How to convert M4A to MP3
Drop your M4A files into the box above, or click Choose files. You can add several at once.
Pick a bitrate. 192 kbps sounds transparent to most listeners; 320 kbps is the maximum.
Click Convert to MP3. Files are processed on your device; a few minutes of media usually takes seconds.
Download the MP3 files one by one, or all at once as a ZIP.
Why convert M4A to MP3?
M4A is Apple's default audio format: iPhone Voice Memos, GarageBand exports and iTunes purchases all use it. Outside Apple's world, though, some car stereos, older MP3 players, voice-over tools and upload forms only accept MP3.
MP3 is the most widely supported audio format there is. Converting removes any doubt about whether a recording will play.
Voice memos often contain private conversations, meetings or notes. Here they're converted on your device instead of being uploaded to a server.
M4A vs MP3
M4A usually contains AAC audio, which sounds slightly better than MP3 at the same bitrate. MP3 is older and a little less efficient, but it plays everywhere.
Both are lossy, so choose a bitrate at least as high as the original. Most voice memos are fine at 128 kbps; music deserves 192 kbps or more.
| Property | M4A | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy (AAC), occasionally lossless (ALAC) | Lossy |
| Quality | Slightly better than MP3 at the same bitrate | Very good at 192 kbps and above |
| File size | Similar to MP3 | About 1 MB per minute at 128 kbps |
| Best for | iPhone voice memos, iTunes and Apple Music downloads | Music and podcasts on any device |
| Support | Apple devices and modern players; some car stereos and older players lack it | Every player, phone, car and browser |
Is it safe?
Yes. M4A to MP3 runs entirely in your browser. Your files are read and converted by your own device using built-in browser technology, so they are never uploaded to a server and nobody else can see them.
You can check this yourself: open your browser's developer tools, switch to the Network tab and convert a file. No upload requests are made.
Audio is decoded and encoded by your browser, using its built-in media engine and a WebAssembly MP3 encoder. Recordings, voice memos and interviews never leave your device.
Files stay in this tab's memory only until you remove them or close the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get voice memos off my iPhone?
In the Voice Memos app, tap a recording, tap ⋯ → Share, and save it to Files or AirDrop it to your computer. Then drop the .m4a file here.
Can I convert songs from Apple Music?
Songs downloaded through an Apple Music subscription are copy-protected and can't be converted. iTunes Store purchases and your own recordings are not protected and convert fine.
Will the MP3 sound worse than the original?
Converting from one lossy format to another loses a little detail. At 192 kbps or higher, almost nobody can hear the difference. Use 320 kbps if you want the best possible copy.
My file ends in .m4a but was rejected. Why?
M4A is really an MP4 container, and this tool accepts both. If a file is still rejected, it may be damaged or not actually contain audio.
Is there a file size limit?
Each file can be up to 500 MB. Files are read from disk in small pieces, so long recordings don't need to fit in memory.