The fastest way to turn MP4 into MP3
Recorded a lecture, a concert or a voice note as a video? Drop the MP4 above and you get an MP3 in seconds. Only the sound track is processed, so even long videos convert quickly, and because everything happens in your browser, your video is never uploaded anywhere.
How to use the MP4 to MP3 converter
- Choose your MP4 video or drop it on the box.
- Pick an audio quality. 192 kbps is the usual choice; 320 kbps for music you care about, 128 kbps for speech.
- Click "Convert to MP3". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your MP3 and listen to it right on the page.
Why convert MP4 to MP3?
MP3 is the format every phone, car stereo and music app understands, so pulling the sound out of an MP4 is the quickest way to keep a song, talk, lecture or podcast you recorded on video.
- MP4: usually lossy, so quality drops a little each time it is re-encoded.
- MP3: plays on every device.
- MP3: small files.
Most MP4 files already carry AAC sound at 128–256 kbps. Choosing 192 kbps or higher keeps the MP3 sounding the same as the video.
MP4 vs MP3
| MP4 | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Type | Video | Audio |
| Created by | Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) (2001) | the Fraunhofer Institute and MPEG (1993) |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Typical codecs | H.264 + AAC | MP3 |
| Best for | Sharing videos online, phone recordings, social media uploads and streaming | Music, podcasts, audiobooks and ringtones |
| Plays on | Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, smart TVs, game consoles and every modern browser | Every phone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker and browser |
Does converting MP4 to MP3 lose quality?
Only the sound is kept and re-encoded as MP3. Video soundtracks are usually AAC at 128–256 kbps, so choosing 192 kbps or more keeps the MP3 sounding the same as the video.
How long does it take?
Fast. Only the sound is decoded, so even a long video usually converts in well under a minute.
What is an MP4 file?
MP4 is a container that usually holds H.264 or H.265 video with AAC sound. It is built on Apple's QuickTime file structure and became an ISO standard in 2001. Because almost every phone, browser, TV and editing app can play it, MP4 is the safest choice when you need a video to just work.
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 is the most widely used audio format in the world. It removes sounds people are unlikely to hear, shrinking a song to about a tenth of its CD size. At 192 kbps or higher most listeners cannot tell it from the original, and every device plays it. Its patents expired in 2017, so it is now free to use.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MP4 to MP3 converter free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up and no watermark. Files up to 1 GB each can be converted, and there is no daily limit.
Are my files safe?
Yes. Files are converted locally in your browser and are never uploaded. When you close the page, nothing is left behind.
Will the MP3 sound as good as the MP4?
Only the sound is kept and re-encoded as MP3. Video soundtracks are usually AAC at 128–256 kbps, so choosing 192 kbps or more keeps the MP3 sounding the same as the video.
Can I convert MP3 back to MP4?
Yes, use the MP4 Converter and choose MP4 as the output.
An MP4 plays without sound. What should I do?
The audio may use a codec your player does not support (for example AC3). Convert it to MP4 again so the sound becomes AAC.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes, in Safari, Chrome and other modern mobile browsers. Short files work best on phones; for long or high-resolution videos a computer is faster.