# M4A to WAV converter: free, in your browser, no upload

> Convert M4A to WAV in your browser. Voice memos and iTunes audio are decoded to 16-bit WAV at their own sample rate, ready for audio editors and devices. Nothing is uploaded.

URL: https://cutfac.com/tools/m4a-to-wav  
Last updated: 2026-10-28  
Language: [한국어](https://cutfac.com/ko/tools/m4a-to-wav)

Drop in an M4A and get a 16-bit WAV that every audio editor, sampler and recorder reads. The file never leaves your browser.

Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

## How to use it

1. **Add the M4A.** Drop the file or choose it. WAV is already selected.
2. **Convert.** The AAC sound is decoded to plain samples in your browser.
3. **Download.** Play the WAV to check it, then download it.

## When you need WAV

An M4A, like an iPhone voice memo, holds AAC, a compressed format. Many editors open it, but some audio tools, samplers and hardware only take WAV, and cutting or processing WAV never adds another round of compression.

The WAV sounds exactly like the M4A. Detail AAC dropped when the M4A was made doesn't come back.

## Size and format

The WAV is 16-bit at the M4A's sample rate and channels. Uncompressed, stereo at 44.1 kHz takes about 10 MB a minute, and a mono voice memo about half that.

An M4A can also hold Apple Lossless (ALAC), which browsers can't decode. Use afconvert or ffmpeg below for those.

## On a Mac or with ffmpeg

macOS comes with afconvert; ffmpeg writes 16-bit WAV by default:

- afconvert -f WAVE -d LEI16 memo.m4a memo.wav
- ffmpeg -i memo.m4a memo.wav

## Sources

- [MDN: Web audio codec guide](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Media/Guides/Formats/Audio_codecs)
- [FFmpeg documentation](https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html)

## Questions

### Is my audio uploaded?

No. The M4A is decoded and the WAV is written in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.

### Does converting M4A to WAV improve the sound?

No. The WAV sounds the same as the M4A. It just won't lose any more when you edit and save it.

### Why won't my M4A convert?

It may hold Apple Lossless (ALAC) rather than AAC, which browsers can't decode, or be a copy-protected Apple Music download. Use afconvert or ffmpeg for ALAC files.

### Why is the WAV so big?

WAV stores every sample uncompressed: about 10 MB a minute for stereo at 44.1 kHz, several times the M4A.