How to Convert FLAC files to MP3 using Windows

This detailed and step by step guide will explain how to convert FLAC files to MP3 using Windows.

Update: As of 2020 this tutorial is current. The software used in this step by step guide is still completely free (Open Source) and will have your .FLAC files converted to MP3 in no time at all.

  1. In order to convert your FLAC (.flac) files to MP3 (.mp3) you’ll to download and install a small, free (Open Source in fact!) “no frills” audio converter. Head over to the fre:ac download page and download the latest version. This app works in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.

    Double-click the file to install it, and literally click Next until the last step – then click Finish. The installation is that straight forward.

  2. Now launch it from the newly created Desktop shortcut.
  3. the freac desktop icon

  4. The first time you run fre:ac the “Tip of the day” window will appear. Remove the check from the box labeled Show tips on startup. Then click OK.
  5. the fre:ac tip of the day dialog box

  6. When prompted if you’d like for the app to check for updates on startup, click Yes.
  7. the fre:ac check for updates option

  8. Ta-da! The main fre:ac window. Not fancy, no frills – but powerful and fast.
  9. the main fre:ac window
    click to enlarge

  10. Click the small “down arrow” next to the Add audio files button (see screenshot below). Then select From folder…
  11. adding flac files to convert to mp3

  12. Click the Browse button
  13. browsing windows for files

  14. Navigate to the folder that contains the .flac files that you want to convert to .mp3. Select that folder, and then click OK
  15. selecting a folder in windows

  16. Click OK again.
  17. the fre:ac adding a folder dialog box

  18. Now the main fre:ac window will have all of the .flac files loaded.
  19. fre:ac with flac files loaded
    click to enlarge

  20. Click the “down arrow” next to the Start encoding button, and select LAME MP3 Encoder from the list of options.
  21. selecting LAME MP3 in fre:ac

  22. Now just sit back and watch fre:ac do its thing. fre:ac makes the best use of your hardware in order to complete the conversion as quickly as possible. You can watch the progress of each file and/or overall progress in the section at the bottom of the main fre:ac window (see screenshot below).
  23. the process of converting flac files to mp3 in Windows
    click to enlarge

  24. Once the process has completed, open your Music folder (which is the default “Save” location for all of the files you convert). There they are – ready to load onto your MP3 player of choice.

    If the files didn’t have the track information embedded in them, and you need to name all of the songs and add the album information etc, check out the guide How to Edit MP3/FLAC “Metadata” – which will take you step by step through that process. Otherwise, all done!

  25. converted mp3 files
    click to enlarge

note: if you need to convert .FLAC files to .MP3 in macOS, this guide is for you.


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229 thoughts on “How to Convert FLAC files to MP3 using Windows”

  1. Thanks a million for plain speaking instructions, this was painless. Took less than 15 minutes from downloading the program to converting the files.

  2. Dude. You’re a legend. If you can get an idiot like me to get this right, you’re a born teacher. Thank you.

  3. This was fantastic advice, exactly what I was looking for, took a while but worth it to have everything on my ipod, thanks!

  4. Thank you soo much for this. Very thorough job. I thought the process would be much more complicated but you have made it a snap.

  5. Thank you so much! This guide told me everything I needed, step by step. I checked the mp3 file when I was done, and the quality was perfect. Thanks again!

  6. Awesome worked perfectly didnt bother doing anything after getting them into wav. files though you can just play them with Itunes THANNNKKKSSS :D

  7. Great tutorial! Very good explanation, simple and straightforward! Keep up the good work!

  8. YOU ARE THE BEST – I have searched the wild world over for some neophyte instructions on flac conversions – yours were perfect!

  9. I have no idea who you are, but I am now eternally indebted to you. Thank you very much for simplying this process for the technically incompetent amongst us.

  10. I can finally sleep at night and not fret about getting my songs into my player~!! Simplified and very detailed. Best yet! THANKS!!

  11. Very clear, concise, and easy instructions thank you for an excellent posting, probably the very best I’ve ever used!

  12. WOW! ty so much!!!! my music supplier recently changed to.flac files and didnt kno what to do, until i found this. THANK U!!!

  13. Thank you so much for this, all the other websites i went to i couldnt understand not being computer literate, you’ve totally made my day!!!

  14. I would like to add another kudos! First time I encountered the .flac extension file and this is the first site I opened up to get info on how to handle the file. Things work perfectly and fast! Thanks!

  15. You genius! Finally, a way of converting flac to mp3 without those dodgy programs online. Thank you so much!

  16. A most excellent approach, explanation and solution.
    Worked like a charm.
    May the force be with you!

  17. Cheers for the clear and concise walk through – everything worked perfectly!

    Thanks again!

  18. Simple, fantastic, economical, helpful, clear and effective.

    In short, everything that help should be.

    THANK YOU!

  19. Gosh…. thanks a million, I never thought It’d work this great and easy I’ ve spent hours trying to convert and now, within minutes It was easily done.

    Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks

  20. WOW…. what more is there to say…works like a dream and solved a huge problem i have……had….lol

  21. Awesome walkthrough, thanks so much! Had a bunch of files I was dying to put on my iPod and now I can!!

  22. Worked perfectly! The directions were right on and every step worked great. Thanks so much.

  23. I have never posted one of these responses, but I do have to say this was the clearest most helpful, free way of accomplishing this seemingly annoying task. This actually gives me a great deal of faith in humanity. I have mad a terrible past few days with money-grubbing people and this is a refreshingly kind thing someone has done. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

  24. thanks for posting this because it was so easy to follow and will save me so much hassle converting files from now on. thanks.

  25. Quality tool. Brilliantly written instructions. I hope this is your permanent job – it should be!

  26. I just wanted to thank you for your extremely clear instructions. I buzzed right through the whole process without a hitch, and now have a lot of great new music that I can finally play on my MP3 player!

  27. Absolutely flawless, incredibly easy conversion. I’d expected it to be so much more difficult, but little did I know, I already had all the tools I needed. Thanks so much, Ross, and now I shall no longer fear FLAC torrents.

  28. The testimonials say it all……

    solving peoples headaches for over a year with a simply perfect solution.

    Many thanks, Ross

    Best regards

    Ian

  29. Thank you..This tutorial is awesome…. this is the best advice for flac conversion can you say SIMPLE…CHEERS

  30. Thanks a ton for putting this online. Was going nuts looking at other websites. Simple and easy to follow directions. Worked flawlessly.

  31. BRILLIANT!!!!! Thank you so much. I have been searching for software to enable me to do this, for ages. So easy to follow guide, what more can I say BRILLIANT!!!!!

  32. I never leave comments at these pages, but I feel obligated here, because this is the most elegant set of instructions I have ever seen. Thanks so much, you saved me so much time.

  33. cheers mate
    the instructions were clear, concise and to the point
    and more importantly, it works
    thanks a lot
    you are a star

  34. Thank goodness for you (whoever figured this out and wrote it in such easy-to-follow directions)!

    After trying out several cryptic programs and websites i finally found this one and I’m all set!

    Thanks again
    ~kenny

  35. This was easy to follow & understand. Clear, concise, coherent. Thank you so much for writing this so that I could understand it & not making me feel like a fool at the same time. :)

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