Audio conversion
Convert FLAC to AAC
Updated Jul 2026
FLAC is a lossless audio format that preserves every bit of the original recording, while AAC is the compressed format Apple devices and most streaming services expect. To convert FLAC to AAC, open the file in a converter and export it at a bitrate you're happy with. Doing this on your own computer means the music never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .flac
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Lossless music
- Extension
- .aac
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Apple / streaming audio
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert FLAC to AAC on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert FLAC to AAC
- Open Morphjet and drag in the FLAC file, or a whole folder of albums at once.
- Choose AAC as the output format and pick a bitrate, higher for archiving, lower for saving space.
- Convert. The AAC files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
FLAC vs AAC: what actually changes
| FLAC | AAC | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, roughly half the size of an uncompressed file | Much smaller, often a fifth the size of FLAC |
| Quality | Lossless, bit-for-bit identical to the source | Lossy, small quality loss on export that most people can't hear at normal bitrates |
| Compatibility | Limited, not supported by iTunes, most iPhones, or many car stereos | Very broad, the default format on Apple devices and most streaming apps |
| Metadata (tags, cover art) | Yes | Yes, usually carries over |
| Good for archiving | Yes, the safe format to keep | No, re-encoding it again will lose more quality |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert FLAC to AAC when you want your music library to fit on an iPhone or in iTunes, or when storage space matters more than having a bit-perfect copy.
Keep the FLAC original if it's your only copy or your reference library, since AAC is a one-way trip and you can't rebuild the lossless detail once it's gone.
Why not just use an online converter?
A lot of online audio converters ask you to upload your FLAC files to their server, which means your music library, and sometimes your listening habits, sit on a computer you don't control. Converting on your own machine skips that entirely. The files stay put, and the conversion happens without an internet connection.
Questions
Does converting FLAC to AAC lose quality?
Yes, a little. FLAC is lossless and AAC compresses the audio, so some detail is discarded on export. At a reasonably high bitrate the difference is hard to hear on normal speakers or headphones, but it's not reversible.
Will my FLAC's cover art and song info carry over?
Usually, yes. Metadata like the track title, artist, album, and embedded cover art is copied into the AAC file during conversion, though it's worth spot-checking a converted track before deleting the original.
Why can't my iPhone play FLAC files?
FLAC was built as an open format for lossless audio, and Apple's devices and software are built around AAC instead. Converting to AAC is the practical way to get FLAC music playing natively on an iPhone or in iTunes.
Should I keep the FLAC files after converting?
If storage allows, yes. AAC is a lossy copy, so keeping the FLAC as your master means you can always make another AAC, or a different format entirely, without any extra quality loss.
Can I convert FLAC to AAC without uploading my music?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the files locally on your computer, so your music library never travels over the internet, even for large collections.
Morphjet converts FLAC, AAC, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.