Convert FLAC Files with foobar2000

Before you start

You need a desktop installation of foobar2000 and the FLAC files you want to convert stored locally on that computer. Conversion in foobar2000 runs on your machine, not through an online service, so the files are read and written by the installed application. FLAC is a lossless format, which means converting from FLAC does not improve the audio beyond the source; a lossy target such as MP3 or AAC will be smaller but may remove some audio information. A lossless target such as WAV keeps the decoded audio data while producing a different container.

Step-by-step instructions

The following steps use the foobar2000 desktop interface. The exact labels can differ slightly by version and installed components, but the general workflow remains the same.

Open foobar2000 and add the FLAC files to a playlist. You can drag the files into a playlist or use the File menu to add them. If the files are part of an album or folder, adding them together makes it easier to keep the output organized.

Select the FLAC files you want to convert. To select all files in the playlist, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on macOS. To select only some files, hold Ctrl or Command while clicking each file.

Open the Converter setup window. Right-click the selected files and choose Convert, then click the ellipsis or "..." button next to the Output format option. This opens the Converter Setup dialog where you can choose the destination format and its settings.

Choose an output format. MP3, AAC, WAV, and Ogg Vorbis are common targets, depending on the encoder components installed. If the format you want does not appear, open Preferences, go to Components or Tools, and check whether the required encoder component is installed. The format list also includes FLAC as an output choice, which can be useful if you need to re-encode an existing FLAC file with different settings.

Set the output quality or bit depth according to your use. For MP3, a fixed bitrate such as 320 kbps keeps more of the source than a very low bitrate but still produces a lossy file. For WAV, you may be able to select the output bit depth such as 16-bit or 24-bit. For a FLAC-to-FLAC conversion, choose the desired compression level; higher compression can take longer while producing a smaller file.

Choose the destination folder. In the Converter Setup dialog, open the Output file options and select a safe destination such as a new empty folder on your computer. Do not write into the same folder as the source with the same filename pattern if the output format could collide with the originals. Use a separate output folder when possible.

Check the file name pattern. The default pattern often includes fields such as track number, title, and artist. Make sure the pattern will create unique file names for the selected tracks. If two selected files would produce the same name because some metadata fields are empty, adjust the pattern or include a counter such as the track number field.

Click Convert and wait for the process to finish. The Converter window may show progress for each file. Keep foobar2000 open until the conversion completes so that the application can finish writing all output files.

Check the output

After conversion, open the destination folder and confirm that every expected file is present. The output file count should match the number of FLAC files you selected, unless the converter was configured to combine files. If output names come from metadata fields, verify that the file names are unique and readable.

Play one or more converted files in foobar2000 or another media player to confirm that playback works. You can also view the file properties to check the sample rate and channel count against the FLAC source. For lossy formats, do not expect the converted file to be identical to the FLAC in size or bitrate; smaller file size is normal and does not by itself prove a problem.

Common problems and next steps

If the output format is missing from the Converter Setup list, the encoder component may not be installed or enabled. Check the Components page in Preferences for the relevant encoder and add or enable it if necessary. Some formats also require an external command-line encoder to be installed on the computer.

A conversion error can also occur when the destination folder is read-only, the disk is full, or a source file is damaged. Try converting the file to a different folder with enough free space. If one FLAC file fails while others succeed, the file itself may be incomplete or corrupted; test it by playing it and by converting it separately.

If the converted files skip, stop early, or sound wrong during playback, re-check the encoder settings before converting again. Very low bitrate settings can cause more audible quality loss, while an unsupported sample rate or unusual channel count may create a file that some devices cannot play. For device compatibility problems, choose a widely supported format and settings such as stereo MP3 or AAC.

When the output files are missing, check whether foobar2000 placed them in a different folder or used an unexpected file name pattern. Search for the converted extension in the intended destination and nearby folders. Keep the original FLAC files untouched until you have verified the converted copies, especially when testing file name patterns or settings.