The iPhone Voice Memos app saves recordings as M4A files, and there's no setting to make it record in MP3 instead. To get an MP3, you need to convert the recording after you've made it. That only takes a minute, and you can do it on a Mac, a Windows PC or online.

Why convert a voice memo to MP3?

M4A plays fine on most modern devices, but MP3 is still the format that works everywhere. You might need an MP3 if you're:

  • Uploading to a website, course platform or podcast host that only accepts MP3
  • Sending the recording to someone using an older computer or player
  • Playing it through a car stereo or device that doesn't recognise M4A
  • Using transcription or editing software with limited format support

First, get the recording off your iPhone. Open Voice Memos, tap the recording, tap the More button (three dots), then Share. From there you can AirDrop it to a Mac, save it to Files or iCloud Drive, or email it to yourself. Our guide to transferring voice memos to a computer covers each option in detail.

Method 1: Convert online

This works on any computer, and on your iPhone too, with no software to install.

WAVConverter converts audio to and from WAV, so getting an MP3 takes two quick steps:

  1. Go to the M4A to WAV converter, upload your voice memo and download the WAV file.
  2. Go to the WAV to MP3 converter, upload the WAV and download your MP3.

Converting to WAV first doesn't affect quality. WAV is uncompressed, so the audio is carried over exactly, and the final MP3 is the same as one made directly from the M4A.

Uploaded files are deleted from our servers after 15 minutes. Even so, if a recording is confidential, you may prefer one of the offline methods below.

Method 2: Use the Music app on a Mac

The Music app can convert files to MP3 without any extra software. You need to change one setting first.

  1. Open Music and go to Music > Settings (or Preferences on older versions of macOS).
  2. Click the Files tab, then Import Settings.
  3. Set Import Using to MP3 Encoder. For speech, the High Quality (160 kbps) setting is plenty. Click OK.
  4. Add the voice memo to your library with File > Import.
  5. Select the recording, then choose File > Convert > Create MP3 Version.

The MP3 appears in your library next to the original. To find the file, right-click it and choose Show in Finder.

Method 3: Use iTunes on Windows

iTunes for Windows works the same way:

  1. Open iTunes and go to Edit > Preferences.
  2. On the General tab, click Import Settings.
  3. Set Import Using to MP3 Encoder and click OK.
  4. Add the voice memo with File > Add File to Library.
  5. Select it and choose File > Convert > Create MP3 Version.

Right-click the new MP3 and choose Show in Windows Explorer to find it.

Method 4: Use Audacity

Audacity is a free audio editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. It's a good choice if you want to trim the recording, remove background noise or boost the volume before converting.

  1. Open Audacity and drag your voice memo into the window. If Audacity can't open M4A files, install the FFmpeg library from the link in Audacity's preferences under Libraries.
  2. Make any edits you need.
  3. Choose File > Export Audio, set the format to MP3, choose a quality and click Export.

Can you convert a voice memo to MP3 on the iPhone itself?

Not with Apple's built-in apps. The Shortcuts app can re-encode audio, but only to M4A or AIFF. The simplest way on the phone itself is to save the recording to Files, then use an online converter in Safari. There are also third-party converter apps in the App Store, though many show ads or charge for full features.

Which bitrate should you choose?

Voice memos are usually speech, which doesn't need a high bitrate:

  • 64–96 kbps: fine for meetings, lectures and notes to yourself
  • 128 kbps: a good default for interviews and podcasts
  • 192 kbps or higher: worth it for music or recordings you plan to edit

Going above the quality of the original won't make it sound better. It'll just make the file bigger.

Will converting reduce the quality?

Slightly. With the default Compressed setting, voice memos are already saved in a lossy format (AAC), and MP3 is lossy too, so converting compresses the audio a second time. For speech at 128 kbps or above, you're unlikely to notice any difference.

If quality matters, for example for a music recording or audio you'll edit, keep the original M4A, or convert it to WAV and do your editing in that format. You can also switch Voice Memos to the Lossless setting before you record. See M4A vs MP3 for more on how the two formats compare.