How to Convert Audio to AAC in iTunes

Before you start

The iTunes AAC converter works locally on your computer. It does not upload the file or require an online conversion service. Use it when you already have the audio file in your iTunes library or can import it first.

Check that the track is playable in iTunes before converting. If the file is protected or in a format that iTunes cannot read, conversion may not be available for that item.

Step-by-step instructions

First set iTunes to create AAC files. In the Edit menu, open Preferences, select General, then choose Import Settings. Set Import Using to AAC Encoder.

In the Setting menu, pick a quality level. The available AAC encoder options can vary by iTunes version. A common choice is a higher bit rate for music and a lower bit rate for voice recordings where a smaller file is more important.

Select the imported track, song, or audio file in your library. From the File menu, choose Convert, then select Create AAC Version. iTunes keeps the original file and creates a new copy.

If the menu shows a different format instead of AAC, return to Import Settings and confirm that AAC Encoder is selected. The conversion option follows the current import format setting.

Check the output

Look for a second copy of the track with the same title. The AAC version is usually shorter in file size for the same track when compared with a high-bit-rate source, but file size alone is not a quality measurement.

Play the new copy back with the same output device you normally use, such as headphones or speakers. Listen for obvious dropouts or distortion, but remember that a listening check is not a substitute for a controlled audio test.

Use Get Info on the new copy to view settings such as bit rate and sample rate. These fields are useful for confirming that the file used the encoder setting you selected.

Common problems and next steps

If the file sounds quiet or noisy, check the original first. An audio file with strong background noise or a low input level will usually keep those characteristics after conversion, because AAC conversion is not an audio cleanup tool.

If Convert is unavailable, see whether the track is an unprotected file that can be played normally. Some protected or unsupported media cannot be converted through this local workflow.

If the recording was made with a microphone, a poor input level or room noise at the recording stage can be more limiting than the conversion format. Correct those issues at the source when practical.