7 Free Ways to Change M4A to MP3 in Minutes on Windows 10, Mac and Online

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7 Free Ways to Change M4A to MP3 in Minutes on Windows 10, Mac and Online

Last Updated: 2021. 09. 13

Summary

Looking for ways to convert m4a to mp3 format for free? This quick article is exactly what you need. Let's walk through this article and get 7 easy ways to convert m4a to mp3 on Windows 10, Mac and online.

M4A is a file extension for the MPEG-4 audio standard, typically used to distinguish audio files from video files in the MPEG-4 format. Apple popularized the ".m4a" extension through its use in iTunes and iPod, making it a common format for high-quality, compressed music files.

While M4A files offer superior audio quality compared to the more common MP3 format, they are generally larger in size and take up more disk space. Although most programs now support M4A, MP3 files tend to be more universally compatible. If you need to convert M4A to MP3, we've selected several excellent methods to help you. Let’s dive in to explore it more now!

Part 1. Convert M4A to MP3 Online

#1 FlexClip: M4A to MP3 Converter Free Online #2 CloudConvert: Change M4A to MP3 Online #3 Zamzar: Convert M4A to MP3 Online

Part 2. Convert M4A to MP3 on Windows 10

#1 Convert M4A to MP3 in Windows Media Player #2 Convert M4A to MP3 with VLC

Part 3. Change M4A to MP3 Mac

#1 Turn M4A into MP3 with iMovie #2 Convert M4A to MP3 iTunes

Frequently Asked Questions

Also Interested in: MP3 Joiner: 5 Simple Ways to Combine MP3 Files into One>>

Part 1. Convert M4A to MP3 Online

#1 FlexClip: M4A to MP3 Converter Free Online

Converting M4A to MP3 is easy when you have the right tool, and we recommend FlexClip, the best free online M4A to MP3 converter. The process is simple: upload your M4A file to FlexClip, add it to the timeline, and export it as an MP3 file. With its user-friendly interface, both beginners and tech-savvy users can convert M4A to MP3 in seconds without losing quality.

In addition to seamless conversion, FlexClip offers a range of features to customize your audio. You can adjust the audio speed, reduce noise, remove or add background music, apply effects, convert MP3 to MP4, and even combine sound effects—all within this comprehensive platform. Just explore it magical features now!

Step 1

Click "Convert it Now" below to access the FlexClip Audio Converter and upload your M4A file.

Enter FlexClip Audio Converter and Upload Your M4A File

Convert it Now

Edit Video

Step 2

Once the audio is uploaded, select MP3 as the output format and click "Start" to begin the conversion.

Set MP3 as the Output Format

Step 3

When the conversion is complete, click "Download" to save your MP3 file, or select "Use Audio" to continue editing.

Set MP3 as the Output Format

#2 CloudConvert: Change M4A to MP3 Online

CloudConvert is an impressive online converter that is ready to help you convert m4a to mp3 online for free. This tool supports nearly any audio, video, document, e-book, archive, image, spreadsheet or presentation format. No need to download and install any software. Also, your audio quality will not be compressed during the process. Just try it now and explore more.

Step 1

Visit CloudConvert website and click on Select File to import the target M4A file.

Import Target M4A File to CloudConvert

Step 2

Navigate to the drop-down list next to Convert to and select MP3.

Set MP3 as the OutPut Format in CloudConvert

Step 3

Click on the Wrench icon to trim audio and customize the audio codec, bitrate, volume, etc.

Make Setting of the Conversion Process in CloudConvert

Step 4

Tap on Convert button to start the conversion process. Once finished, download the converted MP3 file to your computer.

Download the Converted MP3 File from CloudConvert

#3 Zamzar: Convert M4A to MP3 Online

ZAMZAR is a free online tool that can help you convert m4a to mp3 format, it has converted over 510 million files since 2006. Using ZAMZAR, it's possible to convert m4a files to a variety of other formats like aac, flac, m4r, mp4, ogg, wav, wma and more. Also, it supports multiple languages like English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, etc. With its intuitive interface, anyone can start converting files in just seconds.

Step 1

Open ZAMZAR in your browser and upload the M4A file you want to convert.

Visit Zamzar website and Upload Your M4A File

Step 2

Choose MP3 as the format you want to convert your M4A file to.

Choose MP3 File as the Desired Format

Step 3

Click "Convert" to start the process. Once the conversion is complete, download the MP3 file to your device.

Start the Conversion Process and Download the Converted File

Part 2. Convert M4A to MP3 on Windows 10

#1 Convert M4A to MP3 in Windows Media Player

Although Windows Media Player is versatile for playing various types of media, it doesn't offer a direct way to convert M4A to MP3. However, there is a workaround using the Rip Audio feature in Windows Media Player. While this method is a bit complicated, it can be effective if you prefer not to download additional software. Follow the steps below to make it now.

