How to Convert M4A to MP3 on a Mac with/Without iTunes

Key Takeaways

The MP3 format may be replaced with M4A. A file that solely supports audio is in the M4A format. Since M4A was primarily developed for Mac computers and other Apple products, they might cause issues when you try to use them on a Windows computer or Android phone. Most of the time, iTunes would be needed to play them. However, converting them into MP3 files will allow you to listen to music, podcasts, etc.

Although there are several M4A players available on Mac, whether, through built-in or third-party apps, you may frequently need to convert M4A to MP3 format to make it more accessible — so you can simply migrate music or audiobooks to just about any device. 

Method 1. The Easiest Way to Convert M4A to MP3 Without iTune [Recommended]

Since M4A is not a frequently used audio format in daily life, playing M4A files on your preferred players or devices may prove to be a little challenging. Therefore, it is recommended to convert M4A to MP3 using an easy-to-use video converter like EaseUS VideoKit. With it, you can:

• Convert your videos to MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, MPG, and other 500+ video formats.
• Convert MP3 or any other audio files to various video formats. 
• Extract audio from videos as you want.
• Convert audio between hundreds of audio formats like MP3, M4A, MAV, M4R, AIFF, etc.

To convert M4A to MP3:

Free DownloadSupport Windows&macOS Free DownloadSupport macOS&Windows

Step 1. Start EaseUS VedioKit and move to the "Audio Converter" tab.

Step 2. Click "Choose File" or drag and drop your audio files. Add another file or folder above. 

Step 3. Select the target format that you want to convert, and choose its ratio. You can also tab the gear icon next to the file to access the same interface.

Step 4. Click "Save to" for the storage location, and check "Merge all files" as needed. Turn on "High-speed conversion" and "GPU Acceleration" optionally.

Step 5. Press "Convert" at the right of the clip or click "Convert All" in the bottom right to convert. After that, you can find the converted file in the designated folder.

Method 2. How to Convert M4A to MP3 Using iTunes

Although it's not that simple, there is a way to utilize iTunes to convert audio files, not many people are aware of this. Regardless, here's how to use iTunes to convert a file to an MP3:

Step 1. Open iTunes (or the new Music app) and select "Preference."

Step 2. Select "Files" > "Import Settings..."

Step 3. Select "MP3 Encoder" as the Import Method and click "OK."

Step 4. Upload your M4A file to iTunes.

Step 5. After that, choose "File" > "Convert" > "Create MP3 Version."

Step 6. Locate the freshly produced file in your library (the old file will still be intact).

FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions about M4A and MP3 files. If you want to know more details about these files, don't miss this part. 

1. How to Play M4A File on a Mac?

It's simple to add an M4A player to your Mac, especially the user-friendly Elmedia Player. Three simple steps will allow you to enjoy top-notch music:

There are numerous ways to add your M4A music files to Elmedia

Sep 1. Install the app.

Step 2. Drag & drop "M4A files" onto the player's window or dock icon.

Step 3. In Finder, right-click an "M4A file" and select "Open."

Step 4. From the list, choose "Elmedia Player."

Step 5. In the player, go to the main menu, select "File," and then "Open."     

2. Can QuickTime Convert M4A to MP3?

No, QuickTime only enables you to export media files in M4A format.

You may export media files to AIFF, AU, and Wave using the previous version of QuickTime 7 Pro. There aren't any MP3 alternatives available. Installing a third-party add-on is the only remedy (LAME encoder).

3. How to Convert M4A to MP3 on Windows?

The default media player for Windows is called Windows Media Player, and it can play a variety of media files, including WMV, WMA, MKV, and MP3. You might need to convert M4A to MP3 format, and Windows Media Player is the only converter you have available.

Step 1. Launch Windows Media Player and open the M4A files. Simply search for the M4A file, drag it into Windows Media Player, and it will show up in the library.

Step 2. Click the "Organize" button in the top left corner of the menu.

Step 3. Then select "Options," then "RIP Music," from the list of buttons.

Step 4. Choose a location for the converted file by clicking "Change" after selecting "Rip Music" on the new window.

Step 4. Now click on the drop-down menu below the "Format" option. From there, select "MP3" format by scrolling down. The audio bitrate is another option.

Conclusion

By following the above methods, You can easily convert your M4A to MP3 for the comfort and ease of a device you have in which M4A is not supported or showing errors during playing M4A files. For this conversion, the EaseUS VideoKit is the most recommended method for this conversion. However, you can also use Windows media player and iTunes as an offline method to convert M4A to MP3.