M4A is common for music bought from iTunes, voice memos on iPhone, and some phone or app recordings. It is also used for audiobooks and podcasts distributed by Apple. The format is efficient, but not always accepted by older editors or hardware.

How much bigger is WAV than M4A?

A 4-minute stereo M4A at 256 kbps is about 7.5 MB. The same audio as 16-bit WAV is around 40 MB. Expect a 4–6x jump in file size. This is because WAV stores every sample uncompressed, while M4A uses AAC or ALAC compression.

Will converting M4A to WAV improve sound quality?

No. Converting to WAV preserves the quality of your M4A, but cannot restore details lost in compression. If your M4A is lossy (AAC), the WAV will sound identical to the source. For ALAC (lossless), the WAV will match the original perfectly.

Are there built-in tools to convert M4A to WAV?

Yes. On Windows, you can use VLC (Media > Convert/Save), or Audacity (open M4A, then Export as WAV). macOS users can use Audacity or export from GarageBand. QuickTime Player can export to AIFF, but not WAV. iTunes (Music app) can convert to WAV in 'Import Settings.' Videozify is browser-based and does not require installing apps.

Is M4A or WAV better for editing?

WAV is much better for editing. Editors like Audacity, FL Studio, and Pro Tools work natively with WAV. M4A can be imported but may not allow frame-accurate edits or fast scrubbing. WAV is standard for professional and hobbyist audio work.

Does this converter keep album art or metadata?

No. WAV files have limited metadata support. The conversion drops album art, lyrics, and most metadata. If you need to keep tags, stay with M4A or use FLAC. WAV is intended for editing and playback, not for archiving rich metadata.

Can I convert large or long M4A files?

Yes, as long as your browser and device have enough memory. Videozify runs locally and does not upload your file. For hour-long recordings, make sure you have enough free RAM—WAV files can be hundreds of megabytes. If conversion fails, try a shorter file or use a desktop app.

Is it safe and private to use this converter?

Yes. All processing happens in your browser, using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Your files never leave your device. Nothing is uploaded or stored. This is safer than online converters that require file uploads.

M4A → WAV

M4A to WAV Converter

Drop a file here

Click to browse, or paste a file from the clipboard.

Choose file

A M4A to WAV converter turns your compressed M4A audio into an uncompressed 16-bit PCM WAV file. Videozify decodes the AAC or ALAC audio in your M4A, drops any video or extra tracks, and saves a standard little-endian WAV ready for editing or playback on any device. No bitrate slider—output is always uncompressed.

How to convert M4A to WAV

Drop your M4A file onto the box above, or click Browse to pick it from your device.
Wait for the file to load—no upload, everything happens in your browser.
Press Convert. Videozify decodes your audio to 16-bit PCM WAV.
Download the new WAV when it appears. Use it in any editor or player.

Why convert M4A to WAV?

M4A is a common audio format from Apple devices, iTunes downloads, and some phones. It usually contains AAC or ALAC audio. While M4A plays fine on Macs, iPhones, and many modern apps, some editors, recorders, and legacy systems only accept WAV. WAV is the default for uncompressed audio in Windows, most DAWs, and hardware recorders.

You might need WAV if you are working with audio in Audacity, FL Studio, Pro Tools, or older software. Some karaoke machines, samplers, and transcription tools require WAV. Converting to WAV is also necessary for burning audio CDs or sending files to collaborators who expect that format.

Another reason: WAV preserves every detail from the M4A at the decoding stage. Unlike MP3 or AAC, which are lossy, converting to WAV does not compress or further degrade the sound. The preset here decodes to 16-bit PCM, the most widely supported WAV flavor. This works for voice, music, podcasts, and more.

Keep in mind: WAV files are much larger than M4A. A 4-minute stereo M4A at 256 kbps is about 7.5 MB. The same audio as 16-bit WAV jumps to about 40 MB. That is normal—WAV is uncompressed. Only use WAV if you truly need it for compatibility or editing.

If you want to trim or cut your WAV after converting, use the audio trimmer. To join several WAVs together, try the audio joiner.

