Which File Formats Are Compatible with iPods?
A guide to what audio, video, and image file types are prevalent online and which ones work with iPod and iTunes.
File Format | File Type | Associated With | Compatible with iPod? |
MP3 | Audio | Open* | Yes |
AAC | Audio | Apple | Yes |
WMA | Audio | Microsoft | No |
AIFF** | Audio | Open | Yes |
WAV** | Audio | Open | Yes |
M4A | Audio | Apple | Yes |
M4P | Audio | Apple | Yes |
Ogg** | Audio | Open | No |
FLAC | Audio | Open | No |
RA/RAM | Audio | Real Networks | No |
H.264 | Video | Open | Yes |
MP4 | Video | Open | Yes |
WMV | Video | Microsoft | No |
MOV | Video | Apple | No |
JPEG | Image | Open | Yes |
GIF | Image | Open | Yes |
* Though not 100% open (in the legal or technical sense) in all cases, these file formats are widely used and, in many cases, not controlled by just one company.
** Can be converted using third-party software to mp3, aac, etc.
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