Audio conversion
Convert FLAC to M4A
FLAC is a lossless audio format that keeps every bit of the original recording, while M4A is the compressed format Apple's media apps use for music and voice recordings. To convert FLAC to M4A, open the file in a converter and export it as M4A. Doing this on your own computer means the audio never has to travel to someone else's server first.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .flac
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Lossless music
- Extension
- .m4a
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- iTunes / voice memos
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert FLAC to M4A on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert FLAC to M4A
- Open Morphjet and drag in the FLAC files, or a whole folder of them, at once.
- Choose M4A as the output format, and pick a bitrate if you want more control over file size.
- Convert. The M4A files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
FLAC vs M4A: what actually changes
| FLAC | M4A | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, roughly half of an uncompressed file | Much smaller, often a fifth the size of FLAC |
| Quality | Lossless, an exact copy of the source audio | Lossy, a close but imperfect copy |
| Compatibility | Not read by most iPhones or Apple's media apps | Native support on iPhone and in Apple's media apps |
| Storage on a phone | Uses up space fast | Fits far more songs in the same space |
| Keeps song tags (title, artist, album art) | Yes | Yes, carried over on export |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert FLAC to M4A when you want your music library to actually play on an iPhone or in Apple's media apps, or when you're syncing a large collection and need it to take up less space.
Keep the FLAC original if it's a purchase or rip you care about preserving at full quality, since M4A can't be converted back to lossless once the detail is gone.
Why not just use an online converter?
A ripped or purchased FLAC file is still your music, and there's no reason a batch conversion needs to touch anyone else's server. Online converters ask you to upload the files first, which means your library sits on a stranger's storage, even briefly. Converting on your own computer keeps the audio, and however you got it, entirely on your machine.
Questions
Does converting FLAC to M4A lose quality?
Yes, some. FLAC is lossless and M4A is compressed, so the export throws away some detail to shrink the file. At a reasonable bitrate it's hard to notice on most speakers or headphones, but it's not identical to the original.
Will the M4A keep my song's title, artist, and album art?
Yes. Those tags carry over automatically during conversion. It's worth spot-checking a file afterward if the tags matter to you.
Why won't my iPhone or Apple's media apps play FLAC files?
Apple's ecosystem was built around its own formats, and FLAC support only arrived natively on some devices in recent years, with older software and many apps still not reading it at all. M4A is the format Apple has always supported directly, which is why people convert.
Can I convert FLAC to M4A without uploading my music library?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the files right on your computer, so nothing gets sent anywhere. You can convert a whole folder with your internet off.
What bitrate should I use for M4A?
Higher bitrates keep more detail but take up more space. For everyday listening, a mid to high bitrate is usually indistinguishable from the FLAC source; go higher only if you're picky about audio or listening on good equipment.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.