Guide · Voice Memos

How to convert voice memos to MP3

Voice memos are saved as .m4a files. To get MP3, first get the memo off your phone (Share, then Save to Files or AirDrop), then convert the file with the Music app on a Mac, VLC on Mac or Windows, or ffmpeg. Check first whether you need to convert at all, because most software opens .m4a.

Updated 20 Oct 2026

Do you need MP3?

Most music software, phones and players open .m4a without conversion. You only need MP3 if a particular site, device or program refuses .m4a. Converting between compressed formats can lose a little quality, so keep the original and convert a copy.

First, get the file off the phone

In Voice Memos tap the recording, tap the three dots, tap Share, then Save to Files or AirDrop to a Mac. See how to export voice memos for the steps.

Convert on a Mac with the Music app

Drag the .m4a file into the Music app.
In Music, open Settings, then Files, then Import Settings, and set Import Using to MP3 Encoder.
Select the song, then choose File, Convert, Create MP3 Version.
Right-click the new copy and choose Show in Finder.

Convert with VLC (Mac or Windows)

Open VLC and choose Media, then Convert / Save (on a Mac: File, then Convert / Stream).
Add your .m4a file and pick an MP3 profile.
Click Browse, name the destination file with .mp3 at the end, and start.

Convert with ffmpeg

If you use the command line, this makes an MP3 from an .m4a file:

ffmpeg -i memo.m4a -codec:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 memo.mp3

A note on online converters

Free converter websites work, but you are uploading your recording to someone else's server. For unreleased songs, use a converter that runs on your own computer.

Skip the conversion

If the goal is to share a demo, a link is easier than a file in any format. In songdrafts you can share a take as one link that plays in the browser, with no account needed to listen.

Common questions

What format are iPhone voice memos?

.m4a, which is AAC audio in an MPEG-4 container.

Can I convert a voice memo to MP3 on my iPhone?

Not with the Voice Memos app itself. Save the file to a computer and convert it there, or use a converter app from the App Store.

Do I lose quality converting m4a to MP3?

A little, since both are compressed. Keep the original and convert a copy.

Is there a free way to convert voice memos to MP3?

Yes. VLC and ffmpeg are free, and the Music app on a Mac is already installed.

Why will my software not open m4a?

Some older programs and sites do not support it. Convert to MP3 or WAV for those.

Want this done for you? songdrafts is a board for your voice memos: every take stacked on one card, songs that move across stages, merging half songs, and one share link with comments pinned to the second. Works offline, and nothing you upload trains AI. What is songdrafts?