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Convert MP4 to AAC

Ethical Tube's free MP4 to AAC converter saves the soundtrack of MP4 videos as AAC, the audio codec behind Apple Music and YouTube. It runs entirely in your browser, so your videos 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 MP4 to AAC

  1. Add your MP4 files

    Drop MP4 files onto the converter, click to choose them, or paste from the clipboard. Add as many as you like.

  2. Check the settings

    AAC is already selected. Pick a bitrate, or keep the default.

  3. 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

MP4 and AAC at a glance

  • What is an MP4 file?

    MP4 is the most widely supported video format. It usually holds H.264 video with AAC audio, a combination that plays on practically every phone, computer, TV, and website. It balances quality and file size well, which is why most cameras, phones, and editors export to it. It opens in everything: Windows Media Player and Films & TV, QuickTime and Photos on Mac, iPhone, Android, smart TVs, VLC, and every major website and video editor.

  • 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 MP4 to AAC

  • Only the soundtrack is saved; the picture is dropped.
  • The audio is saved as AAC at 192 kbps (you can pick 128 to 320 kbps).
  • If the video's audio is already AAC, it's copied without re-encoding, so there's no quality loss. Picking a bitrate re-encodes it at that bitrate instead.
  • Copy-protected (DRM) files can't be converted.
  • Very long videos can run out of memory, especially on phones.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Is this MP4 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 MP4 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.

How long does it take?

When the video can be copied without re-encoding, a few seconds. Otherwise it depends on the video's length and resolution and on your device. With a hardware encoder, a 10-minute 1080p video usually takes a few minutes on a laptop.

Can I convert several MP4 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 videos up to about 2 GB.

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