(8 Ways) How to Convert M4A Files to WMA?

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8 Free Tools for M4A to WMA Conversion

#1. Free HD Video Converter Factory

#2. fre:ac

#3. WinFF

#4. MediaHuman Audio Converter

#5. Switch

#6. AIMP

#7. XMedia Recode

#8. M4A to WMA Converter Online

======FAQs======

If you're looking to convert your M4A files to WMA, choosing an efficient tool is key. This article recommends 8 excellent applications based on the following criteria:

Being totally free
Having a simple GUI
Ease of use
User-friendliness
Working out of the box without additional plug-ins
No command-line scripts
No technical jargon

Whether you're a Windows, Mac, or Linux user, or prefer an online solution, you'll find a solution that suits your needs. Let's dive in!

8 Free Tools for M4A to WMA Conversion

#1. Free HD Video Converter Factory

WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory is a versatile tool that can handle various audio and video processing tasks. It is renowned for its intuitive GUI and a broad range of supported formats, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize ease of use.

DownloadDownload, install and run the freeware on your Windows PC.
Open "Converter", click "Add Files" to import your M4A files.
Go to "Audio" category and select "WMA" from 500+ presets.
Choose a location and hit "Run". Your WMA files will be ready in moments.

#2. fre:ac

fre:ac is a free, open-source audio converter and CD ripper that supports a wide range of input and output formats. It may not have the most visually appealing interface, but its simplicity and ease of use make it a popular choice among users who value functionality over aesthetics.

Download and install fre:ac for your Windows, Linux, macOS, or FreeBSD.
Open the program, drag and drop your M4A files into the window.
Choose "Windows Media Audio Encoder" from the "Selected encoder" list.
Specify a location and click the top "Start" button, and the conversion will proceed.

#3. WinFF

WinFF is a GUI for the command-line multimedia converter FFmpeg. Although no longer developed, it still impresses with its ease of use for common video and audio conversion. Here's how you can use it to convert M4A files to WMA.

Download and install WinFF on your Windows or Linux system.
Launch the tool and click the "Add" button to import your M4A files.
In the "Convert to" section, choose the "Audio" option.
Then select the "WMA" preset.
Choose an output folder and click on "Convert".
A command line window will appear showing the conversion progress.

#4. MediaHuman Audio Converter

MediaHuman Audio Converter is designed to cater to users who need a straightforward, no-frills approach to audio conversion. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it exceptionally user-friendly.

Download and install MediaHuman Audio Converter on your PC or Mac.
Launch the tool and drag your M4A file into the main window.
Select "WMA" from the format icons displayed at the top of the window.
Go to "Setting" > "Output", and choose an output folder. Click OK.
Click the "Convert" button to start converting your M4A files to WMA.

#5. Switch

NCH Software's Switch is a versatile and cross-platform batch audio converter that supports a wide range of input and output formats. It provides a balance of simplicity and comprehensive features for audio conversion tasks.

Download and install Switch on your Windows, Mac, and Android.
Launch the application.
Click the "Add File(s)" button or drag and drop your M4A files into the window.
Select the ".wma" option from the Output Format drop-down list.
Click "Browse" to designate a location for converted WMA files.
Click "Convert" and your files will be processed promptly.

#6. AIMP

AIMP is a widely-appreciated and highly-customizable music player that also functions effectively as an M4A to WMA converter. AIMP's audio converter component is a part of its utility’s suite, which is designed to handle a variety of audio conversion.

Download and install AIMP on your Windows and Android.
Launch AIMP, click "AIMP" menu, go to "Utilities" and open "Audio Converter".
Drag and drop your M4A files into the Audio Converter window.
Select "WMA" from the Format drop-down list.
Specify the output folder where you want to save the converted files.
Click "Start" to initiate the M4A-to-WMA conversion process.

#7. XMedia Recode

XMedia Recode excels in both audio and video conversion tasks, offering a high level of customization for more experienced users who like to have control over their audio's properties. It may not be as user-friendly as some of the other options on this list.

Download and install XMedia Recode on your Windows PC.
Launch it and click "Open File" to add your M4A files.
Under the "Format" tab, select "WMA" from the drop-down format list.
Click "Browse" to choose a destination path to save the converted files.
Select all tracks and click "Add to queue", then hit "Encode" to start conversion.

#8. M4A to WMA Converter Online

If you prefer not to install any software on your system or want a quick and easy solution for converting M4A to WMA, online converters can be a convenient option. Several web-based services offer this functionality.

Visit Convertio, CloudConvert, or FreeConvert from your browser.
Upload your M4A file(s) from your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, or URL.
Select WMA as the desired output format.
Click the "Convert" button to begin the conversion process.
Once it's completed, directly download the WMA file(s) to your device.

Wrapping Up

That's it! With the 8 methods provided in this guide, you're well-equipped to get your M4A files converted to WMA format with confidence and ease. Whether you opt for a dedicated desktop application or an online service, there's the right one for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the difference between M4A and WMA?

A: M4A is an audio file format used mostly by Apple devices, known for its high quality at smaller sizes. WMA, on the other hand, is a Windows Media Audio format, designed by Microsoft with similarly high quality but better compatibility with Windows devices.

Q2: Will converting M4A to WMA affect audio quality?

A: Both M4A and WMA are audio container formats, which house the audio data compressed by various codecs. M4A typically uses AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) or ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) for compression. On the other hand, WMA (Windows Media Audio) can utilize several codecs such as WMA, WMA Pro, and WMA Lossless.

The impact on audio quality during conversion largely depends on the type of compression involved:

Lossless to Lossless: If you convert from M4A files encoded with ALAC to WMA Lossless, there is no quality loss, as both are lossless formats preserving all the audio data from the original recording.
Lossy to Lossy: Converting from M4A files compressed with AAC to any form of WMA (excluding WMA Lossless) generally results in some quality loss. This is due to the re-encoding process, where the original audio has already lost data in its initial AAC encoding, and further data might be discarded or altered during conversion to WMA.

However, if you use appropriate settings and maintain higher bitrates, the quality loss should be minimal and may not be noticeable to most listeners.