Source: https://mactoolbox.app/glossary/flac

# What is FLAC?

By Nikhil Barik · Published November 3, 2026

## Quick answer

FLAC is a lossless audio format. It keeps every detail of the original sound and takes roughly half the space of WAV.

## What it is

FLAC compresses audio without discarding anything, so you can turn it back into the exact original. It is popular for archiving music.

## Why it matters on a Mac

Not every Mac app plays FLAC. Converting to M4A saves space, and converting to AIFF or WAV stays lossless.

## How to check it on macOS

Select the file in Finder and press Command-I, or use Media Info in Toolbox to see its sample rate.

## How Toolbox handles it

Convert Audio and Extract Audio can write FLAC, and Convert Audio can turn FLAC into M4A, AIFF or WAV. 24-bit sources stay 24-bit in lossless formats.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is FLAC better than MP3?**

It has more detail, but files are larger.

**Is FLAC the same as WAV?**

Both are lossless. WAV is uncompressed, so it is larger.

**Why convert FLAC at all?**

Some apps and devices do not play it. M4A is smaller, and AIFF or WAV keep full quality.

## Tools mentioned

- [**Convert Audio**: Change audio files to MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC or AIFF.](https://mactoolbox.app/convert-audio-to-mp3-mac)
- [**Extract Audio**: Save the soundtrack of a video as an audio file.](https://mactoolbox.app/extract-audio-from-video-mac)

## Keep reading

- [Convert Audio](https://mactoolbox.app/convert-audio-to-mp3-mac)
- [Extract Audio](https://mactoolbox.app/extract-audio-from-video-mac)
- [Lossless vs lossy](https://mactoolbox.app/glossary/lossless-vs-lossy)
- [MP3](https://mactoolbox.app/glossary/mp3)