-protected iTunes Store purchases (.m4p, pre-2009) can't be converted by any browser tool. Apple removed DRM in 2009; everything after that is .m4a and converts fine. If your file extension is .m4p, the file is locked and you'll need to unlock it through legal means first.
What about Apple Lossless (.m4a from Apple Music)?
Apple Lossless files are also .m4a, but use ALAC instead of AAC. ffmpeg decodes both. Converting Apple Lossless M4A to MP3 is a lossless-to-lossy conversion. Pick 320 kbps to preserve the most quality.
Goes well with this tool
AAC to MP3
Raw .aac files (no MP4 wrapper).
WAV to MP3
Encode from a lossless source.
MP3 to WAV
Reverse. MP3 audio into uncompressed WAV.
AI Mastering
Master before encoding to MP3.
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Supports WAV · FLAC · MP3 · M4A · AIFF