Convert MP4 to M4A online and save the audio from any video for Apple Music or iPhone. Upload files up to 20GB and download the converted result in a few clicks.
Drag & Drop your MP4 file here
MP4 files, up to 20GB
Files stay private.
Automatically deleted after 24 hours.
Link
20GB upload limit.
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Trusted for 1,827,796+ conversions
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps, no account, nothing to install.
01
Add your MP4 files
Drag and drop or upload the MP4 videos whose sound you want as M4A.
02
Copy or convert the audio
Most AAC audio and all Apple Lossless audio is copied into an M4A container. Other audio, such as MP3, AC-3 or Opus, is converted to AAC-LC.
03
Download the M4A
Save each M4A file as it finishes, or download several together as a ZIP.
MP4
MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the most widely supported video container, used by phones, cameras, screen recorders, social platforms and video downloads. The sound inside an MP4 is usually AAC.
M4A
M4A is the audio-only form of MPEG-4, normally holding AAC or Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio. It is the format of iTunes and Apple Music song files, keeps tags and chapters, and AAC M4A files play on iPhone, Mac, Android and most desktop players.
FILE FORMATS
SOURCE
MPEG-4 Part 14 is the default container for phone recordings, web video and streaming. MP4 with H.264 video and AAC sound plays on iPhone and Android, in every browser, on smart TVs and in Windows and Mac players without extra codecs. It holds text subtitles and chapters, but not picture-based subtitles.
TARGET
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually AAC and sometimes Apple Lossless, with iTunes-style tags and album art. It is the format of iTunes Store music, iPhone voice memos and Apple Music libraries, and Android, Windows and browsers play it too. At the same bitrate, AAC in M4A sounds better than MP3.
| Feature | MP4 | M4A |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | MPEG (ISO) | Apple / MPEG |
| File extension | .mp4 | .m4a |
| Holds | Video and sound | Sound only |
| Compression | Lossy (codec inside) | Lossy (AAC) or lossless (ALAC) |
| Best for | Sharing and playback anywhere | Apple Music and iPhone libraries |
| Opens in | Yes | Yes, most devices |
USE CASES
Practical workflows where MP4 to M4A conversion is useful.
Add a music video's song to your library
Save the audio of a music video or live performance as M4A and add it to Apple Music or iTunes. Title and artist tags already in the MP4 are kept.
Turn a long lecture into audio fast
Turn a lecture or webinar recording into an M4A for a phone. AAC audio is copied rather than re-encoded, so the conversion takes seconds even for a long recording.
Keep chapters in a recorded talk
MP4 recordings with chapter markers keep them in the M4A, so players that support chapters can jump between sections.
Keep Apple Lossless audio untouched
MP4s with Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio are always copied without re-encoding, so the M4A keeps the full original quality.
Edit an interview in GarageBand or Logic
Extract the sound of a recorded video call or interview as M4A and open it in an audio editor that imports M4A.
Save phone storage
Keep only the audio of a long video, such as a sermon or a concert, as an M4A that takes far less space than the MP4.
Upload audio for transcription
Send an M4A instead of the full video to transcription or captioning services that accept audio files.
Keep the sound of a stream recording
Fragmented MP4s from OBS and other stream recorders work, so you can keep the audio of a stream or podcast recording.
Play surround audio on stereo devices
MP4s with AC-3 or E-AC-3 5.1 audio become stereo AAC-LC at 192 kbps, which plays on phones, earbuds and laptops.
Share a rehearsal or voice message
Send just the audio of a phone video, such as a band rehearsal or a spoken message, as a compact M4A in a chat.
SUPPORTED FILES
MP4 videos from phones, cameras and downloads are supported.
MP4s with AAC sound.
Keep just the audio.
Save the song as M4A.
The default track is used.
Upload several MP4s and download the M4A files as a ZIP.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Most issues come from which audio track the video contains.
01
Only the default track, otherwise the first, is extracted. Other languages and commentary aren't included.
02
Gaps in the video's sound are filled with silence so the M4A stays in sync with the original timeline.
03
The video was recorded or exported without sound.
04
Set the genre and album tags in Apple Music after importing.
05
That's expected. The audio itself is what remains.
06
Check the MP4 plays. A damaged file gives only the audio that can be decoded.
VLC, Audacity with its FFmpeg add-on and FFmpeg itself can pull sound out of a video once installed. dragdropdo is built for turning MP4 into M4A quickly, from any device.
| What matters | dragdropdo | Desktop Video Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing to install | ✓Yes. Runs in any modern browser. | ~Yes, a download. FFmpeg also needs the command line. |
| Works on phones and tablets | ✓Yes. Desktop, Android, iPhone and iPad. | ~Mostly desktop. VLC mobile can't export audio. |
| Batch conversion | ✓Yes. Add many files and download one ZIP. | ~FFmpeg can with scripts. VLC and Audacity do one file at a time. |
| Share finished files | ✓Yes. Send a unique link from the result page. | ~You upload and share the files yourself. |
| Pricing | ✓Free with daily limits. $2.99 or $6.99 passes for unlimited use, no monthly plan. | ~Free. |
| Picking which audio track | ✓Uses the default track, otherwise the first. | ~Yes. VLC and FFmpeg can export any track. |
Other tools use different pricing, limits and workflows. This comparison describes dragdropdo's own features without assuming every other tool works the same way.
1.8M+
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WHY DRAGDROPDO
Convert MP4 to M4A in your browser, with nothing to install and nothing kept after 24 hours.
Private by default
Files are encrypted in transit and deleted from our servers automatically after 24 hours.
No install required
Convert in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone or iPad. No app and no sign-up wall.
Big files and batches
Upload files up to 20GB each, add several at once, and download the results one by one or as a ZIP.
Share & download
Save finished files to your device or pass them on with a share link from the result page.
MORE MP4 TOOLS
MP4, or MPEG-4 Part 14, is a digital multimedia format used to store video, audio, subtitles, and images. Its versatility and compatibility across devices make it a preferred choice for video streaming and file sharing. MP4 offers excellent compression for high-quality playback, making it ideal for online content, mobile use, and professional video editing. Optimize your digital media experience with the MP4 format.
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FAQ
Answers to common questions about dragdropdo's MP4 to M4A converter.
