Convert MP3 to M4A
Ethical Tube's free MP3 to M4A converter turns MP3 audio files into M4A, the AAC audio format Apple uses. 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
- M4A, bitrate you choose
- Install
- Nothing to install
How it works
How to convert MP3 to M4A
Add your MP3 files
Drop MP3 files onto the converter, click to choose them, or paste from the clipboard. Add as many as you like.
Check the settings
M4A is already selected. Pick a bitrate, or keep the default.
Download your M4A 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
MP3 and M4A at a glance
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 is the most widely supported audio format. Its lossy compression makes files about a tenth the size of CD audio, and at 192 kbps or more most people can't hear the difference. Every device that plays music plays MP3. It opens in everything: phones, computers, car stereos, smart speakers, browsers, and every music player and audio editor.
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.
Good to know
What changes when you convert MP3 to M4A
- Converting between lossy formats re-encodes the audio, which loses a little quality. Pick a bitrate at least as high as the original's.
- 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 MP3 to M4A 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 MP3 to M4A lose quality?
M4A 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 MP3 files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like. They're converted one after another, and you can download each M4A 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 M4A file?
iPhone, Mac (Music and QuickTime), Windows 10 and 11, Android, VLC, and most modern players and editors.
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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