Files with m4a extension are audio files stored in MPEG-4 (MP4) container and use AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), or Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio compression. M4A is very popular on Mac computers, because it is default audio format used by iTunes. M4A is also default audio format for Apple portable devices (iPod, iPhone, iPad).

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Software that open m4a file

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M4A file extension - MPEG-4 compressed audio

What is m4a file? How to open m4a files?

File type specification:

Audio and sound file type icon Audio and sound file type

Mobile ringtone file type icon Mobile ringtone file type

m4a file icon: m4a filetype icon

File extension m4a is used with the audio files that are stored in MP4 (MPEG-4) media container and contain audio in AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) MPEG-4 lossy compression format, or in Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio format.

M4A is a shortcut for MPEG 4 Audio. M4A audio format is default format used by iTunes for Mac, as well as default audio format for Apple portable devices (iPod, iPhone, iPad).

MPEG-4 audio format was introduced in 2001 as a part of Apple QuickTime file format.

Updated: December 1, 2023

The default software associated to open m4a file:

Media Player icon

Microsoft Corporation logoMedia Player  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Windows 11 default media player is called Media Player. Microsoft developed it for the latest Windows 11 operating system (OS). Media Player replaces the old Windows Media Player, Windows 10 Groove Music, and Microsoft Movies & TV. It was released to all Win11 users on February 15, 2022.

Apple iTunes for Windows icon

Apple, Inc. logoApple iTunes for Windows  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Apple, Inc.

A digital media application for playing and organizing digital music and video files. Also is used to manage Apple portable devices such as iPod, iPhone and iPad. iTunes has integrated iTunes Store service, where can users buy and download digital music, videos, applications for iOS devices, audiobooks, podcasts, ringtones etc. iTunes is distributed as a free software.

Apple iTunes for Mac icon

Apple, Inc. logoApple iTunes for Mac  Apple macOS / Mac OS X software

Company or developer:
Apple, Inc.

Apple iTunes is multimedia application distributed with Apple macOS operating system. It organizes and plays digital music and videos. iTunes is also used to manage Apple's portable devices, such as iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Related articles:

How to convert mp3 files to m4a format

Convert FLAC to ALAC on Mac

Convert FLAC to ALAC in Windows

How to copy music from iPod to PC

Help how to open:

Use any multimedia player, such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, Winamp, VLC player to playback M4A audio files.

M4A audio file format is default audio format for Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad.

How to convert:

Use any M4A converter, such as Any Audio Converter, xrecode etc, to convert M4A audio file to any other audio format.

Find conversions from m4a file:

m4a to cda

m4a to doc

m4a to docx

m4a to mp3

m4a to pdf

m4a to text

m4a to txt

Find converter to m4a file type:

3ga to m4a

3gp to m4a

cda to m4a

mov to m4a

tscproj to m4a

txt to m4a

xspf to m4a

File identification strings:

HEX code: 00 00 00 20 66 74 79 70 4D 34 41 20 00 00 00 00 4D
ASCII code: ... ftypM4A ....M4A mp42isom

List of software applications associated to the .m4a file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open m4a file, edit m4a file, convert m4a file, view m4a file, play m4a file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting m4a files.

Software that open m4a file - MPEG-4 compressed audio

Programs supporting the exension m4a on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open m4a file action.

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch devices):

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