Tips to open M4A file
Can't open the M4A file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open M4A files as well as a list of programs that support M4A files.
M4A file extension
| File Name |
MPEG-4 Audio Format |
| File Developer |
Apple |
| File Category |
Audio Files |
The M4A file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the M4A files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the M4A file on each system platform.
What is M4A file?
The .M4A file is an audio file. This is a common variation of the .MP4 file and it has a different extension to show that this file does not have a video track. Formally, the same data container as in .MP4 is used here. The solution was adopted by the Apple iTunes store, which distributes audio files in this format. .M4A files can have one more variation. The extension can appear as .M4P, which means that the content is protected by copyright and has the DRM mechanism.
How to open M4A file?
An often recurring problem with MPEG-4 Audio Format is that M4A is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that M4A files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the M4A 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. This can be achieved by typing iTunes into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below is a list of programs that support the file M4A.
Programs to open M4A file
Remember to download programs supporting M4A files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of iTunes with M4A files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the M4A file to open in the iTunes application, but you can set it manually. 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. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the iTunes application as the default for handling the M4A file.
Step 3. Update iTunes to the latest version
If, despite the association of the iTunes program with the MPEG-4 Audio Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Apple, Inc. website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the M4A file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the M4A file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our M4A file. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover M4A files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
Older version of M4A file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged M4A files. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Apple, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted M4A 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.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the M4A file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file M4A to close. 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.
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