How to Convert AIFF to MP3 on iPhone

AIFF files are Apple's lossless audio format — used by GarageBand, Logic Pro, and older iTunes libraries. Converting to MP3 on iPhone makes sense when you need to share audio without the large file size of an uncompressed AIFF. Here is how to do it in Safari on your iPhone.

Why AIFF on iPhone Needs Conversion

AIFF files play on iPhone natively — the Files app and music players handle them fine. The issue is size: a 4-minute AIFF at CD quality is around 40 MB. Sharing via email, WhatsApp, or uploading to web services runs into size limits. An equivalent MP3 at 192 kbps is about 5 MB — 8x smaller.

Converting in Safari on iPhone

Open Safari and go to audioutils.com. Tap the upload area. Use the Files picker to locate your AIFF file. AIFF files received via AirDrop from a Mac appear in the Downloads folder. GarageBand AIFF exports appear in GarageBand's Files section — use Files > On My iPhone > GarageBand to find them.

Select MP3 as the output. Choose 192 kbps for music or 128 kbps for voice content. The conversion runs in your browser using WebAssembly — it processes quickly on modern iPhones (iPhone 8 or later). Tap the download button when conversion finishes. The MP3 saves to your Safari Downloads folder.

GarageBand on iPhone: AIFF to MP3 Workflow

GarageBand for iOS does not offer MP3 export directly from the app. To get an MP3 from a GarageBand project: finish your project, tap the share icon, choose Share Song > My Files to export as M4A to iCloud Drive. Then convert the M4A to MP3 using AudioUtils if MP3 is specifically required. M4A is often acceptable instead of MP3 — check your target platform's requirements before converting.

Quality Expectations

AIFF is lossless. Converting to MP3 is a one-way quality reduction. At 192 kbps, the loss is imperceptible for most listeners. At 128 kbps, the quality is still good for casual listening. Keep your original AIFF file archived if the audio is important.