Audio conversion
Convert M4A to FLAC
Updated Jul 2026
M4A is the compressed audio format used by iTunes downloads and iPhone voice memos, and FLAC is a lossless format that stores audio without throwing any of it away. To convert M4A to FLAC, open the file in a converter and export it as FLAC. You can do this on your own computer, so the audio never has to be uploaded anywhere.
- Extension
- .m4a
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- iTunes / voice memos
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .flac
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Lossless music
Convert M4A to FLAC on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4A to FLAC
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4A files you want to convert. Add a single track or a whole folder of them.
- Choose FLAC as the output format.
- Convert. The FLAC files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4A vs FLAC: what actually changes
| M4A | FLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Lossy, some detail already discarded when it was encoded | Lossless, but can't restore detail M4A already removed |
| File size | Smaller, built for compact storage | Larger, often 2 to 3 times the size |
| Opens everywhere | Yes, on Apple devices and most players | Yes on Mac, Windows, and most music software, but not on iPhone without a workaround |
| Keeps song tags (title, artist, artwork) | Yes | Yes |
| Common use | iTunes purchases, voice memos, everyday listening | Archiving, editing, and lossless music libraries |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4A to FLAC when a music library, editing tool, or archive expects lossless files and won't take M4A, or when you just want everything in one consistent format.
Don't convert expecting better sound, since M4A already threw away some audio data when it was created, and FLAC can only preserve what's left, not bring back what's gone, so if you don't need a lossless container, the smaller M4A is fine to keep as is.
Why not just use an online converter?
Voice memos and personal recordings saved as M4A can carry real content you'd rather keep private. An online converter means uploading that audio to a server you don't control and waiting for it to come back. Converting on your own computer keeps the recording on your machine the whole time, with nothing sent anywhere.
Questions
Does converting M4A to FLAC improve the sound quality?
No. M4A is lossy, so some audio detail is already gone by the time you have the file. FLAC stores whatever is left without losing more, but it can't recreate what M4A discarded.
So why convert M4A to FLAC at all?
Usually for compatibility or workflow reasons, like a music app, editor, or archive that only accepts lossless files. The audio quality won't get worse in the process, it just won't get better either.
Will the FLAC file keep the song title, artist, and artwork?
Yes. FLAC supports the same kind of tags M4A does, so titles, artists, and cover art carry over in the conversion.
Can I convert a whole folder of M4A files to FLAC at once?
Yes. You can drag in a folder of M4A tracks and convert them all to FLAC in one pass instead of doing them one at a time.
Can I convert M4A to FLAC without uploading the audio anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the audio never travels over the internet. It works the same with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts M4A, FLAC, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.