M4A vs WAV: what's the difference?

Property	M4A	WAV
Extension	.m4a	.wav
Compression	AAC or ALAC (lossy/lossless)	None (PCM)
Typical size (4 min stereo)	6–10 MB	40 MB
Quality	Lossy (AAC) or lossless (ALAC)	Uncompressed PCM
Device support	Apple, modern apps, some Android	Universal (Windows, macOS, DAWs, hardware)
Editing	Limited, not always frame-accurate	Full support in all editors

M4A is a container for compressed (AAC) or lossless (ALAC) audio, popular on Apple devices. WAV is an uncompressed audio format, standard for editing, archiving, and playback on almost any device.

Does converting M4A to WAV reduce quality?

No further quality is lost during conversion. The preset decodes the audio from your M4A—AAC or ALAC—into standard 16-bit PCM WAV. If your M4A was already lossy (AAC), the WAV will not restore lost details, but it will not degrade further. There is no bitrate slider because WAV is always uncompressed PCM.

If your M4A uses ALAC (Apple Lossless), the WAV will be a perfect match for the original sound. For AAC, expect the WAV to sound just like the M4A did. File size will increase by 4–6x. Only convert if you need WAV for editing, compatibility, or specific workflows.

When should you NOT convert M4A to WAV?

Avoid converting if you only want to play your audio—modern phones and apps handle M4A well. Converting to WAV just makes the file much bigger, with no sound improvement. If storage space or upload limits matter (email, cloud, messaging), keep it as M4A.

WAV is not good for streaming or portable use. It lacks metadata support, and does not compress. If you only need to trim or join audio, consider working directly with M4A or exporting to MP3 instead.

If you are on macOS or iOS, built-in apps like QuickTime and GarageBand open M4A natively. On Windows, you can play M4A in Groove, Windows Media Player (recent versions), and VLC. Only convert to WAV if your editor or device refuses to open M4A.

Frequently asked questions

Who uses M4A files?: M4A is common for music bought from iTunes, voice memos on iPhone, and some phone or app recordings. It is also used for audiobooks and podcasts distributed by Apple. The format is efficient, but not always accepted by older editors or hardware.
How much bigger is WAV than M4A?: A 4-minute stereo M4A at 256 kbps is about 7.5 MB. The same audio as 16-bit WAV is around 40 MB. Expect a 4–6x jump in file size. This is because WAV stores every sample uncompressed, while M4A uses AAC or ALAC compression.
Will converting M4A to WAV improve sound quality?: No. Converting to WAV preserves the quality of your M4A, but cannot restore details lost in compression. If your M4A is lossy (AAC), the WAV will sound identical to the source. For ALAC (lossless), the WAV will match the original perfectly.
Are there built-in tools to convert M4A to WAV?: Yes. On Windows, you can use VLC (Media > Convert/Save), or Audacity (open M4A, then Export as WAV). macOS users can use Audacity or export from GarageBand. QuickTime Player can export to AIFF, but not WAV. iTunes (Music app) can convert to WAV in 'Import Settings.' Videozify is browser-based and does not require installing apps.
Is M4A or WAV better for editing?: WAV is much better for editing. Editors like Audacity, FL Studio, and Pro Tools work natively with WAV. M4A can be imported but may not allow frame-accurate edits or fast scrubbing. WAV is standard for professional and hobbyist audio work.
Does this converter keep album art or metadata?: No. WAV files have limited metadata support. The conversion drops album art, lyrics, and most metadata. If you need to keep tags, stay with M4A or use FLAC. WAV is intended for editing and playback, not for archiving rich metadata.
Can I convert large or long M4A files?: Yes, as long as your browser and device have enough memory. Videozify runs locally and does not upload your file. For hour-long recordings, make sure you have enough free RAM—WAV files can be hundreds of megabytes. If conversion fails, try a shorter file or use a desktop app.
Is it safe and private to use this converter?: Yes. All processing happens in your browser, using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Your files never leave your device. Nothing is uploaded or stored. This is safer than online converters that require file uploads.