MP3 file (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III)
The universal lossy audio format.
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Convert MP3 to WAV, free and without uploading it.
What is an MP3 file?
In short: An MP3 file (.mp3) is an audio file in the MP3 format. MP3 discards the parts of a sound that psychoacoustic models say you are least likely to hear, then compresses the rest. It can be converted to WAV or FLAC for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
Standardised in 1993 by the Fraunhofer Institute as part of MPEG-1, and free of patents since 2017.
MP3 discards the parts of a sound that psychoacoustic models say you are least likely to hear, then compresses the rest. It was the format that made digital music portable, and while newer codecs beat it at every bitrate, nothing matches its compatibility.
What MP3 is good at
- Plays on absolutely everything, including decades-old hardware
- Now completely free of patent restrictions
- Predictable file sizes at a given bitrate
Where MP3 falls short
- Beaten by AAC and Opus at the same bitrate
- No support for surround sound
- Cannot store audio without loss
When to use MP3
Use MP3 when compatibility matters more than efficiency, which for music files it usually does. 192 kbps is transparent for most listeners.
How to open an MP3 file
Everything that plays sound.
| Windows | Opens everywhere. |
|---|---|
| macOS | Opens everywhere. |
| Linux | Opens everywhere. |
| Phone | Opens everywhere. |
| In a browser | Every browser plays MP3. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
Converting an MP3 to another lossy format compounds the damage, because the second encoder is guessing at audio the first one already threw away.
Not sure the file really is an MP3? Identify it by its contents, whatever its extension says.
Questions
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer III. The universal lossy audio format. Files use the .mp3 extension.
What does MP3 stand for?
MP3 stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer III.
How do I open an MP3 file?
On Windows: Opens everywhere. On a Mac: Opens everywhere. On a phone: Opens everywhere. Or convert an MP3 here to a format that opens everywhere, free and without uploading it.
Can I convert MP3 for free?
Yes. Every conversion here is free and unlimited, because your own device does the work rather than a server we have to pay for.
Is MP3 lossless?
No. MP3 is a lossy format, so saving discards some detail to save space.