I’m a music lover. I listen to my favorite tracks on my phone through the Apple Music app — and for the songs that aren’t there, I hop on YouTube.

The problem? YouTube doesn’t let you play videos in the background unless you cough up for a subscription, and if you don’t, you’re bombarded with ads at the worst possible times.

So, naturally, I’ve tried a few different video to audio file converters along the way.

But converting video to audio isn’t just for music fans. As a creator, you can convert a video to audio to get a more portable MP3 file format, extract sound effects, dub over narration in a different language, or repurpose the content into podcast episodes.

Whatever your reason, this tutorial will walk you through how to turn a video into an audio file on any device.

Can you convert video to audio?

Yes, you can easily convert videos to audio files from a single clip or an entire video. All you need is a dedicated video editing tool or an online video converter. 

Online video-to-audio converters let you upload your video, choose your preferred audio format, and then extract and download your audio file. While online converters are easy to use and process quickly, many have file size limits and don’t guarantee data security.

With a dedicated video editor like Descript, you can convert your video files to audio quickly and securely, with clear, quality audio. 

Let’s look at the different ways to convert videos to audio files on any device.

How to convert video to audio on a desktop

Whether you’re on Windows or Mac, you can extract audio from your videos using plenty of free tools—both desktop and web-based. It only takes a few quick steps, and you don’t need to install heavy software if you don’t want to.

How to convert video to audio using Descript on Mac and Windows

Descript is a powerful video and audio editing software that works on Windows and Mac computers. With this app, you can easily convert a video to any format, including MP3 and GIF, in a few quick steps. 

Here’s how.

Step 1: Upload a video.

Open Descript and select New (+) > Video project to upload your video to the editor.

Note: Descript doesn’t support MKV, WEBM, WMV, FLV, AVI, OGV, MXF, or MTS video formats.

Drag and drop your video or select Add file to insert the file.

Step 2: Convert your video to audio.

Select Publish in the top right corner of your screen.

Step 3: Export, save, or publish your audio.

Next, select Export > Audio. Then, adjust the audio file settings, like the file format, sample rate, or audio bitrate. Descript can only output audio files in MP3, M4A, and lossless WAV formats.

Step 4: Play back or share your audio.

Click Export to save your audio file to your preferred folder/location.

From here, you can play the audio or share it on YouTube or podcast hosting platforms.

How to convert video to audio using VLC media player on Windows

VLC is an open-source video to audio file conversion program that runs on all platforms, including Windows and mobile device operating systems. You can also use VLC to play files, discs, and most codecs, like MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MKV, MP3, and more.  

Here’s how to use VLC to convert video to audio.

Step 1: Install VLC media player.

Download VLC media player for Windows from the VideoLAN website, then select Media > Convert/Save.

Step 2: Select your video file.

In the File Selection section, click Add to open the video file you want to convert.

Step 3: Convert your video to audio.

Click Convert/Save > Convert.

Step 4: Save your audio file.

Under Settings, navigate to Profile, then select Browse. Pick a location to save your audio file, then click Start to set off the conversion process.

Navigate to the destination folder to find and play your audio file, or use it in any of your projects.

How to convert video to audio using QuickTime on Mac

You can turn video into audio on a Mac using QuickTime Player with a few clicks. 

Here’s how.

Step 1: Upload a video to QuickTime Player.

Open QuickTime Player and select File > Open File.

Locate the video file you want to convert to audio, then click to open it.

Step 2: Convert your video to audio.

Select File > Export As > Audio Only.

Step 3. Save your audio file.

Name your audio file and select a folder to save it.

Step 4: Play back your audio file.

Your audio file will save as an M4A file. This is a type of audio file format for song downloads often found in Apple’s iTunes Store. M4A files are encoded with the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) or lossy Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) Codec. You can play the file in QuickTime Player or Apple Music.

Note: QuickTime Player also lets you extract video and keep the audio file. Select Edit > Remove Video in QuickTime Player, then save the audio file to your preferred folder.

How to convert video to audio on mobile devices

To extract audio from a video on an Android or iOS (iPhone/iPad) device, you’ll need to download and install a third-party app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Most video-to-audio conversion apps are free, though supported by ads.

Let’s look at device-specific steps for converting video to audio on an iOS or Android device.

How to convert a video to audio on an iPhone

Follow these steps to convert video to audio on an iPhone.

Step 1. Download a video to audio converter app.

Install MP3 Converter app.

Step 2. Upload your video file.

Import a video file from your camera roll, iCloud, or other location.

Step 3: Convert the video to audio.

Tap Convert.

Choose an audio format, then tap Convert again to start the conversion process. 

Step 4: Save your audio file. 

Once the audio file is ready, you can edit it further to your liking, then play it back or save to your device.

How to convert a video to audio on Android

Like iOS devices, Android phones and tablets lack native video to audio conversion tools. Instead, you’ll need to download a dedicated app to convert your file.

Step 1: Install a video to audio converter app.

Download a Video to Audio app from Google Play Store.

Step 2: Upload your video file.

Select your video to open it.

Step 3: Convert the video to audio.

Click the Convert to MP3 button.

Step 4: Save, play, or share the audio file.

Once the conversion process is complete, save the audio file to your device. Depending on the app you use, you can edit the audio file or set it as your ringtone or alarm. 

The best way to convert your videos to audio files

We won’t pretend converting video to audio is rocket science. But if you want the highest quality and a frictionless workflow, Descript’s your best bet.

From making tracks for your Reels, TikTok, or YouTube shorts to turning entire music videos into portable audio files, Descript handles it all without the hassle. No wasted time, no complicated steps — just quick, clean audio from your videos.

Descript’s audio extraction feature makes it easy to pull audio from an MP4, MOV, or M4V video file, then edit, download, or publish it in your chosen file format (MP3, WAV, or M4A) to your device. You can also generate a transcript of your audio file to create subtitles for your project.

And with Descript’s Studio Sound — an AI-powered tool that isolates speaker voices from background noise — you can get better-sounding voice tracks from your audio files.

FAQs about how to convert video to audio

How can I convert video to MP3 for free?

You can convert a video to an MP3 audio file for free on your desktop or laptop, or mobile device. There are online video to MP3 converter tools, but they often come with file size limits and don’t have strong data protection and security policies. Descript is a better option for free video to audio conversion. You can use it for free and also access its AI features to enhance your projects.  

Can you turn an MP4 into an audio file?

Yes, you can turn an MP4 into an audio file with a dedicated conversion tool like Descript, which delivers high-quality audio output. 

How can I separate audio from a video for free?

You can extract audio from a video or screen recording for free in Descript. Alternatively, you can use media players like QuickTime or VLC media player on a Mac or Windows computer or free online media converters.

Does converting a video to audio reduce sound quality?

Converting a video to audio can lower quality if you pick a compressed format like MP3. For the best results, choose a lossless format such as WAV. In Descript, you can export as MP3, M4A, or WAV, so pick WAV if you want to keep the highest fidelity.

Will I lose my original video after converting?

No. When you export audio in Descript (or another converter), it creates a separate audio file. Your original video stays untouched, so you can keep editing or re-export if needed.