Convert MP4 to M4A
Pull the audio out of your MP4 file and save it as M4A, with nothing to install.
- Free to start
- Nothing to install
- Up to 1GB
How to convert MP4 to M4A
Upload your MP4 file
Drag and drop a MP4 file to turn into M4A, or click to browse. Anything under 1GB, and nothing is installed.
Keep M4A selected
M4A is already selected for your MP4, first in the list. Pick MP3 or WAV instead if you change your mind.
Convert and download
We convert the MP4 on our servers, usually in under a minute. Create a free account to download the M4A.
Why convert MP4 to M4A?
MP4 is the closest thing video has to a universal format: an MPEG-4 container that almost always holds H.264 video and AAC audio, which every browser, phone, TV and social platform can play without a plugin.
The practical problem: MP4 is already the safest format, so the usual reason to convert away from it is a specific destination that wants something else.
M4A solves that. Better quality than MP3 at the same bitrate, and native on Apple devices.
Container
Typical codecs
Best for
Plays on
File size
| Feature | MP4 | M4A |
|---|---|---|
| Container | MPEG-4 Part 14 | MPEG-4 audio |
| Typical codecs | H.264 video, AAC audio | AAC (lossy) or ALAC (lossless) |
| Best for | Sharing anywhere, uploads, web embeds | Voice memos and Apple audio exports |
| Plays on | Every phone, browser, TV and editor | Apple devices natively, most others too |
| File size | Small for the quality | Slightly smaller than MP3 at the same quality |
MP4 to M4A questions
Is the MP4 to M4A converter free?
Yes. Convert and preview the result for free, then create a free account to download it. There is no per-file charge, and nothing is added to the sound of the M4A.
Do I need to install any software?
No. The conversion runs on our servers and you use it from a browser tab, so it works the same on Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone and Android. Nothing to install at either end. Where MP4 plays: Every phone, browser, TV and editor. Where the M4A you get back plays: Apple devices natively, most others too.
Does converting MP4 to M4A reduce the quality?
The audio track is decoded from the MP4 and written as M4A. M4A is a lossy format, so there is a small re-encode, inaudible for speech at the default quality. The picture is discarded entirely, which is why the file gets so much smaller.
How large a file can I convert?
Anything under 1GB per upload, which is more footage in some formats than others. MP4: Small for the quality. M4A coming back: Slightly smaller than MP3 at the same quality. For anything bigger, trim or compress it first, both are free tools here.
Is my file kept private?
Your upload is processed and then held only as long as your project needs it. Nothing is published, indexed or shared unless you create a share link yourself.
Other formats
Everything else you can do here.
Every conversion for a format
Convert to MP4
Convert to WebM
Convert to AVI
Convert to WMV
Convert to 3GP
Convert to M4V
Convert to MPEG
Convert to GIF
Convert to MP3
Convert to WAV
Convert MP4 to M4A now
Free, nothing to install, and the file stays open in a full video editor afterwards.