Free online M4R to WAV converter

Many audio editors, DAWs, samplers, and hardware devices require WAV instead of an Apple ringtone file. Converting an M4R makes the audio usable in those systems, but it cannot restore detail already lost to AAC compression.

What the M4R format is

M4R is the filename extension Apple uses for iPhone ringtone files. It usually contains AAC audio in an MPEG-4 container, making it technically similar to an M4A file; the extension indicates ringtone use.

M4R files are used for custom iPhone ringtones and may be exported by GarageBand or created from compatible, unprotected audio. A protected Apple Music or iTunes file may not be convertible because its audio cannot be decoded without authorization; conversion must not be used to bypass DRM.

What the WAV format is

WAV is an audio container most commonly carrying uncompressed PCM data. Professional editors, DAWs, samplers, operating systems, and hardware devices support PCM WAV without requiring AAC decoding.

WAV is practical for editing because it avoids another lossy compression stage, but it is much larger than M4R. A stereo 44.1 kHz, 16-bit WAV uses approximately 10 MB per minute.

How to convert M4R to WAV online

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

1. Open the M4R-to-WAV converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the .m4r file.
3. Select WAV as the output format and start the conversion.
4. Download the resulting .wav file and test it in the target application.

Do not upload protected or confidential audio to a web service. A file that is DRM-protected, damaged, or unsupported may fail to convert.

How to convert M4R to WAV with Audacity

1. Install Audacity from its official distribution and open the program.
2. Choose File → Import → Audio, then select the M4R file.
3. Choose File → Export Audio.
4. Set the output format to WAV (Microsoft) signed 16-bit PCM, choose a filename ending in .wav, and select Export.

Some Audacity installations need the FFmpeg library to decode AAC inside M4R files. If Audacity cannot import the file, install its compatible FFmpeg support or use FFmpeg directly.

How to convert M4R to WAV with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is useful for batch conversion and provides direct control over sample rate, channels, and bit depth. With FFmpeg installed, run this command in the folder containing the source file:

ffmpeg -i ringtone.m4r -c:a pcm_s16le ringtone.wav

This creates a 16-bit PCM WAV while retaining the source sample rate and channel layout. Replace the filenames with the actual names. To force stereo 44.1 kHz output, use:

ffmpeg -i ringtone.m4r -ar 44100 -ac 2 -c:a pcm_s16le ringtone.wav

Use the source sample rate unless the receiving application requires a specific value. Choose 24-bit PCM only when the production workflow requires it; increasing bit depth or sample rate cannot recover information removed during AAC encoding.

Quality and compatibility limits

Most M4R files contain lossy AAC audio. Exporting to WAV decodes that AAC into PCM but does not improve its original fidelity; it only changes the format used for storage and playback.

Changing .m4r to .wav by renaming the file does not convert it. The internal MPEG-4/AAC data remains unchanged and may be unreadable by WAV software.

After conversion, check the WAV’s duration, channel configuration, and start and end points. Some ringtone files contain short fades or metadata that a conversion tool may handle differently.