Why convert FLAC to WAV?
WAV is the native format for most audio editors, DAWs, and CD-burning software. Some older hardware and broadcast systems accept .WAV but not FLAC. Converting gives you a file that works anywhere without extra decoders or plugins.
How to convert FLAC to WAV
flac reference tools OPEN-SOURCE
Install from xiph.org or your package manager, then run flac -d file.flac to decode in one step.
Command line - ffmpeg CLI
Run ffmpeg -i input.flac output.wav - handles any bit depth or sample rate without extra flags.
foobar2000 FREE
Add your FLAC files to the playlist, right-click and choose Convert, then select WAV as the output format.
VLC media player FREE
Go to Media > Convert/Save, add your .flac, select the WAV audio profile, and click Start.
Programs that convert FLAC
About these formats
.FLAC
Free Lossless Audio Codec
A FLAC file is lossless compressed audio - it shrinks a recording to roughly half the WAV size with no quality loss. Play it free with VLC or foobar2000 on Windows, VLC or IINA on Mac, and…
Open .FLAC details →
.WAV
Waveform Audio File Format
A WAV file is an uncompressed digital audio file introduced by Microsoft and IBM in 1991. Double-click one and it plays in Windows Media Player, macOS Music/QuickTime, or VLC on any system.…
Open .WAV details →Quality & what to watch
- WAV files are roughly 1.5-2× larger than the source FLAC because WAV stores raw, uncompressed PCM audio.
- Embedded tags (artist, album, track) and cover art stored in the FLAC are not carried over to standard WAV.
- Standard WAV has a 4 GB file size limit, which can be an issue for very long high-resolution recordings.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting FLAC to WAV lose quality?
Why is the WAV file so much bigger than the FLAC?
Will I lose my tags and cover art?
Can I convert back from WAV to FLAC?
flac file.wav or ffmpeg -i file.wav -c:a flac output.flac.
