Convert WMA to AAC
Convert WMA audio files to AAC format directly in your browser. AAC is the codec inside iTunes, the iPhone Music app, YouTube, and modern broadcast — Apple devices reject WMA outright. No upload needed.
Drag 'n' drop files here, or
click to select files
.wma
Drop your files and click Convert to get AAC
//when_to_use
When to Convert WMA to AAC
- Migrating old Windows Media Player WMA libraries to AAC for import into iTunes / Apple Music on a new Mac
- Converting WMA voice memos to AAC for syncing onto iPhone via the Music app
- Preparing WMA audiobook chapters as AAC for use in Audiobooks app on iOS
- Converting WMA podcast recordings to AAC for upload to platforms that prefer AAC (Apple Podcasts ingestion)
- Migrating WMA Skype call recordings to AAC for inclusion in Final Cut Pro and iMovie projects on macOS
//comparison
WMA vs AAC
| Property | WMA | AAC |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy (WMA Standard) | Lossy (AAC-LC) |
| Typical bitrate | 128-192 kbps | 192 kbps |
| Apple ecosystem | Not supported | Native (iTunes, iPhone) |
| Patent / royalty | Microsoft proprietary | ISO/IEC standard |
| File size vs source | Baseline | 10-30% smaller |
| Best for | Old Windows playback | Apple devices, broadcast |
//how_it_works
How It Works
Drop your WMA files
Drag and drop or select WMA files. First use loads FFmpeg WASM (~30MB).
FFmpeg decodes WMA
FFmpeg WASM parses the ASF/WMA container and decodes the lossy WMA audio stream into raw PCM samples.
AAC-LC encode
PCM is re-encoded as AAC Low Complexity at 192kbps using FFmpeg's native AAC encoder, written into an ADTS stream.
Download your AAC files
Your AAC files import directly into iTunes, Apple Music, iPhone Music app, Final Cut Pro, and any modern audio tool.
// under the hood
WMA (Windows Media Audio) is Microsoft's proprietary lossy codec inside an ASF container. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is the ISO/IEC standard lossy codec used by iTunes, iPhone, YouTube, and digital broadcast. Our converter uses FFmpeg WASM to demux the WMA, decode the lossy stream to PCM, then re-encode with FFmpeg's native AAC encoder at 192kbps inside an ADTS .aac stream.
//faq
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why convert WMA to AAC?
- Apple's ecosystem (iTunes, iPhone Music, Apple Music import, macOS QuickTime) doesn't support WMA at all — drop a WMA into the Music app and it's silently rejected. AAC is the format Apple actually wants: better quality than MP3 at the same bitrate, and the default for everything iOS/macOS audio.
- What bitrate does the AAC use?
- We encode AAC-LC at 192kbps with FFmpeg's native AAC encoder. 192kbps AAC is transparent for music and exceeds the quality of typical WMA (128-192kbps), which means the AAC sounds at least as good as the WMA source.
- Is the .aac file the same as an iTunes .m4a?
- The audio data is identical (AAC-LC), but the container differs: a raw .aac is the ADTS stream, while .m4a wraps that same AAC inside an MP4 container. Both work in iTunes and on iPhone, but .m4a is what iTunes generates internally.
- Why is the AAC file smaller than the WMA?
- AAC is more efficient than WMA at the same perceived quality — AAC at 192kbps roughly matches WMA at 256kbps. Even at the same nominal bitrate, AAC's psychoacoustic model is more advanced. Expect the AAC to be 10-30% smaller than the WMA.
- Are my WMA files uploaded?
- No. FFmpeg WebAssembly runs entirely in your browser tab. Your WMA files never leave your device.
//related_converters
Related Converters
Similar conversions you might need.
Convert WMA to MP3
Convert Windows Media Audio files to universal MP3 format.
→Convert WMA to WAV
Convert WMA (Windows Media Audio) to uncompressed WAV PCM for editing and archival.
→Convert WMA to OGG
Convert WMA (Windows Media Audio) to OGG Vorbis — open-source, royalty-free, smaller than MP3.
→Convert WMA to FLAC
Convert WMA (Windows Media Audio) to FLAC for lossless archival in audiophile-friendly libraries.
→Convert MP3 to AAC
Convert MP3 audio files to AAC format for Apple and streaming services.
→Convert WAV to AAC
Convert uncompressed WAV audio to AAC format for Apple devices and streaming.
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