Convert WMA to FLAC Online Free
Convert WMA files to lossless FLAC format for archiving, Linux audio players, and audiophile systems. FFmpeg decodes your WMA and stores the audio in FLAC's lossless compression.
By ChangeThisFile Team · Last updated: March 2026
ChangeThisFile converts your WMA to FLAC using FFmpeg on secure servers. FLAC is a lossless open format widely supported by Linux music players, audiophile systems, and Tidal HiFi streaming. Converting from WMA to FLAC creates a future-proof archive that prevents further quality loss on re-encoding. Files are auto-deleted after conversion, free with no signup.
Convert WMA to FLAC
Drop your WMA file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .wma file here, or click to browse
Convert to FLAC instantly
WMA vs FLAC: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | WMA | FLAC |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft | Xiph.Org Foundation |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Open Standard | No (proprietary) | Yes (royalty-free) |
| Linux Support | Poor (codec required) | Excellent (native) |
| Audiophile Players | Limited | Excellent (Roon, foobar2000, Revel) |
| File Size (3 min) | ~3–8 MB | ~20–40 MB |
| Future-proofing | Vendor-dependent | Long-term archive format |
| Re-encode Loss | Yes (each encode) | No (lossless) |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Archiving WMA music library in a future-proof format
WMA is a proprietary Microsoft format with uncertain long-term support. Convert your WMA collection to FLAC to preserve audio in a stable, open-standard lossless format that will remain accessible indefinitely.
Linux music player compatibility
Linux audio players like Rhythmbox, Clementine, Amarok, and Strawberry don't support WMA natively. Convert WMA files to FLAC for seamless playback on Linux without additional codec packages.
Audiophile NAS and home audio servers
Network audio servers (Naim, Bluesound, Roon, Logitech Media Server) prefer FLAC for lossless streaming. Convert WMA files to FLAC for integration with high-fidelity home audio systems.
Preventing generation loss for future re-encoding
If you need to convert WMA to multiple other formats in the future, converting to FLAC first creates an intermediate with no further lossy encoding loss.
Who Uses This Conversion
Tailored guidance for different workflows
Musicians & Producers
- Convert WMA recordings to FLAC for distributing tracks to streaming platforms or collaborators
- Transform WMA stems to FLAC for sharing with other producers or mixing engineers
Podcasters
- Convert WMA episode recordings to FLAC for publishing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS feeds
- Transform WMA interview recordings to FLAC for editing in Audacity or Adobe Audition
Content Creators
- Convert WMA audio from video shoots to FLAC for use as background music or voiceovers
- Extract and convert WMA audio to FLAC for repurposing content across multiple platforms
How to Convert WMA to FLAC
-
1
Upload your WMA file
Click the upload area or drag and drop your WMA file. Files up to 25MB (free tier; 500MB on Pro) are accepted. Your file is transferred over an encrypted HTTPS connection.
-
2
Convert to FLAC
Click Convert. FFmpeg decodes the WMA audio to PCM and then losslessly compresses it as FLAC. The FLAC output reflects the quality of the original WMA encoding.
-
3
Download your FLAC file
Download the FLAC file when ready. It will be larger than the source WMA. The file is automatically deleted from our servers after download.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. WMA is a lossy codec, and any audio quality loss already present in the WMA file carries over to the FLAC. FLAC stores the decoded PCM losslessly, but quality cannot exceed what the WMA already has.
Three reasons: (1) FLAC prevents further quality loss on future re-encodes, (2) FLAC is an open standard with better long-term compatibility than proprietary WMA, and (3) FLAC works natively on Linux and audiophile systems.
Yes, mostly. FFmpeg transfers metadata like title, artist, album, and track number from WMA to FLAC's Vorbis comment format. Cover art and some Windows-specific metadata fields may not transfer completely.
Not natively in the Music app. FLAC playback on iPhone requires VLC for iOS or a similar third-party player. For Apple device library use, AAC or M4A are better output choices.
Yes. Foobar2000 has excellent native FLAC support. The converted FLAC will play perfectly and foobar2000 can also run ReplayGain scanning and tag editing on FLAC files.
FLAC files are typically 3–5x larger than WMA files. A 5 MB WMA file may become 15–25 MB as FLAC, depending on the audio content complexity and original WMA bitrate.
No. WMA files with PlayReady DRM protection cannot be converted without authorization. Only DRM-free WMA files can be processed by this converter.
Yes. Files are uploaded over HTTPS, processed by FFmpeg on our secure server, and automatically deleted after download. We do not store, analyze, or share your audio files.
Related Conversions
Related Tools
Free tools to edit, optimize, and manage your files.
Need to convert programmatically?
Use the ChangeThisFile API to convert WMA to FLAC in your app. No rate limits, up to 500MB files, simple REST endpoint.
Ready to convert your file?
Convert WMA to FLAC instantly — free, no signup required.
Start Converting