Audio conversion
Convert M4A to WMA
Updated Jul 2026
M4A is the format used by iTunes downloads, Apple Music, and Voice Memos, while WMA is the audio format built into Windows Media Player and older Windows software. To convert M4A to WMA, open the file in a converter and export it as WMA. Doing this on your own computer keeps the audio off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .m4a
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- iTunes / voice memos
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .wma
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Windows audio
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4A to WMA on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4A to WMA
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4A files you want to convert, or drop in a whole folder at once.
- Choose WMA as the output format.
- Convert. The WMA files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4A vs WMA: what actually changes
| M4A | WMA | |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Plays natively on Apple devices and in iTunes or Apple Music | Plays natively on Windows Media Player and most Windows software |
| File size | Compact at typical bitrates | Similar size at an equivalent quality setting |
| Quality | Lossy, good quality at moderate bitrates | Lossy, and converting from one lossy format to another adds a second, small round of compression loss |
| Works on Windows | Often needs extra software or a codec pack on older Windows machines | Native, opens directly in Windows Media Player and legacy software |
| Metadata kept | Title, artist, artwork, and Voice Memo timestamps | Basic tags like title and artist usually carry over; Apple-specific details like timestamps often don't |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4A to WMA when the audio needs to play in Windows Media Player, an older Windows program, or hardware that only reads WMA and doesn't recognize M4A.
Keep the M4A original if you're staying on a Mac or iPhone, since M4A already plays natively there and converting to WMA just adds another round of lossy compression for no benefit.
Why not just use an online converter?
Voice Memos recordings and iTunes downloads saved as M4A can hold personal conversations, dictated notes, or music tied to your account. Uploading that file to an online converter sends it to a server you don't control, even if only briefly. Converting on your own computer keeps the recording, and whatever's in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting M4A to WMA lose quality?
Yes, a little. M4A is already lossy, so converting it to WMA, also lossy, adds a second layer of compression on top of the first. For casual listening it's usually not noticeable, but it isn't a lossless conversion.
Will a WMA file play on a Mac or iPhone?
Not natively. WMA was built for Windows, and Apple devices generally need extra software to open it. If you need audio that plays everywhere, a format like MP3 travels more easily.
Does the WMA keep the song's title and artist info?
Basic tags like title and artist usually carry over. Voice Memo timestamps and other Apple-specific metadata typically don't survive the conversion.
Can I convert M4A to WMA without uploading the file?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally on your own computer, so the audio never travels over the internet.
Why would I need WMA instead of just keeping M4A?
Some older Windows programs and hardware media players don't recognize M4A at all. Converting to WMA makes the audio playable in those places.
Morphjet converts M4A, WMA, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.