How to Convert and Play FLAC on iPhone or iPad

Updated Dec 29,2018 | by Cody

If you enjoy hi-res audio, then you probably have downloaded some lossless music files formatted with FLAC. You may wonder if you can play FLAC on iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Actually, if your iOS device has updated to iOS 11 or newer, you can play FLAC audio file on iPhone without additional apps.

If you are in earlier version of iOS, I will also show you how to play these hi-res audio files on iOS device. As you may know you cannot import FLAC to iTunes or your iPhone Music Library. In that case, you can convert FLAC to Apple Lossless or another iPhone supported format. I will also cover that, so keep reading.

If you know how to download files on iPhone, then you may have downloaded FLAC music on your iPhone. Your friends or family may also share the lossless music with you via email, WhatsApp, OneDrive, or other platform.

If you are running iOS 11 or iOS 12, you can follow the steps below to play FLAC music on your iOS device.

Step 1. Locate the FLAC music file. Tap on the FLAC file and select Save to Files.

Step 2. You can select a location in the Files app to save to FLAC file. If you do not have the Files app, you can free download it from AppStore.

Step 3. Locate the FALC file in the Files app, and then you can tap on it to play it.

If you are running iOS 10 or older version, then you can free download the VLC app, which is an open source app. No matter where you have saved the FLAC file, just select Open in VLC from Share Sheet. After that, you can open VLC app to play all the lossless music on your iPhone.  

However, as you know, iPhone Music app supports a few music formats including WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless, AAC, and MP3. If you want to add the music to your music library, then you have to convert it to the supported format.

As you may know, Siri Shortcuts is one of the main features in iOS 12. You can use the Shortcuts app to automate many things including convert FLAC format. Shortcuts app allows you to convert FLAC audio file to M4A or AIFF, which is also a lossless format.

If you do not have the Shortcuts app, you have missed a lot. Just free download it from AppStore and then get this pre-made shortcut to convert FLAC to AIFF format. Once you get to know Shortcuts, you can create your own ones, which is very cool.

This Shortcut is available in Share Sheet, so you can just locate the file and select Shortcuts from Share Sheet.

When the conversion process is complete, it allows you to select a location in the Files app to save the converted file.

As iPhone Manager software for Windows, IOTransfer can help you convert media file to iPhone compatible format and transfer them to iPhone in the meantime. You can free download it and follow the steps below to get started.

Step 1. Once you complete the IOTransfer installation. Connect your iPhone to your PC via a lightning cable.

Step 2. Open IOTransfer and Select Videos > Converter.

Step 3. From the Video Converter screen, click Add Files to add the FLAC files that you want to convert. It will bring you the File Explorer to select the FLAC files. Input “*”(without quotes) in the File Name box and press Enter to view all files.

Step 4. Click Output Format and select one of the iPhone supported audio format from the drop-down menu.

Step 5. Check the option Automatically transfer the converted files into your iOS device, and then click Convert Now to start converting FLAC to MP3 or whatever format you choose.

In a short while, all the select files are converted and transferred to your iPhone. You can then open the Music app on your iPhone to play the music files.

Besides, IOTransfer can be much more useful. When you transfer photos to PC, it will automatically convert HEIC to JPG, so you can view these photos on Windows PC. You can also use it to download YouTube music to MP3 on your iPhone or PC. 

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