How to extract the audio from a video, or remove it

Sometimes you want only the sound: a lecture to listen to, a voice memo recorded on video, a piece of music from your own recording. Other times you want the opposite and need the sound gone. Both take one step.

M4A or WAV

M4A is small and plays on almost every phone, computer and music app. When the video's sound is already stored the way M4A files store it, the sound is copied as it is, which is quick and loses nothing. WAV keeps the sound uncompressed, so it is much larger, about 11 MB for every minute of stereo sound. Choose WAV when you plan to edit the audio further.

Remove the sound instead

Taking the sound out is useful before you share a clip with background noise, music you cannot use, or a private conversation. The picture is left exactly as it was, and the result is a new file, so your original keeps its sound.

If the video has no sound

Some screen recordings and clips have no sound at all. When that is the case the tool tells you straight away and does not make an empty file.

What people use the sound file for

After you save, play the file once. The sound should match the video from start to finish, and the length should be the same as the video you started with.

Listening to a lecture, interview or meeting on the move without the picture.
Keeping a voice recording that was captured as a video.
Sending a short clip of sound to someone who only needs to hear it.
Giving a transcription service or an editing program just the audio.

Use audio you have the right to use

Extracting sound is a technical step. It does not change who owns the recording. Use audio from your own videos or from material you have permission to reuse.

Extract audio Free, no account, nothing uploaded.