How to extract audio from a video on any device
Pull the soundtrack out of a video as MP3 or M4A on Windows, Mac, iPhone or Android — free methods, the best bitrate, and how to avoid quality loss.
Convert MP4 to MP3Free · No sign-up · No watermark Try it nowA recorded lecture you want to listen to on the bus, a Zoom meeting you need to transcribe, a song you played at a family party, the voice track of your own vlog: sometimes you only need the sound. Every system has a way to extract audio from a video, and some keep the original quality perfectly. This guide shows the best method on each device and helps you pick the right format and bitrate.
MP3, M4A or WAV?
Before you start, choose the output format:
| Format | Quality | Size (per minute, stereo) | Plays on | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Lossy | ~1.4 MB at 192 kbps | Everything | Sharing, car stereos, any player |
| M4A (AAC) | Lossy, slightly more efficient | Similar or smaller | Apple devices, most modern players | Keeping the original track untouched |
| WAV | Uncompressed | ~10 MB | Everything | Audio editing, transcription software that asks for it |
Most videos from phones and cameras already contain AAC audio. Saving it as M4A can be a straight copy — zero quality loss. Converting to MP3 re-encodes the audio, which is slightly lossy but universally compatible. If you plan to edit the audio, export to WAV (or convert MP3 to WAV later with MP3 to WAV).
Method 1: in your browser (Windows, Mac, Chromebook, phones)
MP4 to MP3 extracts the audio track from almost any video file and converts it to MP3, right in your browser:
- Open MP4 to MP3 and click Choose files — MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, AVI and more are accepted, up to 1 GB each. Several videos at once is fine.
- Choose the Audio quality: 128, 192 (default), 256 or 320 kbps.
- Click Convert. The MP3 downloads automatically; batches come as a ZIP.
It uses FFmpeg — the open-source engine behind most video software — compiled to run in your browser, so your recordings are never uploaded. The first use downloads the engine (about 31 MB, then cached). Audio extraction is quick: typically as fast as real time or faster on a recent computer. For long videos, a computer is more comfortable than a phone.
Need a format other than MP3 — M4A, WAV, OGG, FLAC or OPUS? Audio Converter accepts video files too.
Method 2: Mac, with QuickTime Player (lossless)
- Open the video in QuickTime Player.
- Choose File > Export As > Audio Only.
- Pick a name and location. QuickTime saves an M4A file.
When the video’s audio is AAC (most iPhone and Mac recordings), this keeps the original sound. If you then need an MP3, convert it with M4A to MP3.
Method 3: iPhone and iPad, with Shortcuts
There’s no “extract audio” button in Photos, but the Shortcuts app does it:
- Open Shortcuts, tap + to create a shortcut.
- Add the action Select Photos (or set the shortcut to receive videos from the share sheet).
- Add Encode Media and turn on Audio Only.
- Add Save File to store the M4A in the Files app.
Run it, pick a video, and you get an M4A. Alternatively, open MP4 to MP3 in Safari and select the video from your library.
Method 4: Windows, with VLC
Windows has no built-in tool to save a video’s audio. The free VLC media player can:
- In VLC, choose Media > Convert / Save, click Add and select the video.
- Click Convert / Save, then pick the profile Audio – MP3.
- Choose a destination file name ending in
.mp3and click Start.
VLC works well, but its interface is easy to get wrong (forgetting the .mp3 extension is a classic). The browser method is simpler for one-off jobs.
Method 5: Android
Android doesn’t include an audio extractor. Open MP4 to MP3 in Chrome, tap Choose files, select the video from your gallery or Files, convert and download. Some video editors installed by manufacturers can export audio, but options vary by brand.
For technical users: FFmpeg on the command line
If you have FFmpeg installed:
- Copy the audio without re-encoding (when it’s AAC):
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a copy audio.m4a - Convert to MP3 at 192 kbps:
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -b:a 192k audio.mp3
-vn drops the video stream. Copying is instant and lossless; it fails only if the audio codec doesn’t fit the container you chose.
Choosing the right bitrate
- 128 kbps: speech, lectures, meetings, podcasts. Small files.
- 192 kbps: the all-rounder — music sounds good, files stay reasonable.
- 256–320 kbps: music you’ll listen to on good headphones or speakers.
A crucial point: you can’t add quality that isn’t in the source. Phone videos often carry audio at around 128–256 kbps AAC; exporting it at 320 kbps MP3 only makes a bigger file. When in doubt, 192 kbps is the safe choice.
After extraction: trim, clean up, convert
- Keep only part of the recording: cut the start and end with Trim Audio — handy for removing the “can everyone hear me?” minutes of a meeting.
- Need the opposite — the video without its sound? Mute Video removes the audio track.
- Turning audio back into a video, for YouTube or Instagram? See how to turn an MP3 into a video.
- Not sure between MP3 and WAV for your project? Read MP3 vs WAV.
Troubleshooting
The MP3 is silent. The video may have no audio track, or the sound is on a second track (some screen recorders and cameras do this). Play the video in VLC and check Audio > Audio Track.
The audio is out of sync or shorter than the video. Usually a damaged or variable-frame-rate recording. Re-exporting the video once (for example with MOV to MP4) often fixes it.
The file won’t load. Check the size (1 GB maximum per file) and that it isn’t a DRM-protected purchase from a streaming or video store — those can’t be converted by any legitimate tool.
It’s slow on my phone. Audio extraction is light, but very long videos still take time on mobile. Plug in your phone, keep the tab open, or use a computer.