Convert M4A to AAC Online Free
Convert M4A files to AAC format. M4A is simply an MPEG-4 container holding AAC audio — this conversion extracts the AAC stream into a standalone .aac file for maximum compatibility.
ChangeThisFile converts your M4A to AAC using FFmpeg on secure servers. M4A is an MPEG-4 container that holds AAC audio, so this conversion extracts the AAC audio stream into a raw .aac file. The process is near-lossless since the same AAC data is repackaged. Files are auto-deleted after conversion, free with no signup.
Convert M4A to AAC
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M4A vs AAC: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | M4A | AAC |
|---|---|---|
| Format Type | Container format (.mp4 family) | Codec / raw bitstream |
| Audio Codec Inside | AAC (typically) | AAC (the codec itself) |
| DRM Support | Yes (FairPlay in protected M4A) | No (raw AAC has no DRM) |
| Metadata Support | iTunes/MP4 metadata tags | Limited (depends on container) |
| File Extension | .m4a | .aac |
| Apple Device Support | Native | Native |
| Compatibility | Best with Apple software | Broader compatibility |
| Re-encoding Required | No (stream copy possible) | N/A |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Extracting AAC for embedded systems
Some embedded audio systems and automotive head units accept raw AAC streams but not the M4A container. Extract the AAC audio from M4A files for these devices.
Compatibility with non-Apple software
Software that supports AAC but not M4A containers can play the extracted .aac file. This is common with older media players and some professional audio tools.
Stripping iTunes DRM-free M4A for repackaging
For DRM-free M4A purchases (no FairPlay), extract the raw AAC for repackaging into other containers like MP4 or MKV for video projects with embedded audio.
Audio codec analysis
Audio engineers and developers extract raw AAC streams from M4A containers to analyze codec parameters, bitrate, and encoding settings without the container overhead.
How to Convert M4A to AAC
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1
Upload your M4A file
Click the upload area or drag and drop your M4A file. Files up to 50MB are accepted and transferred over an encrypted HTTPS connection.
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2
Convert to AAC
Click Convert. FFmpeg extracts the AAC audio stream from the M4A container, producing a raw AAC bitstream file. If re-encoding is needed for compatibility, FFmpeg handles it automatically.
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3
Download your AAC file
Download the extracted AAC file. It is automatically deleted from our servers after download.
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially yes. M4A is an MPEG-4 audio container (a subset of .mp4) that typically holds AAC audio. The AAC codec is the same; M4A just adds container metadata like chapter markers, cover art, and iTunes tags.
Yes, if the conversion is a stream copy. FFmpeg can extract the AAC stream from M4A without re-encoding, preserving exact quality. If re-encoding is required (e.g., for format compatibility), minimal quality change occurs.
No. DRM-protected M4A files (purchased from iTunes before 2009) cannot be converted without authorization. Only DRM-free M4A files can be converted. Attempting to convert DRM-protected files will fail.
Some software, hardware, and embedded systems accept raw AAC bitstreams but not the M4A/MPEG-4 container format. Raw AAC files are also useful for HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) segment workflows.
Yes. Apple Music and iTunes support raw .aac files. They may automatically add them to the library and handle playback identically to .m4a files.
Metadata handling varies. iTunes-style tags (title, artist, album, artwork) stored in the M4A container may not fully transfer to a raw AAC file. If metadata is important, consider converting to M4A instead of raw AAC.
Yes. The AAC file can be repackaged into an M4A container without quality loss. This is essentially the reverse operation: wrapping the AAC stream in an MPEG-4 audio container.
Yes. Files are uploaded over HTTPS, processed by FFmpeg on our server, and automatically deleted after download. We do not retain copies of your audio files.
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