AAC to text on iPhone: transcribe .aac files

You have a recorder app or a stream capture, and you need the words in it as text. You don’t need a converter, an mp3 tool, or a desktop app: transcription apps accept .aac directly.

Short answer

Import the file into AI Transcribe (tap Import, choose Audio File, pick your .aac file) and the transcript appears with timestamps and speaker labels. Files up to 3 hours are supported, and the format is converted internally, so no preparation is needed.

What is a .aac file?

AAC is the codec inside most modern audio (including M4A files); raw .aac files come from some recorder apps and stream captures. Quality per megabyte is better than MP3.

AAC to text, step by step

Get the file onto your iPhone (Files, Downloads, or shared from another app).
Open AI Transcribe and tap Import → Audio File.
Select the .aac file. It’s converted and transcribed automatically, keep the app open while it processes.
Use Summarize or any of the 20+ AI tools on the result, or export the transcript as text or PDF.

On a Mac or in a browser

On a Mac, drag the .aac file onto AI Transcribe for Mac, or press ⌘I to import it; the transcript and the AI tools work the same way. Sign in with your email and every transcript also opens in the web library on any computer, where you can read it, export it as text, Markdown or subtitles, or share it as a link.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to convert .aac to another format first? No. Conversion happens inside the app; any common audio format works.

How long can the file be? Up to 3 hours per file. Transcription takes minutes, not the file’s duration.

Which languages are supported? 32 languages with automatic language detection, the file’s language doesn’t need to be set manually.

What does it cost? AI Transcribe is free to download with a free trial; the Pro subscription (weekly or annual) is for regular use and includes all AI tools.