Convert MPEG-4 Audio (.m4a) to Free Lossless Audio Codec (.flac) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or registration.
Conversion settings — add a file to adjust
Upload your .m4a file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .flac file when it's ready.
Converting M4A to FLAC moves audio from Apple's MPEG-4 container to the open-source Free Lossless Audio Codec. If the M4A contains ALAC (Apple Lossless), the resulting FLAC is bit-perfect — a lossless-to-lossless container swap with zero quality loss. If the M4A contains AAC (lossy), the FLAC wraps the decoded lossy audio in a lossless container — the file gets larger but no quality is recovered. This conversion is essential for moving from Apple's ecosystem to open-source audio workflows.
FLAC is the universal lossless standard outside Apple's ecosystem. Linux media players, Android (since 3.1), most car stereos, Sonos speakers, and audiophile DACs all support FLAC natively. If you are migrating from an Apple ALAC library to a cross-platform setup, converting to FLAC ensures playback everywhere. FLAC also uses Vorbis comments for metadata, which are supported by more tagging tools than iTunes atoms.
FFmpeg decodes the M4A container (AAC or ALAC codec) to PCM and encodes using FLAC's reference encoder. FLAC compression levels range from 0 (fastest, lowest compression) to 12 (slowest, best compression). The default level 5 provides a good balance. FLAC supports up to 32-bit/655 kHz audio, channels up to 8, and arbitrary Vorbis comment metadata. For ALAC sources, the conversion is mathematically lossless — decoded ALAC PCM is identical to decoded FLAC PCM.
From ALAC M4A: zero quality loss. Both ALAC and FLAC are lossless codecs — the PCM is bit-identical. File sizes are nearly the same (FLAC is typically 1-3% smaller than ALAC). From AAC M4A: no quality improvement. The FLAC faithfully stores the decoded AAC signal, lossy artifacts included. The file becomes larger without sounding better.
| Device | M4A | FLAC |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Native | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Native | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Native |
| Linux | Partial | Native |
| Web Browser | No |
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 320 kbps
OGG Vorbis preferred
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 256 kbps
AAC format required
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
Lossless FLAC/WAV for best quality
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
MP3 mono for spoken word
M4A (ALAC) to FLAC is a perfect lossless conversion for leaving Apple's ecosystem. M4A (AAC) to FLAC is only useful for archival — it preserves the decoded signal without adding quality.
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| No |
| Jellemzo | M4A | FLAC |
|---|---|---|
| Teljes nev | MPEG-4 Audio | Free Lossless Audio Codec |
| Kiterjesztes | .m4a | .flac |
| Leginkabb ajanlott | Better than MP3 | Lossless compression |