All about M4A files
The file extension .m4a (MPEG-4 Audio) identifies audio files in the MPEG-4 container, which is the same container format used for video with the .MP4 extension. The .m4a extension simply indicates that the file contains audio data only. The format is historically based on Apple’s QuickTime container format, but is an open ISO standard (ISO 14496) and not a proprietary Apple format.
M4A is not a codec in its own right, but a container. The actual codec used cannot be identified from the outside: an .m4a file may contain lossy AAC audio or lossless ALAC audio. Which codec is used can only be determined via the metadata, for example using tools such as ffprobe or MediaInfo.
Apple consistently uses the .m4a extension for both variants. Anyone who purchases music via iTunes or the Apple Music Store, or imports CDs via iTunes, receives .m4a files, which use the AAC codec by default. ALAC files have the same extension, although they are losslessly compressed and consequently larger.
AAC in an M4A container delivers better sound quality than MP3 at a comparable bitrate. This does not apply to ALAC, as being a lossless codec, it produces significantly larger files. General statements such as “M4A is smaller and better than MP3” therefore fall short, as they confuse the container and the codec. M4A files can now be opened with virtually any standard media player, regardless of the operating system. Compatibility issues may arise with older devices or software that does not support the ALAC codec.
Last updated on April 23, 2026 by Sören Ramspeck with the experience of more than 128,519,717 converted files since 2013.
Convert, open and edit M4A files
Details about M4A files
- Software for opening M4A files
- VLC media player
- foobar2000
- iTunes
- AIMP
- Software for editing M4A files
- Audacity
- Adobe Audition
- iTunes
- MIME-type for M4A
- audio/mp4
Related File-Formats
All converters from or to M4A
- MP3 to M4A
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