Audio conversion
Convert WMA to M4A
Updated Jul 2026
WMA is a Windows audio format that most Apple devices and apps won't play, while M4A is the format iTunes, iPhone, and Mac already expect. To convert WMA to M4A, open the file in a converter and export it as M4A. Doing this on your own computer means the audio file never has to leave your machine to make the switch.
- Extension
- .wma
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Windows audio
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .m4a
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- iTunes / voice memos
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WMA to M4A on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WMA to M4A
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WMA files you want to convert. Add a single track or a whole folder of old recordings at once.
- Choose M4A as the output format.
- Convert. The M4A files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
WMA vs M4A: what actually changes
| WMA | M4A | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Mostly Windows Media Player and some Windows apps | Yes, iPhone, Mac, iTunes, and most modern apps |
| File size | Similar at the same bitrate | Similar at the same bitrate |
| Quality | Lossy, already compressed | Lossy, with a small extra loss from re-encoding an already-compressed file |
| Works with iTunes and iPhone | No | Yes |
| Keeps song title and artist tags | Yes | Yes, mostly, though some Windows-only fields may not carry over |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WMA to M4A when you've got old Windows recordings, ripped CDs, or voice memos you want to play on an iPhone, add to iTunes, or use in a Mac app that doesn't recognize WMA at all.
Keep the WMA original if you're staying entirely on Windows and it already plays fine there, since converting a lossy file to another lossy format adds a small, permanent quality loss you can't undo.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old WMA files often sit around from years of Windows Media Player rips, voice recordings, or downloaded audio, and you may not remember exactly what's in them. Running them through an online converter means handing that audio to a server you don't control. Converting on your own computer keeps every file, and whatever's in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting WMA to M4A lose quality?
A little. WMA is already a lossy format, so re-encoding it into M4A adds a small extra loss on top. It's usually not noticeable for casual listening, but you're not getting back detail that WMA's compression already threw away.
Why won't my WMA files play on my iPhone?
WMA is a Windows format, and Apple never built support for it into iOS or iTunes. Converting to M4A gives you a file both platforms already know how to play.
Will the M4A keep my song titles and tags?
Generally yes. Common tags like title, artist, and album carry over. Some Windows-specific fields occasionally don't map cleanly, so it's worth a quick check on files where that metadata matters to you.
Can I convert WMA to M4A without uploading the files anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the files on your own computer, so they never get sent over the internet. You can do it with your wifi turned off.
Is M4A the same as MP3?
No. Both are common lossy audio formats, but M4A uses a different, generally more efficient compression method and is the format iTunes and Apple devices default to.
Morphjet converts WMA, M4A, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.