Convert AAC to M4A Online Free
Convert raw AAC audio files to M4A format. M4A is an MPEG-4 container that packages AAC audio with iTunes-compatible metadata, enabling playback in Apple Music, iPhone, and iTunes.
ChangeThisFile converts your AAC to M4A using FFmpeg on secure servers. M4A is the Apple-standard container for AAC audio, adding iTunes metadata support and compatibility with the Apple ecosystem. This conversion wraps the AAC audio in an MPEG-4 container with minimal or no re-encoding. Files are auto-deleted, free with no signup.
Convert AAC to M4A
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AAC vs M4A: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | AAC | M4A |
|---|---|---|
| Format Type | Raw audio codec bitstream | MPEG-4 audio container |
| Audio Codec Inside | AAC | AAC (same) |
| iTunes Compatibility | Limited | Full (native iTunes format) |
| Metadata Support | Minimal | Full iTunes tags (artist, album, artwork) |
| Apple Music Sync | May not sync | Syncs natively |
| DRM Support | No | Yes (FairPlay, optional) |
| Chapter Markers | No | Yes (MP4 chapters) |
| File Extension | .aac | .m4a |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Enabling iTunes and Apple Music compatibility
Raw .aac files may not import correctly into iTunes or Apple Music. Wrapping them in M4A enables full compatibility, metadata display, and library syncing across Apple devices.
Adding iTunes metadata and artwork
M4A files support rich iTunes metadata including album artwork, genre, track numbers, and composer. Convert AAC to M4A before tagging your audio files with metadata in iTunes or MP3tag.
iPhone and iPad music library
The iPhone Music app plays M4A files natively and syncs them via Finder or iTunes. Convert raw AAC files to M4A to add them to your iPhone music library without format issues.
Podcast and audiobook packaging
Podcasts and audiobooks distributed via Apple Podcasts use M4A containers for AAC audio. Convert raw AAC audio to M4A to package episodes correctly for Apple Podcasts submission.
Apple TV and AirPlay streaming
Apple TV and AirPlay streaming work natively with M4A files in the Home app and Infuse. Convert AAC audio to M4A for smooth playback across Apple TV and AirPlay-connected speakers.
How to Convert AAC to M4A
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1
Upload your AAC file
Click the upload area or drag and drop your .aac file. Files up to 50MB are supported. Your file is transferred over an encrypted HTTPS connection.
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2
Convert to M4A
Click Convert. FFmpeg wraps the AAC audio stream in an MPEG-4 container with the .m4a extension. In most cases this is a lossless remux with no audio re-encoding.
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3
Download your M4A file
Download the resulting M4A file, which is now fully compatible with iTunes, Apple Music, and all Apple devices. The file is auto-deleted from our servers after download.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases yes. FFmpeg can perform a stream copy — wrapping the existing AAC audio in the M4A container without re-encoding. This preserves exact audio quality. Re-encoding only occurs if format incompatibilities require it.
AAC is the audio codec (the compression algorithm). M4A is a container format (.mp4 audio) that holds AAC audio along with metadata, chapter markers, and cover art. M4A is essentially AAC in a wrapper.
Yes. Android supports M4A/AAC natively. Most Android music apps including Google Play Music, Spotify, and built-in players handle M4A files without issues.
Yes. Use iTunes, Apple Music, or a tag editor like MP3tag (Windows) or Kid3 (cross-platform) to add album artwork and metadata to the converted M4A file.
Yes. The MPEG-4 container format supports chapter markers, which is widely used for audiobooks in the M4B format (a variant of M4A). Standard M4A files can include chapter metadata supported by iTunes and Apple Books.
Currently, each file must be converted individually. Upload and convert each AAC file separately to get the corresponding M4A output.
Very nearly. The M4A adds a small container overhead for headers and metadata. The audio data itself is identical, so the file size difference is minimal — typically just a few kilobytes.
Yes. Your file is uploaded over HTTPS, processed by FFmpeg on our secure server, and automatically deleted after download. We do not store or analyze your audio content.
Renaming the file extension does not change the container format. True M4A files use the MPEG-4 container structure, which differs from a raw AAC bitstream. Renaming may cause playback errors in some players.
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