If you use a Mac, there’s a good chance that you probably won’t ever come across a WMA file, but for those who are familiar with the Windows system and Windows Media Player, the WMA file is pretty common. This file format used to be more popular, but these days, it’s no longer a convenient way to store your audio files.
An MP3 file is typically more versatile for most audio tracks, and as long as you know what to do, you’ll save yourself a lot of time.
Step 1: Go to CloudConvert
The quickest and easiest way to convert a WMA file to an MP3 file is to use an online converter. There are several great ones out there, but our favorite for this particular task is CloudConvert. Get your WMA files ready, then head to its homepage.
Step 2: Upload your files
To send your files to CloudConvert and get the conversion process started, click Select File. Alternatively, select the downward-facing arrow icon within that button for a greater array of uploading options. Using the resulting pop-up menu, choose whether you want to add files from your computer, send them from your cloud storage service, or just link them from a URL.
Depending on your choice, you’ll be asked to select the files in question from their respective location. Follow along with the on-screen instructions.
Step 3: Choose your file format options
Now that you’ve uploaded the file you want to convert, you need to select the output format. In our case, that’s MP3. Select the drop-down menu arrow icon, which is next to the phrase Convert to. From the menu that appears, select MP3.
For more advanced options, you can also select the wrench icon. It lets you adjust the bitrate of your output file, the start and end points of your conversion, and a few other options.
Step 4: Convert and download
When you feel you’ve set all the options correctly, select the big red Convert button. You’ll see the screen update with a timescale and loading bar for your conversion.
Once the conversion is finished, a preview of your track may auto-play to allow you to hear the newly converted track before you decide to download it. If you like what you hear in the preview, select the green Download button to begin your download.
Alternative method: MediaHuman (Windows/MacOS)
If you’ve got a lot of files to convert, it might be easier to download a conversion program rather than using a website like CloudConvert. MediaHuman’s free converter can convert all your WMAs into MP3s with ease.
When you have successfully completed the software download, you can add files to the converter by selecting the files and dragging them from your desktop or another folder into the converter. You can also add files after clicking the plus sign (+) and then finding the files on your computer.
When you click the Format button, you will be able to choose MP3 as the output format. At the top of the screen is a button that looks like the recycling arrows; when you click that, the file will convert. The time it takes to convert a file depends on how big the file is or if you are trying to convert multiple files concurrently.
You can access the files you’ve just converted using MediaHuman by clicking the magnifying glass icon, which takes you to the folder where the files were saved. From there, you can put the files on an external drive to use with other devices or import them into your best media player library.
Note: MediaHuman does appear to install a teeny bit of bloatware in the form of a desktop icon link that leads to a MediaHuman website. This icon and the link seems to be harmless as far as we can tell.
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