What Is an M4A File?

This article explains what an M4A file is and how to open one on your computer. We'll also look at how to convert an M4A file to a different file format.

What Is an M4A File?

A file with the M4A file extension is an MPEG-4 audio file. They're most often found in Apple's iTunes Store as the format of song downloads.

Many M4A files are encoded with the lossy Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) codec to reduce the size of the file. Some may instead be lossless and use the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC).

If you're downloading a song through the iTunes Store that's copy protected, it's saved with the M4P file extension.

How to Open an M4A File

Lots of programs support playback, including VLC, iTunes, QuickTime, Windows Media Player (v11 requires the K-Lite Codec Pack), and very likely many other popular media player applications as well.

Android and iOS devices function as M4A players, too, and can play the file directly from an email or website without needing a special app, regardless of whether it uses AAC or ALAC.

Rhythmbox is another player for Linux, while Mac users can open M4A files with Elmedia Player.

Still Can't Open It?

If your file doesn't open with the programs mentioned above, it's possible you're misreading the file extension.

For example, 4MP files might be confused for M4A files, but they won't work properly if you try to open one with an M4A player. 4MP files are 4-MP3 database files that hold references to audio files but don't actually contain any audio data themselves. 

M and MFA files are similar but they, too, don't work with those same players and are, for the most part, completely unrelated to audio files.

How to Convert an M4A File

While this is a common file type, M4A files certainly don't trump MP3s, which is why you might want to convert M4A to MP3. You can do this with iTunes, which is helpful if the song is already in your iTunes library. Another option is to convert it with a free file converter.

To save an M4A to MP3 with iTunes, change the program's import settings and then use the Convert menu option.

1. Change the iTunes import settings. In Windows, you can do this through Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings.

2. Select the M4A file from your library that you want to convert.

   To access your music library, choose Library at the top of the program and then ensure Music is chosen from the drop-down menu to the left. Finally, select Songs from the left pane to list all your music.

3. Go to File > Convert > Create MP3 Version.

   iTunes doesn't delete the M4A when you convert it to MP3. Both will remain in your iTunes library.

A few free M4A converters that can save the file to not only MP3 but others like WAV, M4R, WMA, AIFF, and AC3, include Freemake Audio Converter and MediaHuman Audio Converter.

Something else you can do is convert M4A to MP3 online with a tool like FileZigZag or Zamzar. Upload the file to one of those websites and you'll be given many output options in addition to MP3, including FLAC, M4R, WAV, OPUS, and OGG, among others.

You might also be able to "convert" the file to text using speech recognition software like Dragon. Programs like this can transcribe live, spoken words into text, and Dragon is one example that can even do it with an audio file. However, you may have to first convert it to MP3 using one of the converters mentioned above.

More Info on File Extensions

Some audiobooks and podcasts use the M4A file extension, but because it doesn't support bookmarks to save your last accessed place in the file, that kind of content is generally saved in the M4B format, which can store this information.

The MPEG-4 audio format is used by iPhones in the form of ringtones, but they're saved with the M4R file extension instead.

Compared to MP3s, M4As are usually smaller and have better quality. This is because of enhancements in the format that was intended to replace MP3, such as perception-based compression, larger block sizes in stationary signals, and smaller sample block sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I fix a corrupted M4A file? One way to repair an M4A file is by using VLC Player, which is available for Windows and macOS download. In VLC, go to Open Media > Add > select the corrupted M4A file > Convert/Save > Start. Then, go to Simple Preferences > Input/Codecs > Damaged or Incomplete AVI file > Always fix > Save to complete the repair process.
• How do you stitch M4A files together? You can use one of our favorite music editor programs or an online service to splice the files together. For instance, on Clideo.com, drag M4A files or upload them from your computer, or an online file storage service. Then you can arrange the order of the files, choose a format, and complete the merge.
• How do I find M4A files on Windows? Use the Windows taskbar search feature to search for files with the M4A file extension. Type .m4a into the search box to find any files with that extension on your computer.