Convert FLAC to WAV Online
Free, private FLAC to WAV converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
Drag & drop files here
images, PDFs, documents, audio, video, and more
No Server Uploads
FormatShift converts files directly in your browser. Your files never leave your device, so there's nothing to intercept or leak.
Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
Built for Privacy
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How to convert FLAC to WAV
Drop your FLAC file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your WAV file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert FLAC to WAV?
FLAC and WAV serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
What is a FLAC file?
Free Lossless Audio Codec: FLAC compresses audio without losing any quality. Think of it as a ZIP file for music. The original audio is perfectly preserved, but files are about half the size of equivalent WAV files.
Created by: Xiph.Org Foundation, first released in 2001
Used for: Music archiving, audiophile collections, lossless streaming, music production backups
Technical details: Lossless compression, so decoded audio is bit-identical to the original. Typically compresses to 50-70% of WAV size. Supports metadata tags and album art.
Compatibility: Supported by most desktop and mobile music players, streaming services (Tidal, Qobuz), and web browsers (Chrome, Firefox).
What is a WAV file?
Waveform Audio File Format: WAV stores audio without any compression. What you hear is exactly what was recorded, with no quality loss. The trade-off is large file sizes, a 3-minute song takes about 30 MB.
Created by: Microsoft and IBM, first released in 1991
Used for: Music production, audio editing, CD-quality masters, sound effects
Technical details: Uncompressed PCM audio. Supports various sample rates and bit depths. A standard CD-quality WAV uses 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo.
Compatibility: Plays on virtually every device and audio application.
FLAC vs WAV
| Feature | FLAC | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Free Lossless Audio Codec | Waveform Audio File Format |
| Best for | Music archiving, audiophile collections, lossless streaming, music production backups | Music production, audio editing, CD-quality masters, sound effects |
| Compatibility | Supported by most desktop and mobile music players, streaming services (Tidal, Qobuz), and web browsers (Chrome, Firefox). | Plays on virtually every device and audio application. |
| Pros | Perfect quality preservation, smaller than WAV, good metadata support | Perfect audio quality, no compression artifacts, widely compatible |
| Cons | Larger than MP3 or AAC, not supported by iTunes (use ALAC instead) | Very large file sizes, not practical for streaming or portable listening |