Convert M4A to MP3 in Windows Media Player

Step 1

Play the M4A File in Windows Media Player

Open Windows Media Player, click on the "File" menu, and select "Open." Browse for the M4A file you wish to convert and open it.

Step 2

Burn the M4A File to a CD

Since Windows Media Player doesn’t support directly ripping MP3s from M4A files, you'll need to burn the M4A file to a CD first. Insert a blank CD into your CD writer. Drag the M4A file into the Burn List in Windows Media Player, then click "Start Burn" to begin the process.

Step 3

Rip the CD to MP3

Once the CD is ready, go back to Windows Media Player. Click on the "Rip settings" menu, then on "Format," and select "MP3." Insert the CD you just burned and click "Rip CD." Windows Media Player will rip the CD and create an MP3 version of the M4A file.

#2 Convert M4A to MP3 with VLC

Another media player you can rely on to convert M4A to MP3 on Windows 10 is VLC. This free, open-source media player is compatible with all popular media formats and includes a range of useful features, such as recording, audio/video conversion, and audio spatialization. For converting M4A to MP3, VLC offers a straightforward solution while maintaining the original quality. Follow the step-by-step guide to change M4A to MP3 using VLC:

Convert M4A to MP3 in VLC Media Player

Step 1

Download and install VLC software to your Windows 10 computer.

Step 2

Open VLC, go to the "Media" menu, and select "Convert/Save..." from the dropdown.

Step 3

In the "Open Media" window, switch to the "File" tab. Click the "+Add" button to import the M4A file you want to convert. Then, click the "Convert/Save" button to proceed.

Step 4

Under the "Profile" drop-down menu, select "Audio - MP3" as the output format. Choose a destination folder and rename the converted file for easy access later.

Step 5

Click the "Start" button to begin the M4A-to-MP3 conversion. Once completed, you can find the converted file in the specified location.

Part 3. Change M4A to MP3 Mac

#1 Turn M4A into MP3 with iMovie

iMovie comes pre-installed on every Mac and is a powerful video editor with fantastic features. It supports a wide range of formats, including MP4, MP3, M4A, MOV, and more, making it a convenient tool for converting M4A files to MP3. If you’re unsure how to do this, follow our step-by-step guide below:

Turn M4A into MP3 with iMovie

Step 1

Launch iMovie on your Mac and create a new project.

Step 2

Click on "Import Media" to bring in the M4A file from your computer, then drag it from the Project window onto the timeline.

Step 3

Select the M4A file and click the Share icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, then choose "Export File." When the File window appears, set the format to "Audio Only" and select MP3 as the output format.

Step 4

Click "Next" to name your file and choose a storage location. Once you’ve completed these steps, you can find your converted MP3 file in the location you specified.

#2 Convert M4A to MP3 iTunes

If all your M4A songs, podcast or audiobooks are purchased from iTunes Store and managed on this platform, you can use iTunes to get an MP3 version from your M4A files. Although it’s not the simplest process, this is a free way to convert M4A to MP3 without additional software. Before jumping to the board, be aware that Apple Music in M4P with DRM protection are restricted from conversion even using iTunes.

Convert M4A to MP3 iTunes

Step 1

Launch iTunes on your computer and click Preferences in the top menu.

Step 2

In the Preferences window, go to the General tab and locate the Import Settings section.

Step 3

In the Import Using dropdown menu, select "MP3 Encoder," then click "OK" to confirm the changes.

Step 4

Select the M4A files you want to convert, then go to "File" > "Convert" > "Create MP3 Version."

Frequently Asked Questions

1.How do I convert M4A to MP3 on Google Drive?

Google Drive doesn’t inherently support audio conversion. However, it integrates with many third-party converter apps like CloudConvert that can directly convert M4A to MP3 within Google Drive.

To do this, upload your M4A file to Google Drive > right-click on the file, click Open with and you’ll see CloudConvert > choose MP3 as the output format and begin with the Start Conversion button > when it finishes, the converted MP3 file will be stored in your Google Drive.

2.How to change M4A to MP3 on iPhone?

For iPhone users looking to convert M4A files to MP3, built-in applications like iTunes offer a straightforward solution. Additionally, third-party converters are available for those seeking a more customized or seamless conversion experience.

3.How to convert M4A to MP3 on Android?

There are lots of M4A to MP3 converters on the Google Store that Android users can use it to convert files.

Bella /

Full of vitality, curiosity and hope, Bella is an energetic copywriter at FlexClip. She mainly concentrates on video creation and troublesome issues related to video editing, providing users with practical solutions and tricks. Personally, Bella loves novels, sci-fi movies, cooking and travel. And, she believes that all her life is the best arrangement from God.