M4A to AIFF Converter
Convert M4A to AIFF free — no upload, no signup
To convert M4A to AIFF, drop your M4A audio files into the box below and click Convert. Fylo converts with ffmpeg running inside your browser, so nothing is uploaded and there's no signup or watermark. Decode M4A to AIFF for Mac audio editing.
Drop audio files here
or tap to browse · paste with Ctrl+V · add many at once
Your files never leave your device
AIFF is lossless — no bitrate to choose. Sample rate and channels are under Advanced.
Advanced
How to convert M4A to AIFF
Add your M4A files
Drag and drop M4A files into the box or tap to choose them. The converter engine (about 31 MB) downloads once, the first time you convert.
Check the settings
AIFF is lossless, so there's no bitrate to pick. Change sample rate or switch to mono under Advanced if a device needs it.
Convert and download
Click Convert, then download each AIFF file or all of them as one ZIP.
Why convert M4A to AIFF?
Logic Pro, GarageBand and samplers handle uncompressed AIFF best.
What happens when you convert M4A to AIFF?
Fylo decodes to 16-bit PCM AIFF, about 10 MB per minute.
How does Fylo convert M4A to AIFF?
Fylo decodes the AAC (or ALAC) audio in the M4A with ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly and encodes it with 16-bit big-endian PCM with no compression. Nothing is added back: the AIFF is an exact but larger copy of the decoded M4A (≈ 32 MB for a 3-minute song versus ≈ 3.6 MB at 160 kbps). The original sample rate and channel layout are kept unless you change them under Advanced.
What's the difference between M4A and AIFF?
M4A is an MPEG-4 container that holds only audio — usually AAC, or Apple Lossless (ALAC). Apple popularised the extension with the iTunes Store in 2003; iPhone Voice Memos and many podcasts also use it. Audiobooks often use the related .m4b extension.
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) was created by Apple in 1988, based on Electronic Arts' IFF format. Like WAV it stores uncompressed PCM audio — just with big-endian byte order — so the two contain identical sound data at the same settings.
Learn more: M4A format guide · AIFF format guide
| Property | M4A | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy (AAC) or lossless (ALAC) | None (PCM) |
| Typical bitrate | 128–256 kbps | 1,411 kbps (CD quality) |
| 3-minute song | ≈ 3.6 MB at 160 kbps | ≈ 32 MB |
| Tags and cover art | Yes (full, with cover art) | Yes (ID3 chunk) |
| Compatibility | Apple devices, Android, Windows 10+, browsers | macOS, iTunes, DAWs; less common on Windows |
| Best for | iTunes/Apple Music libraries, voice memos, audiobooks | Mac audio editing and music production |
| Introduced | 2003 | 1988 |
Frequently asked questions
Does converting M4A to AIFF improve quality?
No. M4A is lossy, so detail removed during its compression can't be restored. The AIFF is a lossless copy of what the M4A sounds like — bigger, but not better.
AIFF or WAV for Logic Pro?
Both work; AIFF is Apple's native choice.
Is my M4A file uploaded to a server?
No. Fylo runs ffmpeg, the same engine used by professional video tools, compiled to WebAssembly inside your browser. Your M4A file is read directly from your device and never sent anywhere.
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