Free online M4R to ALAC converter

Source format

M4R is an AAC-based audio file format used primarily for iPhone ringtones. In practice, an M4R file is very similar to an .m4a file, but it is named and handled by Apple devices as a ringtone. It is commonly created from short music clips, sound effects, or custom ringtone edits for use on iOS devices.

M4R files are typically used by iPhone owners, ringtone creators, and anyone preparing short audio clips for Apple’s ringtone system. Because it is usually a compressed AAC file, it is convenient for small file sizes and quick transfer, but it is not intended as a high-fidelity archival format.

Target format

ALAC stands for Apple Lossless Audio Codec. It is a lossless audio format designed to preserve the original audio data without quality loss during compression. ALAC is widely supported in Apple software and devices, and it is also recognized by many media players and audio tools outside the Apple ecosystem.

The main advantages of ALAC are bit-perfect preservation of audio quality, good compatibility with Apple Music and iTunes/Finder-based libraries, and smaller file sizes than uncompressed formats such as WAV or AIFF. It is commonly used for music archiving, personal libraries, and situations where you want Apple-friendly lossless audio.

How to perform the conversion

Because M4R is usually a lossy AAC ringtone file, converting it to ALAC does not restore lost audio detail; it only wraps the existing audio into a lossless container/codec workflow if the source is already suitable. For best results, use a desktop audio converter that can read M4R and export ALAC, such as iTunes/Finder on macOS, Apple Music, or FFmpeg.

Method 1: Using FFmpeg

1. Install FFmpeg on your computer.
2. Open a terminal or command prompt.
3. Run a command like ffmpeg -i input.m4r -c:a alac output.m4a.
4. If you want the file extension to reflect the codec, you can also use output.m4a or output.m4r, but .m4a is more common for ALAC audio files.

Method 2: Using Apple Music or iTunes on macOS/Windows

1. Import the .m4r file into your library.
2. Open Music → Settings → Files → Import Settings on macOS, or Edit → Preferences → General → Import Settings in iTunes on Windows.
3. Select Apple Lossless Encoder as the import format.
4. Convert or re-import the audio into an ALAC-based file.

Method 3: Using a desktop audio converter

1. Open the converter and add the .m4r file.
2. Choose ALAC or Apple Lossless as the output format.
3. Start the conversion and save the result as .m4a if the program asks for an extension.

You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software.

Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

Quality limitation: if the original M4R was created from compressed AAC audio, converting it to ALAC will not improve sound quality. It only preserves the current audio in a lossless format from that point onward.

File naming: ALAC audio is commonly stored in .m4a files, not .alac. The codec is ALAC, while the container is usually MP4/M4A.

Compatibility: ALAC works well in Apple ecosystems and many modern players, but some older devices or software may prefer AAC, MP3, or WAV instead.

Ringtone-specific behavior: M4R files are often short and may contain metadata or trimming intended for ringtone use. After conversion, the file may no longer behave as a ringtone unless it is reconfigured for that purpose.