Video conversion
Convert M4V to M4A
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is Apple's video container, used for movies and shows from iTunes or your own recordings. M4A holds audio only. Converting M4V to M4A pulls out the audio track and drops the video, giving you a standalone audio file. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to leave your machine to get there.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .m4a
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- iTunes / voice memos
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to M4A on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to M4A
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file, or a whole folder of them, you want the audio from.
- Choose M4A as the output format.
- Convert. The audio-only M4A is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs M4A: what actually changes
| M4V | M4A | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains video | Yes | No, audio only |
| File size | Large, video dominates the size | Much smaller, often a fraction of the original |
| Audio quality | Same audio track as the source | Unchanged, the audio itself isn't re-encoded, just separated from the video |
| Compatibility | Apple video apps and iTunes-style players | Most music apps, voice memo tools, and phones |
| Chapters and poster art | Can carry video chapter markers and cover art | No chapters, basic audio tags like title and artist only |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to M4A when you only want the sound from a video, like a lecture, interview, screen recording, or home movie, and you'd rather carry a small audio file than the whole video.
Keep the M4V if you still want to watch the video later, since converting to M4A throws away the video track for good.
Why not just use an online converter?
Home movies, screen recordings, and personal video clips are exactly the kind of file people don't want sitting on someone else's server. An online converter has to receive the whole video just to hand back the audio. Converting on your own computer means the video stays put, only the M4A you asked for gets written to disk.
Questions
Does converting M4V to M4A lose audio quality?
No, if the audio in the M4V is already a common format, converting just separates it from the video without re-encoding it. The video track is simply dropped.
Can I get the video back after converting to M4A?
No. M4A has no room for video, so converting discards it permanently. Keep the original M4V around if there's any chance you'll want the video again.
Can I convert a movie or show I bought from iTunes?
Only if the file isn't copy protected. Many purchased or rented M4V videos are locked with protection that no converter, including Morphjet, can get around. This works for your own recordings and unprotected video files.
Will the M4A keep the video's title and artwork?
Basic tags like title and artist usually carry over, but anything specific to video, like chapter markers, doesn't apply once there's no video left.
Can I convert M4V to M4A without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet does the conversion on your own computer, so the video never travels over the internet, even with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts M4V, M4A, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.