Convert M4A to WAV online for free. Get uncompressed audio for editing. No software needed.
Drop your M4A file hereTap to choose your M4A file
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Also supports MP3, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA, AIFF, OPUS • Max 100 MB
Drag and drop your M4A file into the converter above, or click Choose M4A File to browse your device.
Click Convert to WAV. Our server converts your file in seconds to uncompressed PCM audio.
Click Download WAV to save the converted file. That's it — no registration, no email required.
M4A is an audio file format that uses AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) compression inside an MPEG-4 container. It's Apple's default format for iTunes purchases, Apple Music downloads, and Voice Memos recorded on iPhone.
M4A files offer better audio quality than MP3 at the same bitrate, with typical file sizes of 3–5 MB per song. However, M4A is less universally supported than MP3 or WAV, particularly on older devices and non-Apple software.
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) stores uncompressed PCM audio — raw audio data with no compression or quality loss. It's the standard format for professional audio editing, CD mastering, and music production.
WAV files are much larger than M4A (roughly 8–10x), but they're universally compatible with audio editing software and avoid any additional compression artifacts during processing.
| Feature | M4A | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy (AAC) | None (uncompressed PCM) |
| File size (4 min song) | ~4 MB | ~40 MB |
| Audio quality | Good (lossy) | Perfect (lossless) |
| Editing suitability | Poor (re-encoding degrades quality) | Excellent (no quality loss) |
| Device compatibility | Apple devices, most modern players | Universal (all devices and software) |
| DAW support | Supported but not ideal | Universal standard |
| Common sources | iTunes, Voice Memos, Apple Music | Pro recordings, CD rips |
| Best for | Listening on Apple devices, streaming | Editing, mastering, archival |
DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Audacity, Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, and FL Studio work best with uncompressed WAV. Editing M4A directly causes quality degradation each time the file is re-encoded.
iPhone Voice Memos are saved as M4A files. Converting them to WAV gives you lossless audio that can be edited, trimmed, and processed in any audio editor without further quality loss.
Audio CDs use uncompressed PCM audio (the same format as WAV). Converting M4A to WAV before burning ensures proper CD compatibility without your burning software having to decode on the fly.
While M4A works well on Apple devices, WAV is universally supported on all platforms, operating systems, and audio software. Converting to WAV ensures your audio works everywhere.