Codec not supported? Here’s how to convert FLAC to MP3, so you no longer have to worry about incompatibility issues when switching devices.
This article was updated on May 17 by Mark Coppock to reflect recent software changes.
A FLAC file, short for Free Lossless Audio Codec, is a compressed audio file that maintains the same quality as the original source despite often being less than 50 percent of the original file size. The files are free and distributed to users under an open-source license, hence the “Free” and “Lossless” terminology, but typically surpass common audio formats such as AAC and MP3 when it comes to sheer audio fidelity. Simply put, they sound better and require less space.
However, while nearly all audio devices and multimedia players support MP3 playback, only a handful of them currently support FLAC. Thankfully, there are a myriad of ways you can convert FLAC to MP3, if you favor convenience over audio quality. The resulting file may not sound as nice, but at least you can play it. Here’s what to do.
Some of the following applications are freeware, which is free to use but can come with some unwanted add-ons. We suggest that you select the custom installation option with all freeware, and follow along closely during the installation process. Keep your eye open for instructions about installing other apps, changing your browser homepage, and other actions that may lead to unwanted changes to your machine. Then, choose whether you want to install or forgo these bundled extras.
This tendency to plug up your system with unwanted software is one of the downsides of freeware applications. Such being the case, it’s worth spending a few extra minutes during the installation process to ensure you don’ t install anything you don’ t actually need or want.
