M4A to WAV Converter
Convert M4A to WAV free — no upload, no signup
To convert M4A to WAV, 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. Turn M4A into uncompressed WAV for editing or phone systems.
Drop audio files here
or tap to browse · paste with Ctrl+V · add many at once
Your files never leave your device
WAV is lossless — no bitrate to choose. Sample rate and channels are under Advanced.
Advanced
How to convert M4A to WAV
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
WAV 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 WAV file or all of them as one ZIP.
Why convert M4A to WAV?
Editors, transcription services and phone systems often require WAV.
What happens when you convert M4A to WAV?
The M4A is decoded to 16-bit PCM WAV — about 10 MB per minute. Choose mono and a lower sample rate under Advanced for phone systems.
How does Fylo convert M4A to WAV?
Fylo decodes the AAC (or ALAC) audio in the M4A with ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly and encodes it with 16-bit little-endian PCM with no compression. Nothing is added back: the WAV 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 WAV?
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.
WAV was introduced by Microsoft and IBM in 1991 and, like AVI, uses the RIFF container. Most WAVs hold uncompressed PCM audio: CD quality (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo) runs at 1,411 kbps, or about 10.6 MB per minute.
Learn more: M4A format guide · WAV format guide
| Property | M4A | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Limited |
| Compatibility | Apple devices, Android, Windows 10+, browsers | Universal on computers; editors and DAWs |
| Best for | iTunes/Apple Music libraries, voice memos, audiobooks | Recording, editing, mastering |
| Introduced | 2003 | 1991 |
Frequently asked questions
Does converting M4A to WAV improve quality?
No. M4A is lossy, so detail removed during its compression can't be restored. The WAV is a lossless copy of what the M4A sounds like — bigger, but not better.
What settings do phone systems need?
Often 8 kHz mono WAV — set channels and sample rate under Advanced.
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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