Apple Lossless Audio Codec File

In 2004, Apple created the Apple Lossless Audio Codec. Like FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), ALAC is used to losslessly compress audio files. However, ALAC-encoded files typically have smaller file sizes than FLAC-encoded files (created from the same audio).

Primarily, Apple music applications, such as Apple iTunes and Apple Music, use ALAC to losslessly compress and deliver audio to users. However, because ALAC is just a codec, and not an audio container format, these ALAC-encoded files are typically saved as M4A (MPEG-4 Audio) files. If a file uses the .alac extension, it is likely a misnamed M4A file.

You can open an ALAC file with Apple Music (Mac), Apple QuickTime Player (Mac), Microsoft Windows Media Player (Windows), or VideoLAN VLC media player (multiplatform). Before doing so, you may have to change the file's extension to .m4a , so your media player recognizes the file as an MPEG-4 Audio file.

VideoLAN VLC media player and Audacity (with the program's optional FFmpeg library installed) can convert ALAC files to other audio formats. For example, VLC can convert ALAC files to:

Remember, you may have to change your ALAC file's extension to .m4a before you can open it in VLC or Audacity.

Programs that open ALAC files

Updated: January 16, 2023