Video conversion
Convert M4V to WAV
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is a video format from iTunes, and WAV is an uncompressed audio format used for recording and editing. To convert M4V to WAV, pull the audio track out of the video and save it as a standalone WAV file. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
Convert M4V to WAV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to WAV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file or a whole folder of them.
- Choose WAV as the output format.
- Convert. Morphjet pulls the audio track out of the video and writes a WAV file next to the original, entirely on your machine.
M4V vs WAV: what actually changes
| M4V | WAV | |
|---|---|---|
| Media type | Video, with an audio track | Audio only |
| Compression | Lossy, video and audio are both compressed | Lossless, uncompressed audio |
| File size | Moderate, size is mostly the video | Large, uncompressed audio takes far more space than the M4V's audio track alone |
| Compatibility | iTunes and Apple devices, spotty support elsewhere | Plays and edits in essentially anything |
| Best for | Watching the video | Editing, mixing, or archiving the audio |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to WAV when you only need the sound from a video, for example pulling a podcast episode, an interview, or a song out of a video file so you can edit or archive just the audio.
Keep the M4V if you still need the picture, since converting to WAV throws away the video track and only keeps the sound.
Why not just use an online converter?
An M4V might be a home recording, a downloaded interview, or something more personal, and an online converter means uploading the whole video to a server you don't control just to get the audio out. Converting on your own computer keeps the video, and whatever's in it, on your machine the entire time.
Questions
Does converting M4V to WAV improve the audio quality?
No. WAV is uncompressed, but the audio inside an M4V was already compressed when the video was made. Converting to WAV just stores that same audio without compressing it further, it doesn't recover detail that was already lost.
What happens to the video when I convert to WAV?
It's discarded. WAV is an audio-only format, so the output is just the sound from the M4V, with no picture.
Will this work on M4V files bought or rented from iTunes?
Only if they're free of Apple's copy protection. Older purchased or rented M4V files can carry DRM that blocks conversion entirely, while personal videos and DRM-free downloads convert without issue.
Why convert to WAV instead of a compressed audio format?
WAV is the standard choice when you plan to edit or mix the audio, since audio software works with it directly and it doesn't lose anything on top of what the M4V already had. If you just want to listen to it, a compressed format would take up less space.
Can I convert M4V to WAV without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet extracts the audio and writes the WAV file locally, so the video never has to go over the internet.
Morphjet converts M4V, WAV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.