Convert 3GP to M4A Online Free
Extract the audio from your 3GP mobile video and save it as M4A — Apple's native AAC audio format. Perfect for bringing old phone video recordings into Apple Music, iPhone, and the modern Apple ecosystem.
ChangeThisFile extracts audio from your 3GP mobile video and encodes it as M4A using FFmpeg on our secure servers. M4A is Apple's native audio container for iTunes and Apple Music, making old phone recordings accessible on all Apple devices. Files are auto-deleted, free with no signup required.
Convert 3GP to M4A
Drop your 3GP file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .3gp file here, or click to browse
Convert to M4A instantly
3GP vs M4A: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | 3GP | M4A |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mobile video container (3GPP) | Apple MPEG-4 audio container |
| Developer | 3GPP standard | Apple / MPEG-4 standard |
| Audio codec | AAC-LC, AMR-NB, or AMR-WB | AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) |
| Apple compatibility | Not supported on iOS/macOS natively | Native on all Apple platforms |
| File size | Very small (mobile-optimized) | Small — AAC audio only |
| Metadata | Limited 3GPP metadata | iTunes tags: artist, album, cover art, lyrics |
| Use case | Old phone recordings | Apple Music, iPhone, GarageBand, iTunes |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Import old phone video audio into Apple Music
3GP files from old phones are not recognized by Apple Music. Converting the audio to M4A lets you import voice recordings, performances, or personal moments from old phone videos directly into your Apple Music library.
Transfer old mobile video audio to iPhone for playback
Modern iPhones do not natively play 3GP files. Extract the audio as M4A to transfer recordings from old Nokia, Sony Ericsson, or early Android phones to your current iPhone via the Music app or Files app.
Preserve 3GP voice recordings in Apple-native format
Voice memos and audio from mobile video files often contain irreplaceable personal recordings. Convert to M4A for long-term accessibility on Apple devices without needing specialized mobile codec support.
Import 3GP audio into GarageBand for editing
GarageBand natively supports M4A. Convert audio from 3GP mobile recordings to M4A to import them into GarageBand for cleanup, noise reduction, or use in podcast production on Mac or iPad.
Rescue 3GP audio for iPhone ringtone creation
Extract audio from an old 3GP mobile recording as M4A, then rename to .m4r and import into iTunes to create a custom iPhone ringtone from a memorable mobile recording.
How to Convert 3GP to M4A
-
1
Upload your 3GP file
Drag and drop your .3gp file onto the converter or click to browse and select it. Files up to 500MB are supported.
-
2
Server-side M4A encoding
Your 3GP is uploaded over HTTPS and FFmpeg extracts and decodes the audio (AAC-LC or AMR), encoding it as AAC in an M4A container. AMR voice audio is up-converted to AAC. Processing completes in seconds.
-
3
Download your M4A file
Click Download to save the .m4a file. The original 3GP and M4A output are automatically deleted from our servers after download.
Frequently Asked Questions
3GP files typically contain AAC-LC (audio from video-capable phones with quality recording) or AMR-NB/AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate, used for voice calls and basic video recording). FFmpeg decodes both when converting to M4A.
No. AMR is a low-quality voice codec. Converting to AAC (M4A) does not improve the source audio quality — the output M4A will have the same voice quality as the original AMR recording. Re-encoding cannot add information that was discarded.
No. Apple Music does not support the 3GP format. Converting to M4A is the simplest way to import 3GP audio content into Apple Music or iTunes.
If the 3GP contains AAC-LC audio, FFmpeg may be able to stream-copy it to M4A with zero re-encoding and no additional quality loss. If the source is AMR, re-encoding to AAC is required.
Yes. M4A is supported natively on Android. This makes M4A a practical cross-platform choice for audio extracted from old 3GP mobile recordings.
M4A supports iTunes tags: title, artist, album, year, genre, cover art, and lyrics. 3GP metadata is very limited, so most tags will be empty in the output M4A — add them manually using iTunes or Mp3tag.
Yes. ChangeThisFile is completely free. No signup, no limits, and no fees.
Yes. 3GP was a standard format across all major mobile manufacturers including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and Samsung. FFmpeg handles 3GP from any manufacturer.
Very fast. 3GP files are small (mobile-optimized) and audio extraction takes just seconds.
Yes. All uploads are HTTPS-encrypted and files are deleted from our servers immediately after conversion. We never retain or access your content.
Related Conversions
Ready to convert your file?
Convert 3GP to M4A instantly — free, no signup required.
Start Converting