MP4 to M4A Converter

Save the audio from an MP4 as a compact, Apple-friendly M4A file. Free, in your browser, with no signup and no watermark.

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We support most file types including: MP4, MOV, WEBM, AVI, MP3, WAV, PNG, JPEG, GIF, MKV, PDF, FLAC, TIFF!

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Updated June 2026

M4A is the audio format Apple uses across iTunes, Music, and the iPhone, and it shares the same AAC audio that most MP4s already carry. Converting your MP4 to M4A gives you a small, clean audio file that drops straight into an Apple library, free and right in your browser with no signup. At the same quality it is usually smaller than MP3.

Free, no sign-upNo account, no trial

Runs in your browserNothing to install

Works on every devicePhone, tablet, laptop

No watermarkClean output, every time

How it works

How to convert MP4 to M4A

1
Upload your MP4
Drag your MP4 onto the converter or pick it from your device. Nothing to install.
2
Choose M4A and convert
Select M4A as the output, set the bitrate if you want, then start. Free, with no sign-up.
3
Download your M4A
Save the finished M4A to your device, or open it in the editor to trim or reuse it.

Try it

Estimate your M4A

Pick a bitrate and a length to see the M4A file size before you convert.

Bitrate

Length10 min

1 min60 min

Estimated M4A size14MBGreat for most music

An estimate. Real size varies a little with the encoder and the audio itself.

The formats

MP4 vs M4A

MP4

MPEG-4 Part 14

The video format that plays everywhere

Type: Video container
Holds: H.264 video plus AAC audio, sometimes subtitles
Typical size: Large, it carries video
Plays on: Phones, browsers, TVs, almost any player

Best for:Watching and sharing video

M4A

MPEG-4 Audio

Apple-friendly AAC audio

Type: Lossy audio, usually AAC
Holds: AAC audio in an MP4 container
Typical size: Small, smaller than MP3 at the same quality
Plays on: iPhone, Mac, iTunes, and most players

Best for:Apple devices and clean compressed audio

Will it lose quality?

The M4A can only be as good as the audio already inside your MP4.
A bitrate higher than the source does not add quality, it only makes a bigger file.
192 to 320 kbps keeps music clear. 128 kbps is fine for speech.

Use cases

What people use it for

PodcastersPublish a clean audio episode

Students & lecturesReplay recordings anywhere

MusiciansSave sets to listen offline

TranscriptionSend a small file, not a video

CommutersTalks and audiobooks on the go

Troubleshooting

If something looks off

The M4A has no sound

Some videos store audio as AC-3. The converter still handles it, but if a clip plays silent, re-download the source and convert again.

The file is too large to email

Convert at a lower bitrate, 128 kbps for talking, or trim the clip first to cut its length.

Which apps open M4A files?

Almost anything opens it: your browser, your phone, any music app, or VLC. No special player needed.

FAQ

MP4 to M4A questions

Is the MP4 to M4A converter free?

Yes. EchoWave converts MP4 to M4A with no signup, no file-count limit, no trial, and no watermark. Upload your video, convert it, and download the M4A from your browser.

How do I convert MP4 to M4A?

Upload your MP4, choose M4A as the output, and start the conversion. When it finishes, download the M4A or open it in the editor to trim it first.

What is the difference between M4A and MP4?

They use the same MPEG-4 container, but an MP4 holds video plus audio while an M4A holds audio only. Converting to M4A keeps the soundtrack and drops the picture, giving you a much smaller, audio-only file.

After converting MP4 to M4A, is M4A the same as AAC?

Almost. M4A is a container that usually wraps an AAC audio track, while a raw AAC file is just the audio stream. M4A adds tidier support for titles, artists, and album art, which is why Apple uses it.

Should I choose M4A or MP3?

Choose M4A for Apple devices and slightly smaller files at the same quality. Choose MP3 for the absolute widest compatibility across old players and cars. Both are lossy and sound similar at 192 to 256 kbps.

Does the M4A keep the song title and artist?

Title, artist, and album travel along as tags when your MP4 includes them, and M4A handles these cleanly. You can add or edit the details afterward in Apple Music or any tag editor.

Will I add my M4A to an iPhone or iTunes?

Yes. M4A is the native format for Apple Music and iTunes, so the file imports directly. It also plays on Android, Windows, and most modern players without conversion.

Does the MP4 to M4A converter work on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows?

Yes. Extracting the M4A audio runs in a browser tab on an iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Mac, Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux machine, with nothing to install. Because M4A is Apple's own audio format, the file you get drops cleanly into Apple Music or iTunes afterward, and Android and Windows players read it too.

Can I convert several MP4 videos to M4A one after another?

Yes. There are no file-count limits on these pages, so you can convert your MP4s one after another. Larger videos simply take a little longer to upload and convert.