Convert M4P to 3GP — Free Online Converter
Convert iTunes Protected AAC (.m4p) to 3GPP Multimedia (.3gp) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or registration....
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How to Convert
Upload your .m4p 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 .3gp file when it's ready.
About M4P to 3GP Conversion
M4P is Apple's DRM-protected audio format, used by the iTunes Store from 2003 to 2009 before the shift to DRM-free iTunes Plus. Files use AAC encoding inside an MPEG-4 container with Apple's FairPlay digital rights management. Converting M4P to 3GP targets the legacy 3GPP multimedia container used by feature phones and early mobile devices from the 2G/3G era.
Important: This converter handles unprotected M4P files only. If your M4P files still carry FairPlay DRM, they must be authorized or the DRM removed through legal means (such as upgrading via iTunes Match or re-purchasing as iTunes Plus) before conversion is possible. Once the DRM layer is cleared, FFmpeg can decode the underlying AAC audio and transcode it into a 3GP-compatible stream.
Why Convert M4P to 3GP?
Feature phones and ultra-low-end devices from Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson cannot play M4P or even standard M4A files. The 3GP container with AMR-NB audio is the most universally compatible mobile format, playable on virtually every handset manufactured since 2000. If you have old iTunes purchases you want to listen to on a legacy phone, 3GP is the path of maximum compatibility.
There are also MMS distribution scenarios where 3GP is the required attachment format. Carriers in some regions still mandate 3GP for multimedia messaging. Converting your unprotected M4P tracks to 3GP lets you share audio clips via MMS to recipients whose phones reject non-3GP audio attachments entirely.
Common Use Cases
- Play old iTunes purchases on legacy feature phones that only support 3GP audio
- Send audio clips from iTunes library via MMS on carriers requiring 3GP attachments
- Create ultra-small audio files from M4P tracks for bandwidth-constrained distribution
- Repurpose iTunes-era music for retro phone collections or museum devices
- Prepare spoken-word iTunes purchases for telephony IVR systems requiring 3GP input
How It Works
FFmpeg reads the unprotected M4P file (structurally identical to M4A/MP4 once DRM is absent) and decodes the AAC audio stream, then re-encodes it as AMR-NB at 8 kHz mono with a maximum bitrate of 12.2 kbps inside a 3GP container. The frequency response drops from AAC's full 20 kHz bandwidth to AMR-NB's 3.4 kHz ceiling. This is a lossy transcode with substantial quality reduction — the output sounds similar to a phone call rather than a music track.
Quality & Performance
M4P files from the iTunes Store were typically encoded at 128 kbps AAC (early purchases) or 256 kbps AAC (later iTunes Plus upgrades). The 3GP output at AMR-NB 12.2 kbps represents a dramatic quality reduction — roughly 10-20x lower bitrate. Musical content loses most instrument separation and bass response. Spoken-word content (audiobooks, podcasts purchased from iTunes) fares better, remaining clearly intelligible despite the compression.
Device Compatibility
| Device | M4P | 3GP |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Native |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Recommended Settings by Platform
Spotify
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 320 kbps
OGG Vorbis preferred
Apple Music
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 256 kbps
AAC format required
SoundCloud
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
Lossless FLAC/WAV for best quality
Podcast
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
MP3 mono for spoken word
Tips for Best Results
- 1Verify DRM is removed before attempting conversion — use VLC or check file properties in iTunes
- 2Consider MP3 as an alternative to 3GP if the target device supports it, for much better audio quality
- 3Spoken-word iTunes content converts to 3GP more successfully than music
- 4Batch convert your entire unprotected M4P collection to quickly build a feature-phone library
- 5Number output files to maintain album or playlist order on devices without metadata support
M4P to 3GP conversion is a niche operation for reaching the oldest and most limited mobile devices. Ensure DRM is removed before attempting conversion, and expect significant audio quality loss in exchange for near-universal feature phone compatibility.