Edited by Ben Jacklin
November 30, 2021
If you receive some music or an audio recording in the unfamiliar M4A format, don’t be concerned: it’s just a variation of the well-known MP4 or MPEG-4 format suitable for audio files with no video track. However, this MP4 variant is nowhere near as popular as its “big brother,” so you may encounter problems trying to play M4A files on your multimedia device or even your computer. To solve this problem, you can simply change M4A to MP3.
If you have one small file, convert M4A to MP3 online using the tool at the top of this page. To convert multiple files, use desktop conversion software. Here, you’ll learn how to convert M4A to MP3 with Movavi Video Converter.
How to convert M4A to MP3 on Windows and Mac with Movavi
Although converting M4A to MP3 is not a complicated task, you do need a fast music converter to do the job efficiently in a short period of time. Movavi Video Converter fits these requirements and actually makes the task even easier: this ultimate multimedia software supports all possible sound formats from OGG and AAC to FLAC, Monkey's Audio, and, of course, M4A and MP3. Download Movavi Video Converter to turn your computer into a mini encoding studio and convert M4A to MP3 on Windows or Mac. It’ll take you a few simple steps to convert files with Movavi’s M4A-to-MP3 converter: download the app, add your files, select the output format, and launch the conversion. You can convert M4A to MP3 for free during the trial period.
Read a step-by-step guide below to learn how to change M4A to MP3 with Movavi.
Step 1. Install the M4A-to-MP3 converter
Download the installation file, open it and install the program following the setup instructions.
Step 2. Add the audio files
Click the Add Media button, then Add Audio and choose the audio files you want to convert to MP3. Movavi Video Converter supports batch processing, so you can add multiple files and convert them all in one pass.
Step 3. Choose the output preset
Open the Audio tab. Find the MP3 group and choose one of the available bitrate options. If you're not sure which one to use, just select the MP3 – Original Bitrate preset. You can also opt for a lower bitrate to make the output audio files smaller.
Step 4. Convert M4A to MP3
Check the Save to section and change the output folder if you want to save your files in a location other than the default “Movavi Library” folder. Finally, hit the Convert button to convert your M4A file to MP3.
Great! Now you know how to convert M4A to MP3. To sum up, converting M4A to MP3 online is a good option if you have one small file. In case you want to convert multiple files and also edit them, use desktop software that lets you turn M4A into MP3.
Movavi Video Converter
The ideal way to get your media in the format you need!
M4A vs. MP3 comparison
M4A vs. MP3: what is the difference? M4A audio files are normally of better quality than MP3s at the same bitrate. The problem with M4A is that this format is less popular than MP3, so you may find that .m4a files aren’t supported on your device. You’ll find more details in the table below.
Comparison parameter | M4A | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .m4a | .mp3 |
| Codecs | AAC, ALAC, others | MPEG-2 Audio Layer III |
| File size | Depends on the codec: AAC – generally smaller than MP3 ALAC – relatively large | Relatively small |
| Usage | PCs, Macs, iTunes, mobile devices | PCs, CDs, DVDs, mobile devices, digital players |
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert M4A to MP3 on Windows 10?
You can convert M4A to MP3 using Movavi Video Converter. Here’s how to do this:
- Download the app and install it.
- Hit Add Media and select Add Audio. Import the file you want to convert.
- Open the Audio tab, choose MP3, and pick the desired preset.
- Hit Convert.
How do I convert M4A to MP3 on a Mac?
Follow this guide to convert your files using Movavi Video Converter.
- Download and install the software.
- Hit Add Media and select Add Audio. Import the files for conversion.
- Open the Audio tab, choose MP3, and pick the desired preset.
- Hit Convert.
What are the best M4A-to-MP3 converters?
Here are some of the best apps to convert M4A to MP3:
- Movavi Video Converter
- VLC
- Audacity
How do I convert M4A to MP3 with iTunes?
Here’s how to convert files in iTunes on Windows.
Download and install the app.
- On the menu bar, click Edit, then Preferences.
- Click the General tab, then click Import Settings.
- Open the Import Using drop-down list and select MP3 Encoder.
- Select your audio from the library.
- In the File menu, select Convert, then Create MP3 Version.
How do I convert M4A to MP3 with Audacity?
Install the program.
- Open the software, and click File, then Open. Select your audio.
- Click on File, select Export, and pick Export as MP3.
How do I convert M4A to MP3 with VLC?
Install and launch VLC.
- Go to Media in the upper-left corner of the program window and select Convert/Save.
- Click the Add button, choose the M4A file you want to convert, and click Open. Then click the Convert/Save button at the bottom of the dialog box.
- Open the list of formats and pick Audio – MP3.
- Next, click Browse, choose the destination folder, change the file extension to .mp3, and click Save.
- Hit Start to launch the conversion process.
How do I convert M4A to MP3 in Windows Media Player?
Windows Media Player doesn’t have a conversion function.
See other useful how-to guides
How to convert an AVI video file to MPEG
How to convert video files to the WMV format
How to convert videos to the QuickTime format
How to convert WebM video to MP4
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