WMA files on a Mac
macOS has no built-in support for WMA. Finder cannot preview the files, the Music app will not import them, and GarageBand, Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro will not place them on a timeline. AIFF is Apple's standard uncompressed format and opens everywhere on the Mac. Converting WMA to AIFF is the cleanest way to bring old Windows audio into a Mac project.
Lossless where it counts
The result depends on the WMA type, which the converter shows for each file:
- WMA Lossless becomes an AIFF with exactly the same samples. This is a perfect, lossless move, and AIFF is a good Apple-friendly home for such rips.
- WMA Pro may carry 24-bit audio at high sample rates. Keep 24-bit and the original rate.
- WMA Standard is lossy. The AIFF reproduces the decoded sound exactly but will not restore what was removed.
Sizes and settings
AIFF is uncompressed: about 10 MB per minute at 16-bit 44.1 kHz stereo, and about 15 MB at 24-bit. That is far more than a 128 kbps WMA, which needs only 1 MB per minute. For music projects, set the sample rate to match your session to avoid resampling on import. For CD rips, 16-bit 44.1 kHz is the native format.
Tags
AIFF can store tags in an ID3 chunk, but the files made here do not include one, so titles, artists and album names from the WMA are mostly lost. Add them in the Music app after import, or choose WMA to M4A if the tags matter.
If you only want to listen
For listening on Mac and iPhone, uncompressed AIFF is more than you need. WMA to M4A gives you small files that sound excellent at 256 kbps and keep the same tags. If a track fails to convert, it is likely protected by Windows Media DRM, which cannot be removed. Once your audio is in AIFF, you can tidy it in the audio editor before bringing it into a session.