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.
What opens 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
Open a .aiff file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .aiff. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Media Player or Audacity.
- On Mac, use Music or QuickTime.
- On Linux, try Audacity or VLC.
- Still stuck? Convert the .aiff to WAV, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .aiff file?
Almost always because no installed app understands AIFF. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .aiff at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
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.
What is the .aiff file signature (magic bytes)?
A .aiff file starts with the hex bytes 46 4F 52 4D, which read as FORM in ASCII. Programs identify AIFF by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for AIFF. For a full breakdown, see the AIFF file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 4F 52 4D | 0 | FORM | 'FORM' (IFF container) |
| 41 49 46 46 | 8 | AIFF | '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
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