Convert M4A to AAC
Ethical Tube's free M4A to AAC converter turns M4A audio files into AAC, the audio codec behind Apple Music and YouTube. It runs entirely in your browser, so your audio files are never uploaded, and it's free with no sign-up or watermark.
Files are converted on your device and never uploaded.
- Price
- Free
- Uploads
- None, it runs on your device
- Sign-up
- Not needed
- Batch
- Unlimited files
- Output
- AAC, bitrate you choose
- Install
- Nothing to install
How it works
How to convert M4A to AAC
Add your M4A files
Drop M4A files onto the converter, click to choose them, or paste from the clipboard. Add as many as you like.
Check the settings
AAC is already selected. Pick a bitrate, or keep the default.
Download your AAC audio files
Each file gets its own download button as soon as it's ready. Download all saves everything in one ZIP file.
The formats
M4A and AAC at a glance
What is an M4A file?
M4A is audio in an MP4 container, usually encoded as AAC. It's the format of iTunes purchases, Apple Music downloads, and iPhone Voice Memos, and it sounds a little better than MP3 at the same size. It opens in iPhone, Mac (Music and QuickTime), Windows 10 and 11, Android, VLC, and most modern players and editors.
What is an AAC file?
AAC is the lossy audio codec used by Apple Music, YouTube, and most streaming services. A .aac file is raw AAC audio without the MP4 container that M4A files have, so some players can't show its length or cover art. It opens in most phones and computers, VLC, browsers, and car stereos that support AAC. For Apple apps and editors, M4A is often the safer choice.
Good to know
What changes when you convert M4A to AAC
- Both formats hold AAC audio, so it's copied into the new file without re-encoding, with no quality loss. Picking a bitrate re-encodes it instead.
- The audio is saved as AAC at 192 kbps (you can pick 128 to 320 kbps).
- Copy-protected (DRM) files can't be converted.
- Very long videos can run out of memory, especially on phones.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Is this M4A to AAC converter free?
Yes. It's completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark, and no limit on how many files you convert. It costs Ethical Tube nothing to run, because the conversion happens on your own device rather than on a server.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside your browser with Mediabunny and your browser's WebCodecs video encoders, so your files never leave your device. Once the page has loaded, it even works offline.
Does converting M4A to AAC lose quality?
AAC is a lossy format, so the audio is compressed. At the default bitrate most people can't hear a difference. Choose 256 or 320 kbps for music you care about.
Can I convert several M4A files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like. They're converted one after another, and you can download each AAC file as soon as it's ready or all of them in one ZIP file.
Does it work on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows?
Yes. It works in current versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. Phones handle short clips well, and long or 4K videos convert best on a computer.
What can open an AAC file?
Most phones and computers, VLC, browsers, and car stereos that support AAC. For Apple apps and editors, M4A is often the safer choice.
Is there a file size limit?
There's no upload limit because nothing is uploaded. The practical limit is your device's memory: everyday files are fine, and a computer can usually handle recordings several hours long.
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