How to convert M4A to WAV
- Add your .M4A file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .WAV in a few seconds.
- Download your new .WAV file.
What to expect
- If your M4A uses AAC (lossy), converting to WAV does not improve quality - the WAV holds the decoded AAC output and quality is bounded by the original encode.
- If your M4A uses ALAC (Apple Lossless), the resulting WAV is bit-perfect - every sample is preserved.
- WAV files are significantly larger than M4A: a 4-minute AAC track (~7 MB) becomes roughly 40 MB as 16-bit 44.1 kHz stereo WAV, and the format has a 4 GB file size limit.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting M4A to WAV improve audio quality?
No. The conversion decodes the existing audio to PCM without adding any information the original encoder discarded. Quality is identical to what the M4A already contained.
How do I tell if my M4A uses AAC or ALAC?
Run
ffmpeg -i yourfile.m4a in a terminal and look at the audio stream line - it will say aac or alac. VLC also shows this under Tools > Media Information > Codec.Will artist, album, and artwork tags transfer to WAV?
Usually not - WAV has very limited metadata support and most players ignore its tag fields. Keep a copy of the M4A if you need tags intact.
Should I convert to WAV or FLAC instead?
Use WAV when your target application requires it. FLAC gives the same audio quality at roughly half the file size and is a better choice for long-term lossless storage.
Programs that convert M4A: Helium Music Manager · Adobe Soundbooth · Aimersoft DRM Media Converter for Windows · Any Audio Converter · dBpoweramp family suite · fre:ac · Free Mp3 Wma Converter · Freemake Audio Converter
