To change video to audio, open the video in QuickTime Player on Mac or Clipchamp on Windows, then export its soundtrack as an audio file. For an MP3, use VLC on Windows or Linux, or convert an MP4 with Adobe Express in a desktop or Android browser.
Choose a method that saves a standalone audio file when you want something to play outside a video editor. Detaching audio inside a project separates the soundtrack for editing, but you still need to export or download it to get the finished file.
The short version
- Mac shortcut: Open the video in QuickTime Player and choose File > Export As > Audio Only.
- Windows option: Detach the audio in Clipchamp, remove the video from the timeline, and export the remaining audio as M4A.
- MP3 conversion: Use VLC on Windows or Linux, or Adobe Express in a desktop or Android browser.
- Finished file: Export or download the audio rather than stopping after you detach it in an editor.
| Method | Where it works | Result or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| QuickTime audio export | Mac | MPEG-4 audio containing AAC |
| QuickTime video removal | Mac | Leaves audio to save or export |
| Clipchamp | Windows app or personal browser editor | M4A audio export |
| VLC conversion | Windows and Linux desktop | MP3 and other audio profiles |
| Adobe Express converter | Desktop and Android browsers | MP4 to MP3, up to 1 GB input |
| Audacity video import | Windows, Mac, and Linux | Compatible FFmpeg libraries may be required |
| Audacity playback recording | Windows with a compatible audio device | Records in real time and may capture other sounds |
Save audio with QuickTime Player on Mac
QuickTime Player, supplied with macOS, can export a supported video's soundtrack directly. Open your video, choose File > Export As > Audio Only, then enter a filename and choose the destination. Click Save to create an MPEG-4 audio file containing AAC.
Use this route when AAC suits your needs. If you need MP3, use the browser converter below or export through an audio editor that offers MP3.
For another way to separate the soundtrack, open the movie and choose Edit > Remove Video. This leaves the audio component of a supported movie containing sound. Save or export the resulting audio before closing it.
Extract the soundtrack with Clipchamp
On Windows, get the app from the official Clipchamp product page, which also links to its browser editor. In the personal editor, select Import media and choose your video. Put the imported video on the timeline before separating its soundtrack.
Select the timeline clip, open Audio in the property panel, and select Detach audio. The soundtrack becomes a separate audio clip, and Microsoft says the detached audio also downloads automatically. If you want to edit the soundtrack before exporting, continue with the separate track in your project.
Select the video portion on the timeline and press Delete, leaving the audio track in place. Select Export, choose the audio-only option, and save the resulting download. With a personal account, the export downloads locally.
Expect an M4A file from this workflow. Microsoft identifies the downloaded and exported audio as M4A, even though Clipchamp uses MP3 wording in some descriptions. If you specifically need an MP3, choose VLC or the browser converter instead.
Convert video to MP3 with VLC
For MP3 conversion on Windows or Linux, download the desktop app for your operating system from the official VLC download page. These menu steps apply to the VLC 3.0 desktop interface on those two platforms.
Open VLC and choose Media > Convert/Save, or press Ctrl + R. Click Add, select your video, and click Open. Continue by selecting Convert/Save.
Under Profile, choose Audio - MP3. Set Destination file to the location and filename you want, using the .mp3 extension, then click Start. Select the profile before naming the output file so the format and extension match.
Other shipped audio profiles include Audio - FLAC, Audio - Vorbis (OGG), and Audio - CD. Use a destination extension that matches your chosen profile. Renaming a video from .mp4 to .mp3 by itself does not convert its contents into audio.
Change an MP4 to audio in a browser
You can use Adobe Express's MP4-to-MP3 converter in a desktop browser or a supported Android browser. Open the Adobe Express MP4 converter and select Upload your video, or drag the MP4 into the converter. Select MP3 as the output format, then download the converted audio.
The converter accepts input files up to 1 GB. For a larger video, choose a desktop method that supports your file. Check your source format too, since this conversion route takes MP4 input.
On a phone, keep the difference between a project track and a downloaded file in mind. In iMovie for iPhone or iPad, and in CapCut mobile, extraction separates audio within a project. On an Android phone, use the Adobe Express converter in a supported browser when your goal is a standalone MP3 download.
Set up Audacity to edit and export audio
If you already use Audacity on Windows, Mac, or Linux, you can import a supported video's soundtrack for editing. Drag the video into Audacity to import its audio. Depending on the video's codec, you may first need compatible FFmpeg libraries.
After editing, choose File > Export audio..., select an audio format such as MP3 or WAV, specify the destination, and export. Saving an Audacity project preserves the project rather than creating the finished audio file. Use the export command when you want a file to play elsewhere.
When video import requires FFmpeg, install a compatible shared-library package using Audacity's FFmpeg installation instructions, then restart Audacity. The library version and processor architecture must match your Audacity build. A command-line FFmpeg executable alone is insufficient for this integration.
If Audacity still cannot locate the installed library, open Edit > Preferences on Windows or Linux. On Mac, open Audacity > Preferences. Select General, click Locate existing installation, point Audacity to the compatible shared library, and finish with OK.
Fix missing audio and incomplete exports
If you have separated the soundtrack but still need a playable file, finish the export. In Clipchamp, remove the video portion and export the remaining audio; in Audacity, choose File > Export audio.... Saving only the project does not complete those file-export workflows.
If an app cannot import your video, its codec or protection may affect support. Try another method that accepts the source format, or resolve Audacity's FFmpeg requirement when that is the import issue. A video with no audio stream has no soundtrack to extract.
If you can play the video but cannot import it, recording playback is a fallback in Audacity on Windows with a compatible audio device. Open Audio Setup > Host and choose Windows WASAPI, then select the playback device's corresponding loopback recording device. Keep input monitoring off, start video playback, and use Audacity's recording control.
Stop the recording after playback and export the audio. This method takes the full playback time and may capture notifications or sounds from other applications. Use direct conversion or export when those methods handle your video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you extract audio without re-encoding it?
Yes, you can use FFmpeg to copy an existing audio stream into a compatible audio-only container without re-encoding. LosslessCut can also copy supported streams. In either case, the output container must be compatible with the source audio codec.
How do you extract a different language track?
You can select a particular audio stream with FFmpeg. Its mapping option -map 0:a:0 selects the first audio stream, while -map 0:a:1 selects the second. Choose the stream containing the language you want.
Can GarageBand save a video's soundtrack as MP3?
Yes, you can do this in GarageBand for Mac with supported movie formats. In an otherwise empty project, choose File > Open Movie, select the video, and click Open. Choose Share > Export Song to Disk, set Save As and Where, select MP3, choose Quality, then click Export.
How do you reuse only a video's audio in iMovie on iPhone or iPad?
Open a movie project, position the playhead, and tap Add Media > Video. Browse to the video, select it, then tap More > Audio Only. You can adjust the yellow trim handles before adding the soundtrack to the project.
Should you download Windows Movie Maker for audio extraction?
Use Clipchamp instead. Microsoft ended Windows Essentials support and removed official Windows Movie Maker downloads, so choose a current tool for extracting your soundtrack.