Convert MP4 to MP3 Online
Free, private MP4 to MP3 converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
Drag & drop files here
images, PDFs, documents, audio, video, and more
No Server Uploads
FormatShift converts files directly in your browser. Your files never leave your device, so there's nothing to intercept or leak.
Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
Built for Privacy
Your files are processed entirely in your browser. They never leave your device.
How to convert MP4 to MP3
Drop your MP4 file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your MP3 file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert MP4 to MP3?
You have a video but only need the audio. Maybe it is a music video, a recorded lecture, or a podcast that was saved as video. Pulling out the MP3 gives you a smaller file that works in any music player.
What is a MP4 file?
MPEG-4 Part 14: MP4 is the most widely used video format. Phone recordings, YouTube downloads, streaming services, social media, almost everything uses MP4. It supports video, audio, and subtitles in a single file.
Created by: Moving Picture Experts Group (ISO/IEC), standardized in 2001
Used for: Video streaming, social media, phone recordings, web video, TV shows and movies
Technical details: Container format supporting H.264/H.265 video, AAC audio, and subtitle tracks. Lossy compression provides good quality at manageable file sizes.
Compatibility: Plays on virtually every device, browser, and operating system without extra software.
What is a MP3 file?
MPEG-1 Audio Layer III: MP3 is the most widely used audio format. It uses lossy compression to shrink music files to roughly a tenth of their original size while keeping quality that most people find perfectly acceptable for everyday listening.
Created by: Fraunhofer Society, standardized in 1993
Used for: Music files, podcasts, audiobooks, portable audio, streaming
Technical details: Lossy compression with variable or constant bitrate. Common bitrates are 128, 192, and 320 kbps. Higher bitrate means better quality and larger files.
Compatibility: Plays on every device, browser, media player, and audio application in existence.
MP4 vs MP3
| Feature | MP4 | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | MPEG-4 Part 14 | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Best for | Video streaming, social media, phone recordings, web video, TV shows and movies | Music files, podcasts, audiobooks, portable audio, streaming |
| Compatibility | Plays on virtually every device, browser, and operating system without extra software. | Plays on every device, browser, media player, and audio application in existence. |
| Pros | Universal compatibility, good compression, supports multiple streams | Tiny file sizes, universal compatibility, good enough quality for most listeners |
| Cons | Lossy compression means some quality loss, editing requires re-encoding | Lossy compression means some audio detail is permanently removed |