Audio conversion
Convert M4A to MP3
M4A is the format behind downloaded music and voice recordings on Apple devices, but plenty of software, car stereos, and older phones still can't open it. MP3 plays almost everywhere. To convert M4A to MP3, open the file in a converter and export it as MP3. Doing that on your own computer means the recording never has to leave your machine.
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
- .m4a
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- iTunes / voice memos
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .mp3
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- The universal audio format
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4A to MP3 on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert M4A to MP3
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4A files you want to convert, whether it's a single voice memo or a whole folder of tracks.
- Choose MP3 as the output format, and pick a bitrate if you want more control over file size.
- Convert. The MP3s are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4A vs MP3: what actually changes
| M4A | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Plays everywhere | Apple devices and most modern apps, but not all car stereos, hardware players, or older Android phones | Yes, close to universal, including car stereos and hardware players from decades ago |
| File size | Slightly smaller at a given quality | Slightly larger at a given quality |
| Quality | Good, lossy compression | Good, but re-encoding a lossy M4A into MP3 adds a small amount of extra loss on top of what's already there |
| Song info and cover art | Stored as tags | Stored as tags too, using a different, older tagging system |
| Editing and sharing support | Solid on Apple software, spottier elsewhere | Supported by essentially every audio app, editor, and device made |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4A to MP3 when you need the file to play on a device, car stereo, or app that doesn't support M4A, or when you're sending audio to someone whose software only handles MP3.
If the M4A already plays fine everywhere you need it, leave it as is, since converting one lossy format into another never improves quality and only adds a small amount of further loss.
Why not just use an online converter?
Files saved as M4A are often voice memos and personal recordings, meetings, voice messages, notes to yourself, that were never meant to leave your device. An online converter needs you to upload that audio to a server you don't control before handing anything back. Converting on your own computer keeps the recording exactly where it started.
Questions
Does converting M4A to MP3 lose quality?
A little. Both formats are lossy, so re-encoding from one to the other adds a small amount of additional loss on top of what the M4A already has. It's not noticeable for everyday listening, but it does add up if you keep converting back and forth.
Will the MP3 keep the artist, album, and cover art?
Yes. That information carries over from the M4A's tags to the MP3's tags. The two formats use slightly different tagging systems, so a very unusual or custom field can occasionally get dropped.
Why are my voice memos and downloaded music saved as M4A?
Voice recordings and downloaded music on Apple devices both default to M4A because it's efficient and plays natively on Apple hardware. Not every app, car stereo, or older phone opens it, which is why people convert to MP3.
Can I convert M4A to MP3 without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the audio never travels over the internet. It works the same with your wifi turned off.
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.