Convert MP4 to WAV Online
Free, private MP4 to WAV 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 WAV
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 WAV file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert MP4 to WAV?
MP4 and WAV serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
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 WAV file?
Waveform Audio File Format: WAV stores audio without any compression. What you hear is exactly what was recorded, with no quality loss. The trade-off is large file sizes, a 3-minute song takes about 30 MB.
Created by: Microsoft and IBM, first released in 1991
Used for: Music production, audio editing, CD-quality masters, sound effects
Technical details: Uncompressed PCM audio. Supports various sample rates and bit depths. A standard CD-quality WAV uses 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo.
Compatibility: Plays on virtually every device and audio application.
MP4 vs WAV
| Feature | MP4 | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Type | MPEG-4 Part 14 | Waveform Audio File Format |
| Best for | Video streaming, social media, phone recordings, web video, TV shows and movies | Music production, audio editing, CD-quality masters, sound effects |
| Compatibility | Plays on virtually every device, browser, and operating system without extra software. | Plays on virtually every device and audio application. |
| Pros | Universal compatibility, good compression, supports multiple streams | Perfect audio quality, no compression artifacts, widely compatible |
| Cons | Lossy compression means some quality loss, editing requires re-encoding | Very large file sizes, not practical for streaming or portable listening |