M4A to WAV Converter

Convert M4A audio, such as iPhone voice memos, to an uncompressed WAV file. The file is converted in your browser and never sent to a server.

Files Stay on Your Device

Drop your M4A here, or choose a file

Converts M4A audio, such as voice memos and iTunes songs, to uncompressed 16-bit WAV. It stays on your device.

Choose a File

Your browser converts the file. Nothing is sent to a server.

  • No signup, no watermark
  • Converts on your device
  • About 2 sec for a 47 sec clip
  • Works offline once loaded

How to Convert M4A to WAV

  1. 1

    Choose Your Audio File

    Choose the M4A file. On iPhone, save the voice memo to Files first, then pick it here.

  2. 2

    Check WAV and Trim

    WAV is already selected. Turn on Trim if you only need part of the recording.

  3. 3

    Convert and Download

    Press Convert to WAV, play it in the preview player, and download the WAV.

M4A and WAV: What Is the Difference?

M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually compressed with AAC. The iPhone Voice Memos app and iTunes both use it. WAV holds the same sound uncompressed, as plain samples.

Converting M4A to WAV decodes the AAC once. Nothing more is lost, and the WAV opens in tools that do not read M4A.

What an M4A to WAV conversion doesAn M4A file on the left holds AAC audio plus tags and cover art. An arrow labelled decode audio, write WAV points to a WAV file on the right holding 16-bit PCM at the same sample rate, about ten times the size of the M4A. Tags and cover art are not copied.M4A file (MPEG-4 audio)AAC audio · decoded onceTags and cover art · not copieddecode audiowrite WAVWAV file16-bit PCM, same sample rateAbout 10 times the size of the M4AWhat an M4A to WAV conversion doesM4A file (MPEG-4 audio)AAC audio · decoded onceTags and cover art · not copieddecode audiowrite WAVWAV file16-bit PCM, same sample rateAbout 10 times the size of the M4A
The AAC sound is decoded once and stored as plain samples. Nothing more is lost.
M4A and WAV compared
M4AWAV
CompressionAAC (lossy) or Apple LosslessNone
Size per minute (stereo)About 1 MB at 128 kbpsAbout 10 MB at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz
Common sourceiPhone Voice Memos, iTunes, Mac recordingsEditors, recorders, CDs
Opens inApple apps, most new phonesEvery editor, DAW and player

Why Convert M4A to WAV

  • Transcribe a Voice Memo

    Speech-to-text and caption tools often ask for WAV. Convert the memo here and upload the WAV there.

  • Edit in Any Program

    Some editors and older Windows programs do not open M4A. WAV opens everywhere.

  • Keep Editing Lossless

    Cut, clean and mix the WAV as often as you like; each save keeps the full sound.

Converting iPhone Voice Memos to WAV

In the Voice Memos app, tap a recording, tap the three dots, choose Save to Files, and save it. Then open this page in Safari, tap Choose a File and pick it. The WAV saves to Downloads in Files.

Voice memos are often mono. The WAV stays mono, which keeps it half the size of a stereo file.

MB for one minute of stereo audio

  • M4A 128 kbpsAbout 0.96 MB
  • M4A 256 kbpsAbout 1.92 MB
  • WAV 44.1 kHzAbout 10.6 MB
  • WAV 48 kHzAbout 11.5 MB
A mono voice memo makes a WAV half these sizes. WAV size is fixed by sample rate and channels, not by the M4A bitrate.

Programs That Work Best With WAV

The usual reason to turn an M4A into WAV is a program that wants uncompressed audio, or does not open M4A at all.

  • Audacity (free, Windows, Mac and Linux) opens and edits WAV.
  • GarageBand and Logic Pro on a Mac, and Adobe Audition, Pro Tools and FL Studio on Windows or Mac.
  • Video editors such as Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve and CapCut on a computer.
  • Speech-to-text and caption tools, many of which list WAV as the preferred upload.
  • Every media player: Windows Media Player, QuickTime Player, VLC, and the Files app on iPhone.

M4A to WAV: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert an iPhone voice memo to WAV?
Save the memo to Files from the Voice Memos app, open this page in Safari, choose the file and press Convert to WAV.
Does M4A to WAV lose quality?
No. Decoding to WAV adds no loss. The WAV sounds the same as the M4A, only the file is bigger.
Is my M4A file sent to a server?
No. Your browser reads the M4A file and writes the WAV on your own device. Nothing is sent to MP4toMP3.io or anyone else, and the page keeps working with Wi-Fi off once it has loaded.
Why will my M4P file not convert?
M4P files are copy-protected purchases. Browsers cannot decode protected audio, so they cannot be converted here.
Can I convert Apple Lossless M4A files?
In Safari, yes. Chrome, Edge and Firefox cannot decode Apple Lossless (ALAC), so open this page in Safari on a Mac or iPhone for those files.
Does converting M4A to WAV restore lost detail?
No. If the M4A is AAC, the detail AAC removed is gone. The WAV keeps exactly what the M4A had, and nothing more is lost when you edit it.
How much bigger is the WAV than the M4A?
Usually about 10 times. A 4 MB song at 128 kbps becomes a WAV of about 44 MB at 44.1 kHz stereo.
Is the M4A to WAV converter free?
Yes. There is no account, no watermark and no paid plan. The conversion runs on your own device, so there is no server cost to pass on.
Can I batch convert M4A files to WAV?
Not yet. Convert one file at a time; each one takes a few seconds. Batch conversion is planned.
How long does it take to convert M4A to WAV?
Usually a few seconds. In a test, a 46.6 second, 21.95 MB MP4 became an MP3 in 2.0 seconds on a MacBook in Chrome. Longer files take longer, and a phone is slower than a computer. Nothing has to upload first, so there is no queue.

Ready to Convert M4A to WAV?

Choose a file at the top. It is free, private and done in your browser in a few seconds.

Convert Now