What is a .aiff file?
Audio Interchange File Format · Audio · Apple · 1988
AIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format, the Mac counterpart to WAV. It is lossless and bit-perfect, which makes it a standard for recording and editing, with the same trade-off as WAV: the files are large.
What is a .aiff file used for?
An AIFF stores raw, uncompressed audio samples in an IFF-style container. Like WAV, nothing is discarded, so it is the working format for production on the Mac.
You meet AIFF in GarageBand, Logic and other Apple audio tools, and it plays natively across macOS.
Because the files are large, AIFF is for editing rather than sharing. Export to a compressed format like AAC or MP3 for distribution.
The .aif extension is the same format under a shorter name.
How to open a .aiff file
The .aiff format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- Media Player
- Audacity
- VLC
macOS
- Music
- QuickTime
- GarageBand
- Audacity
Linux
- Audacity
- VLC
Web
- Most browsers
How to convert a .aiff file
You can convert a .aiff file to WAV, MP3, FLAC, AAC using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.aiff file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .aiff file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for AIFF. For a full breakdown, see the AIFF file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 46 4F 52 4D | 0 | 'FORM' (IFF container) |
| 41 49 46 46 | 8 | 'AIFF' form type |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .aiff file?
AIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format, the Mac counterpart to WAV. It is lossless and bit-perfect, which makes it a standard for recording and editing, with the same trade-off as WAV: the files are large.
What is the difference between AIFF and WAV?
They are near equivalents: both store uncompressed, lossless audio, so quality is identical. AIFF comes from Apple and WAV from Microsoft, so each is the default on its own platform, but modern software reads both.
How do I open an AIFF file on Windows?
Windows Media Player, VLC or Audacity all play AIFF. If a program refuses it, convert it to WAV or MP3.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: