How to use the M4V to MP3 converter
- Choose your M4V video or drop it on the box.
- Pick an audio quality. 192 kbps is the usual choice; 320 kbps for music you care about, 128 kbps for speech.
- Click "Convert to MP3". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your MP3 and listen to it right on the page.
Why convert M4V to MP3?
M4V is Apple's MP4 variant. Converting a home-made M4V to MP3 gives you the soundtrack for any player that does not take Apple formats.
- M4V: purchased M4V files are copy-protected.
- MP3: plays on every device.
- MP3: small files.
Copy-protected M4V films bought from iTunes cannot be converted; your own M4V exports work fine.
M4V vs MP3
| M4V | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Apple MPEG-4 Video | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Type | Video | Audio |
| Created by | Apple (2003) | the Fraunhofer Institute and MPEG (1993) |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Typical codecs | H.264 + AAC | MP3 |
| Best for | iTunes and Apple TV video libraries and Handbrake exports | Music, podcasts, audiobooks and ringtones |
| Plays on | Apple devices, iTunes, VLC and most MP4 players | Every phone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker and browser |
Does converting M4V to MP3 lose quality?
Only the sound is kept and re-encoded as MP3. Video soundtracks are usually AAC at 128–256 kbps, so choosing 192 kbps or more keeps the MP3 sounding the same as the video.
How long does it take?
Fast. Only the sound is decoded, so even a long video usually converts in well under a minute.
What is an M4V file?
M4V is Apple's variant of MP4 used by iTunes and the Apple TV app. Files you make yourself are identical to MP4 inside; purchased iTunes movies carry FairPlay copy protection, which no converter is allowed to remove.
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 is the most widely used audio format in the world. It removes sounds people are unlikely to hear, shrinking a song to about a tenth of its CD size. At 192 kbps or higher most listeners cannot tell it from the original, and every device plays it. Its patents expired in 2017, so it is now free to use.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay or sign up to use the M4V to MP3 converter?
No. There is no account, no payment and no watermark. The only limit is 1 GB per file, set by what browsers can handle.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. The converter runs inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your file is processed on your own device and never sent to us or anyone else.
Will the MP3 sound as good as the M4V?
Only the sound is kept and re-encoded as MP3. Video soundtracks are usually AAC at 128–256 kbps, so choosing 192 kbps or more keeps the MP3 sounding the same as the video.
Can I convert MP3 back to M4V?
Yes, use the M4V Converter and choose M4V as the output.
An M4V you made will not open in an app. What should I do?
Convert M4V to MP4. It is a fast copy.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes, in Safari, Chrome and other modern mobile browsers. Short files work best on phones; for long or high-resolution videos a computer is faster.