Convert AAC to MP3
Turn AAC files into MP3s that older car stereos, players and devices will actually accept. The file is decoded on your own device and never uploaded.
- Processed on your device
- No upload, no waiting
- No signup, no watermark
How it works
Add your AAC
Drop in a .aac or .m4a file. It is read straight away and its bitrate, sample rate and channels shown.
Choose the bitrate
Match or exceed what the AAC already is — the page shows it — so the second encode costs as little as possible.
Download the MP3
One file, named after the source, ready for any player.
Frequently asked questions
Why convert AAC to MP3 at all? Isn't AAC better?
AAC is the better codec at the same bitrate, and if everything you own plays it you should keep it. The reason to convert is compatibility: older car stereos, some DJ software, cheap players and a lot of embedded hardware only read MP3. Convert because a device demands it, not because MP3 is an upgrade — it is not.
Will this lose quality?
Yes, a little, and unavoidably. Your AAC is already compressed, and re-encoding to MP3 means a second pass through a lossy encoder. Choosing a bitrate at or above the AAC's keeps the loss small. The page shows the source bitrate so you can do that.
Which bitrate should I choose?
At least what the AAC already is. If the AAC is 128 kbps, encode at 192 kbps: it will not sound better than the AAC, but it stops the MP3 encoder from throwing away more than it must. Going far above adds size and nothing else.
What is the difference between .aac and .m4a?
Usually none, in terms of sound: both hold AAC audio. A .m4a is AAC inside an MP4 container, which can also carry artwork and chapters; a .aac file is the raw stream with nothing around it. This tool reads both.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Everything is decoded and encoded by your own browser, so no copy of your music is sent anywhere.
Does this work with protected iTunes purchases?
No. Files bought with DRM — old .m4p purchases, and anything from a subscription service — cannot be opened by any browser tool, and it would be illegal for us to help you strip the protection. Files you ripped or downloaded yourself are fine.
Good to know: Every pass through a lossy encoder throws a little more away, and it never comes back. Converting between MP3, AAC, OGG and Opus is one such pass. If you are going to edit the sound, convert to WAV first, do the work, and encode once at the end. Copy-protected purchases (.m4p, subscription downloads) cannot be opened.