HomeMac OS X

How to Play FLAC Files on Mac

FLAC files are Free Lossless Audio Codec, which means they are higher quality audio than MP3s. iTunes won't play FLAC, but this wikiHow will show you how you can play FLAC files on Mac using VLC. You also have the option to convert your...
Method 1 of 2:

Using VLC Media Player

  1. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 1How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 1
    Go to https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html in a web browser.
    1. VLC is a free media player program that will play formats like FLAC and MP3.
  2. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 2How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 2
    Click Download VLC. The download should start automatically and your file browser will pop up. You can change the file name and download location before clicking "Save" or "Ok".
    1. If the download does not initiate, you can click the text "Click here".
    2. When the installer is finished downloading, it should automatically open. If not, you can find this file in your file browser, most likely in the 'Downloads' folder.
  3. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 3How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 3
    Click I agree. Read any and all agreements before continuing.
  4. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 4How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 4
    Click Install. You will see a progress bar as the installation progresses and finishes.
    1. The application will download to the location you specified in the installation process.
  5. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 5How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 5
    Open VLC Media Player. You'll find this in your Applications folder.
  6. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 6How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 6
    Click the Media tab. A menu will drop down.
  7. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 7How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 7
    Click Open File. Your file browser will open and you can navigate to and open your FLAC file.
    1. You can also drag and drop your file into the VLC application window.
  8. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 8How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 8
    Click the play icon
    How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 9How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 9
    to start playback.
    1. Click the stop icon to stop playback.
Method 2 of 2:

Converting Your FLAC and Playing on iTunes

  1. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 10How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 10
    Go to https://www.zamzar.com/convert/flac-to-mp3/. Zamzar is a free online conversion tool that will make your FLAC file into an MP3.
  2. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 11How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 11
    Click Add Files…. You'll find this on the left side of your web browser, towards the middle of the page.
    1. You'll be automatically progressed to Step 2 once you select your file.
  3. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 12How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 12
    Make sure MP3 is the selected conversion. In Step 2 of the Zamzar website, you can choose which file format you want to convert your file to. Since MP3 is the most commonly used format, you'll want to pick that.
    1. You will most likely lose some quality of the FLAC file when you convert to MP3, since MP3 is a compressed file format and generally loses audio information as it compresses.
  4. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 13How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 13
    Click Convert Now. This is Step 3 of the Zamzar conversion process. A new page will load as the file converts. This may take a few minutes to complete.
    1. Converted files will be saved and available for download for 24 hours.
  5. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 14How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 14
    Click Download. Your file browser will open for you to change the file name and download location.
  6. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 15How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 15
    Open iTunes. You'll find this in your Dock or Applications folder.
  7. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 16How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 16
    Click the File tab. You'll find this in the upper left of your screen.
    1. You can also drag and drop the file into iTunes to add it to your library.
  8. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 17How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 17
    Click Add to Library. Your file browser will open.
  9. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 18How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 18
    Navigate to and double-click your MP3 file. Your audio file has been added to the iTunes library, so you can listen to it from any device (different computers, iPhones, Samsung phones) as long as you're signed in to the same account you initially added that audio file to the library from.
    1. For example, if you added the audio file from your home computer, as long as your iPhone is signed in to your Apple ID, you can listen to that audio file from your phone as well as your computer.
  10. How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 19How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 19
    Click the play icon
    How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 20How to Play FLAC Files on Mac Picture 20
    to start playback.
    1. Click the stop icon to stop playback.
4.5 ★ | 2 Vote
fileclickdownloadopen

You should read it

May be interested

Mac OS X