iPhone Voice Memos, GarageBand exports and iTunes purchases come as M4A. Some players, websites and forms only take MP3. Convert them here, several at a time.
M4A to MP3 at a glance
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit |
|---|---|
| Accepts | M4A · AAC |
| Largest file | 1 GB per file, several files at once |
| Where it runs | In your browser: files are never uploaded |
| Works on | Any modern browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Send the result | Download it, or send it free with a link or by email (up to 20 GB) |
How to convert M4A to MP3
- Choose one or more M4A files (on iPhone: share a voice memo to Files first).
- Pick the quality: 128 kbps for voice memos, 192 kbps for music.
- Press Convert M4A to MP3.
- Listen on the page and download the MP3s.
M4A and MP3
M4A is an MP4 file with only audio in it, usually AAC. AAC is newer than MP3 and sounds better at the same bitrate, so convert only when something needs MP3. Use a bitrate at least as high as the original: voice memos are speech at a modest bitrate, so 128 kbps is plenty; music from iTunes is 256 kbps AAC, so choose 256 or 320 kbps MP3.
Protected files
Songs bought from iTunes after 2009 are unprotected AAC and convert fine. Older protected files (.m4p) and Apple Music downloads are DRM-protected and cannot be converted by any browser tool.
Nothing is uploaded
Voice memos are often private: here they are converted in your browser and never leave your device.
How this compares
| This tool | Online converters (e.g. Online Audio Converter, Clideo or CloudConvert) | Desktop apps (e.g. Audacity) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your file is uploaded | No | Yes, to their servers | No |
| Install or account | None | Account for some features | Install needed |
| Watermark or daily limits | None | Common on free plans | Depends on the app |
Plans of other services change; check their sites. More audio tools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a voice memo to MP3 on iPhone?
In Voice Memos, tap the recording, Share, Save to Files. Then open this page in Safari, choose the file, convert and save the MP3.
Will M4A to MP3 lose quality?
A little, as with any lossy re-encode, but at a bitrate equal to or above the original it is not noticeable for most recordings.
Can I convert Apple Music songs?
No. Apple Music and old .m4p files are DRM-protected.
Are my files uploaded?
No. They are converted on your device.
Need to send a big file?
Send files up to 20 GB with a download link or by email. Free, no account needed, original quality.
Send large files free