To convert AAC to M4A, select or drop your .aac file above, check that M4A is chosen as the output, and click Convert. This conversion runs on our server, and your files are deleted 72 hours later.
What is an AAC file?
AAC – AAC audio. AAC is the successor of MP3: it sounds better at the same size. A bare .aac file is a stream of AAC frames; the usual home of AAC is the M4A file. Converting makes a new file: the sound is decoded and written again, so converting from a lossy format never brings back what was lost.
AAC Converter →What is an M4A file?
M4A – MPEG-4 audio (M4A). M4A is audio (usually AAC or Apple Lossless) in an MP4 file, the format of iTunes, Apple Music and iPhone voice memos. Converting makes a new file: the sound is decoded and written again, so converting from a lossy format never brings back what was lost.
M4A Converter →How to convert AAC to M4A
- Click Select File, or drop your .aac files anywhere on this page. You can add several at once.
- Check that M4A is chosen as the output format. On this page it is picked for you.
- Click Convert. When a file has to go to our server, the button says Upload and convert instead.
- Click Download next to each file when it's done.
AAC vs M4A: how they compare
| AAC | M4A | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | A stream of sound | A stream of sound |
| Editable | In audio editors | In audio editors |
| Created by | MPEG, 1997 | Apple, 2001 |
| Best for | Music on phones and streaming | Music in iTunes and on iPhones |
Good to know
- The sound is decoded and written as an M4A file at a fixed quality (192 kbit/s).
- Both are lossy, so converting costs a little quality each time: keep the original and convert from it when you can.
- Tags such as title and artist are kept where the new format has room for them. Only the first audio track is converted; pictures and video are left out.
Frequently asked questions
Is converting AAC to M4A free?
Yes. Everyone gets 25 free credits a day, with no account needed. Conversions on our server use one credit per started minute of work, so most cost a single credit. Credits reset at midnight UTC.
Are my AAC files uploaded anywhere?
This conversion runs on our server, because converting audio needs ffmpeg, which does not run in a browser. Your file is sent over an encrypted connection, and both it and the result are deleted 72 hours after the conversion. The server has no internet access while it works on your file.
How large can the AAC file be?
Up to 1 GB per file. This conversion runs on our server, which accepts files up to that size.
Will the M4A look the same as the AAC?
It sounds very close: the sound is encoded again as M4A at a fixed quality, so a little detail is lost, and tags such as title and artist are kept where M4A has room for them.
Can I convert several AAC files at once?
Yes. Add as many files as you like; they are converted one after another, and each one gets its own Download button.
How long does converting AAC to M4A take?
In our tests a one-hour WAV recording became an M4A file in about 46 seconds. A song of a few minutes takes a few seconds, and most conversions cost a single credit.
Convert AAC to other formats
- AAC Converter
- AAC to AIFF Converter
- AAC to FLAC Converter
- AAC to MP3 Converter
- AAC to WAV Converter
- AAC to WMA Converter
Convert other files to M4A
- Convert to M4A
- MP4 to M4A Converter
- MOV to M4A Converter
- MKV to M4A Converter
- AVI to M4A Converter
- WEBM to M4A Converter
- WMV to M4A Converter
- FLV to M4A Converter
- MP3 to M4A Converter
- WAV to M4A Converter
- FLAC to M4A Converter
All audio formats
Updated