Tips to open ALAC file

Can't open the ALAC file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open ALAC files as well as a list of programs that support ALAC files.

ALAC file extension

File Name Apple Lossless Audio Codec Audio Format
File Developer Apple
File Category Audio Files

The ALAC file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ALAC files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ALAC file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 5
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ALAC file?

The file in the ALAC format belongs to the Audio Files category. The creator of this file is Apple. Audio Files consists of 771 similar files. Apple Lossless Audio Codec Audio Format is supported by 3 operating systems. These systems consist of Linux, Mac OS, Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. The main program that supports this format is iTunes. This was created by Apple, Inc.. This file type can also be opened by 8 other programs. QuickTime Player, Windows Media Player, Apple Logic Pro, xrecode will apply when it is not possible to use iTunes.

How to open ALAC file?

The main problem with Apple Lossless Audio Codec Audio Format is that the ALAC file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that ALAC files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ALAC file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install iTunes

In this case, you should first verify that the iTunes application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name iTunes in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file ALAC with iTunes. Below is a list of programs that support the file ALAC.

Step 2. Create association of iTunes with ALAC files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the ALAC file still does not use the iTunes program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the ALAC file with the iTunes application.

Step 3. Update iTunes to the latest version

If, despite the association of the iTunes program with the Apple Lossless Audio Codec Audio Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Apple, Inc. page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the ALAC file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The ALAC file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to ALAC files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the ALAC file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover ALAC files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the ALAC file. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged ALAC files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Apple
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted ALAC files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the ALAC file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the ALAC file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.