How do I convert an iPhone voice memo to MP3?

Share the memo to Files (it's an M4A), open this page in your browser, choose the file and press Convert. 128 kbps is plenty for speech.

Does converting M4A to MP3 lose quality?

A little, because the sound is encoded again. At 256 kbps it's very hard to hear.

Will my album art and tags come across?

No — the tool converts the sound only. Your music app can add the tags back.

All tools

M4A to MP3 Converter

Convert M4A files to MP3 in your browser — nothing is uploaded.

MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, M4B, MP4, AAC, OGA or WEBA, one or many. Drop them here or paste with ⌘V / Ctrl+V. Choose what each becomes on its row.

Runs on your device. Files are read and converted in your browser and aren't uploaded.

M4A

Lossy
Apple's format
Keeps chapters

AAC audio in an MP4 container — the format of iTunes and Apple Music purchases, iPhone voice memos and many recorders. It sounds a little better than an MP3 of the same size, and plays on Apple devices, Android, Windows and in browsers.

M4A Converter — convert M4A files to any format

MP3

Lossy
Plays everywhere
Small files

The audio format almost everything plays. MP3 makes small files by leaving out detail most ears won't miss, which makes it the safe choice for music, podcasts and voice notes you want to share, upload or keep on a phone.

MP3 Converter — convert MP3 files to any format

Learn more about converting M4A to MP3

When you'd do this

An app, car stereo, older MP3 player or upload form won't take M4A. iPhone Voice Memos and iTunes or Apple Music downloads are M4A files; an MP3 plays wherever they don't.

What to expect

A 4-minute song bought from iTunes (256 kbps AAC) is about 7.3 MB. As an MP3 at 256 kbps — where this page starts — it's about 7.3 MB; at 192 kbps it's about 5.5 MB.

Recommended settings

This page starts at 256 kbps because that's what iTunes and Apple Music M4As are: the sound is encoded a second time, and matching the original keeps that second loss small. For voice memos, 128 kbps is plenty.

Where it plays

Anything that plays audio, including the older players and car stereos that don't know M4A.

Good to know

Both formats are lossy, so the sound is decoded and encoded again; it can't get better than the M4A, only a little worse.
Song titles, artist names and cover art aren't copied into the MP3 — add them again in your music app.
Chapters in an M4A aren't kept; only M4B and M4A keep chapters.
An MP3 made here can be up to 60 minutes long.

How to do it

Choose your M4A files, or drop them on the page — as many as you like.
Each is set to MP3. Change one on its own row if you like, and the MP3 bitrate and the channels in Settings.
Convert all, then download each MP3, or all of them in one .zip.

Questions

How do I convert an iPhone voice memo to MP3?: Share the memo to Files (it's an M4A), open this page in your browser, choose the file and press Convert. 128 kbps is plenty for speech.
Does converting M4A to MP3 lose quality?: A little, because the sound is encoded again. At 256 kbps it's very hard to hear.
Will my album art and tags come across?: No — the tool converts the sound only. Your music app can add the tags back.