GSM to WMA converter
Convert GSM to WMA in seconds, free and unlimited. No upload, no sign-up, no watermark: your audio never leaves your device.
Last updated
Quick answer: To convert GSM to WMA, add the GSM file to the iHateFiles GSM to WMA converter and press Convert. The conversion runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded, and it is free with no sign-up, watermark or size limit. GSM is a format most software has stopped opening. WMA is not.
Should you convert GSM to WMA?
Yes. Very little current software opens GSM, so converting it is the way to keep listening to it. Pick a generous bitrate.
Both GSM and WMA are lossy
GSM (GSM full-rate speech) has already discarded some of the sound, and WMA (Windows Media Audio) will discard a little more. The WMA encoder works from the GSM, not the original recording, so pick a bitrate at or above the source. A lower one saves space and costs quality you cannot get back.
GSM was made for voices
GSM is a phone-call codec that keeps only the frequencies speech needs, roughly up to 4 kHz. Converting to WMA makes the recording open everywhere, but it will still sound like a phone call, because the rest of the sound was never recorded.
Where the WMA will play
WMA plays on Windows, and very little on phones or Macs.
GSM and WMA side by side
| GSM | WMA | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the file | GSM full-rate speech | Windows Media Audio |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Carries sound | Yes | Yes |
| One minute of stereo | about 0.1 MB | 1 MB or so |
| Plays on | Needs converting first | Windows, and very little on phones or Macs |
| Here | Read only | Read and write |
What usually goes wrong
About the GSM. The quality ceiling is the codec, not the file. Converting to a higher bitrate cannot add back a frequency range that was never captured.
About the WMA. A WMA bought from an early music store may be DRM-locked, and no conversion can lawfully unlock it. A WMA you ripped yourself converts without any trouble.
How to convert GSM to WMA
- Add your GSM file. It is read from your disk and stays there.
- Check the settings. The output format is already set to WMA.
- Press convert and the WMA file is saved back to your device.
Questions
How do I convert GSM to WMA?
Open this page, add your GSM file, and press convert. The file is decoded and re-encoded by your own browser and saved back to your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Is this GSM to WMA converter free?
Yes, completely. There is no account, no sign-in, no watermark and no daily limit, because there is no server doing the work. Your own device does it.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. There is no upload endpoint. The conversion runs inside this browser tab, so your file never leaves your device. You can open your browser's network panel and watch: nothing carrying your file is sent.
Is there a file size limit?
No fixed limit. Because the work happens on your machine there is no server quota. The only ceiling is your own device's memory, which for video means very large files may be slow.
Will converting to WMA lose quality?
WMA is a lossy format, so some detail is discarded. The quality control on this page decides how much. The default is set high enough that most people cannot see the difference.
Can I convert several GSM files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like and they are converted one after another, then offered as a single ZIP.