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How To Convert M4A To Mp3 In Easy Ways

MP3 is one of the most popular formats for music, as these files are approved by pretty much any media player out there. It is not the best alternative for audio quality, as tracks are compressed quite significantly, and some valuable data is lost in the process. Still, that compression also means that MP3s take up relatively little storage space.

Apple, always one to buck a trend, instead plumped for the newer M4A format on iTunes. Apple’s Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC for short) means your music is stored without information loss so that you will get a strong, full-bodied sound. Better still, M4A files often take up less storage space than MP3s, so it’s the best of both worlds.

M4A tracks are supported by many players and devices these days, not just iPhones and other Apple gadgets. However, you may still want to convert to MP3 to increase the compatibility.

What Is M4A And How to Use It

You might be more familiar with M4A files if you consider them as MP4s, which they actually are — the only difference is that an MP4 file can manage video while .m4a is for audio-only. 

MP4 (also known as MPEG-4) is in turn based on QuickTime File Format (QTFF) and, in some sense, was developed to replace MP3. M4A files, for example, are generally smaller in size and can store audio in better quality than MP3s. Their only downside is that M4A players are much more difficult to find, whereas MP3 is one of the universal audio formats out there. 

So, where can you stumble upon the .m4a format? It’s mostly in Apple’s own iTunes Store, as it’s the default file extension for song downloads, which is then encoded with AAC for reduced file size or ALAC for lossless audio. However, copyrighted songs might also come in the .m4p format, which is a variant of .m4a

All this leads us to question how you play M4A vs MP3 on Mac, and what’s the easiest way to convert files to MP3?

How to play M4A files on Mac

As already discussed above, a lot of the M4A files you’d come across are from the iTunes Store, so naturally, you’d be able to play them on iTunes as well (or the Music app from macOS Catalina onward). You can drag and drop any M4A file into music, and it’ll be added to your library. 

In addition to music, or iTunes, M4A files also work with QuickTime Player (since they are based on QuickTime File Format), which is one of the default apps you can find in your Applications folder. While QuickTime is mostly used for playing movies, it has a standard audio playback functionality built into it as well. But what if you’re after a great .m4a audio experience?

Elmedia Player is one of the most versatile audio and video players out there. Not only can it easily play a variety of M4A files and MP4 formats, but it also allows you to stream content directly from the web and watch online videos (e.g. from YouTube) without ads as well. What’s more, you can stream to any smart TV or AirPlay-enabled device and ultimately control the way subtitles are displayed. 

How to convert M4A to MP3 using iTunes

While there are very few M4A players available on Mac, whether via default or third-party apps, you might often need to convert M4A to MP3 iTunes format to make it more widely available. So you can easily port music or audiobooks to virtually any device. 

Surprisingly, there is a way to use iTunes as an audio file converter, although not many people know about it since it’s not that straightforward. Regardless, here’s how you can convert files to MP3 using iTunes: 

  • Launch iTunes (or the new Music app)
  • Open Preferences (⌘ + ,)
  • Navigate to Files ➙ Import Setting
  • Change Import Using to MP3 Encoder ➙ OK
  • Drag and drop your M4A file into iTunes
  • Click it and then go File ➙ Convert ➙ Create MP3 Version
  • Find the new file created in your library (the old file will still be intact)
  • Similarly, you can change the default iTunes encoder to create WAV, lossless, AIFF, and AAC files. Overall, iTunes is a good enough M4A converter and general file converter to MP3 if you only need to occasionally convert one or two songs. For more regular conversions, there are much more efficient apps out there.

    How to convert M4A files to MP3 on your computer without using iTunes

    Alternatively, you can use one of many different audio conversion programs that are free to download for Windows and Mac users.

    One good example is the Switch Audio File Converter from NCH, which is simple to use and packs plenty of tools for more advanced users. The basic free version will do the job just fine for M4A to MP3, while the Pro (paid-for) version adds more functionality.

    Freemake Audio Converter is a completely free alternative, which isn’t as swift or as sleek but again gets the job done.

    How to convert M4A files to MP3 without installing any software

    You can also create MP3s from your M4As using online converters, which perform all of the necessary processing in the cloud. This is a good option if you don’t want to download and install new software on your computer.

    One such option is Cloud Convert, which is very simple to use. To get started, browse the M4A files on your computer and select MP3 for the conversion format. Your tracks will be uploaded, and all of the hard work is done on those remote servers. Once the job is done, you can then download your freshly created MP3s.

    Cloud conversion options tend to be a bit slower, but they work just fine.

    How do I convert an M4A audio file to MP3 on my phone?

    A cloud conversion solution is also the most accessible option when you’re on the go without your laptop. You can upload your tracks above and then pull down the new MP3s once the conversion is complete.

    A better way to convert M4A to MP3 on Mac

    If iTunes can be a suitable M4A to MP3 converter, you might also question what other specialized apps can do an even better job? 

    Permute is a pro-level and truly universal media converter. This blazing fast app enables you to drag and drop any number of files into it and get converted results in seconds. Transform audio, video (or video to audio), images, and more — possible combinations are nearly endless! You can even blend two videos into one or add a subtitle track on the fly. 

    To use Permute as an M4A to MP3 converter: 

  • Launch Permute
  • Drag and drop your M4A file onto the app’s window
  • Select MP3 in the Audio dropdown
  • Click the Start icon
  • You can find the MP3 result on your Desktop. Repeat as required, and do not forget that Permute can manage as many files at once as you want — you can use this audio file converter to change whole albums too. 

    In the end, most of the time nowadays, we do not have to deal with file formats and can find the appropriate app comparatively easy. In the case with M4A files, you can use iTunes (Music) and QuickTime to play them, but better switch your default media to Elmedia Player altogether. And if you ever require a file converter to MP3, look no further than Permute. 

    Best of all, Elmedia Player and Permute are available to you at absolutely no cost for seven days.

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