Convert AAC to ALAC on Mac
Select the AAC files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose ALAC and press Return. FileFlip saves each ALAC next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert AAC to ALAC with FileFlip
Select the AAC files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from AAC. Type “ALAC” to jump to it.
Choose ALAC and press Return
The ALAC files appear next to the originals with the same names. The AAC files stay as they are.
AAC and ALAC
Bare .aac files have almost no room for tags, and some apps handle them poorly. ALAC is lossless and plays natively in Apple’s Music app and on iPhone.
What changes when you convert
- ALAC is lossless, so nothing more is lost, but it can’t bring back detail that AAC compression already removed. Expect a bigger file.
- ALAC files use the .m4a extension, just like AAC files.
| Property | AAC | ALAC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Advanced Audio Coding (ADTS stream) | Apple Lossless Audio Codec |
| Made by | MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) | Apple |
| Introduced | 1997 | 2004 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Best for | Raw output from recorders and streaming tools | Lossless music in Apple’s Music app and on iPhone |
| Opens in | Most players | Apple devices and many players; less common elsewhere than FLAC |
| File extension | .aac | .m4a |
| In FileFlip | Opens | Saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Terminal
afconvert is Apple’s command-line audio converter.
afconvert -f m4af -d alac recording.aac recording.m4aBuilt into macOS and good for scripts.
Questions about AAC and ALAC
Does converting AAC to ALAC lose quality?
ALAC is lossless, so nothing more is lost, but it can’t bring back detail that AAC compression already removed. Expect a bigger file.
Can I convert many AAC files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose ALAC. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where does ALAC play?
Apple devices and many players; less common elsewhere than FLAC.
Where is the ALAC file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .m4a extension. The AAC file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert ALAC back to AAC?
No. FileFlip opens AAC files but doesn’t save them.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole album at once
FileFlip also handles images, camera raw files, video, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac