Guide
How to convert a video to MP3
Converting a video to MP3 extracts the soundtrack and encodes it as an MP3 file. Choose 128 kbps for speech, 192 kbps for general listening and 320 kbps for music you care about. If the video's audio is already AAC, saving it as M4A instead is lossless and just as compatible on most devices.
Use the MP4 to MP3 converter or extract audio for any video format. Both run in your browser, so recordings of lectures, meetings or family events stay private. Only convert recordings you made or have the rights to.
How to convert a video to MP3 with Videozify
- Open the MP4 to MP3 converter (it accepts MOV, MKV, WebM, AVI and more, too).
- Drop in your video file.
- Choose the bitrate: 128 kbps for speech, 192 kbps as a good default, 320 kbps for music.
- Press Convert. Only the audio is processed, so it's fast even for long videos.
- Download the MP3 and play it on any phone, car stereo or computer.
Common reasons to convert
- Listen to a recorded lecture or webinar on the go
- Turn a voice or music recording made on video into an audio file
- Create a podcast episode from a recorded video interview
- Save a speech or toast from a family video
- Feed audio into transcription or editing software
Which bitrate to choose
MP3 quality depends on bitrate. Speech sounds clear at 96–128 kbps, and most people can't tell 192 kbps from the original for general listening. 320 kbps is the MP3 maximum and suits music on good headphones. Converting can't improve quality, so if the video's audio was 128 kbps AAC, exporting at 320 kbps MP3 only makes a bigger file.
Video soundtracks are typically AAC at 96–256 kbps. Matching or slightly exceeding the source bitrate is a sensible rule.
MP3 or M4A?
MP3 plays on everything, including old car stereos and MP3 players. M4A (AAC audio in an MP4 container) is slightly more efficient and, when copied straight from a video's AAC track, involves no re-encoding at all, so it's lossless. iPhones, Android phones, Windows, Macs and most modern car systems play M4A. Choose MP3 for maximum compatibility and M4A for best quality from AAC sources.
Native options on Windows and Mac
Windows: VLC (free) can convert via Media > Convert/Save with the Audio - MP3 profile. Windows has no built-in video-to-MP3 converter, and the Media Player app can't save audio only.
Mac: QuickTime Player can do File > Export As > Audio Only, which saves an M4A file (AAC) without re-encoding. Music (formerly iTunes) can then convert M4A to MP3 via File > Convert > Create MP3 Version, after setting the import format to MP3 in Settings > Files > Import Settings.
Native options on iPhone and Android
iPhone: the Shortcuts app can extract audio with an "Encode Media" action set to Audio Only, saving an M4A file. Many people find a browser converter simpler.
Android: there's no built-in converter in Google Photos. Some manufacturers' gallery or file apps include an "extract audio" option; otherwise a browser converter works without installing anything.
Tagging and organising
After converting, add a title and artist in your music app or a tag editor, so the file shows up properly in playlists. For lectures, include the date and course name in the file name, for example 2026-10-03 Biology Lecture 4.mp3.
Turning a recorded talk into a podcast episode
If you record a talk, interview or live stream as video, the audio can become a podcast episode. Convert to MP3 at 128 kbps mono for speech, or 192 kbps stereo if there's music. Trim the silence at the start and end with the audio trimmer, and raise quiet recordings with the volume booster so the episode isn't much quieter than other podcasts. Podcast platforms generally recommend MP3 at 128 kbps or higher with a loudness around −16 LUFS for stereo.
Add an intro and outro in an audio editor such as Audacity (free) if you want, then upload the MP3 to your podcast host.
Mono or stereo?
Phone and laptop microphones usually record mono sound duplicated into two channels. Converting to mono halves the file size at the same bitrate quality, or doubles the quality at the same size, with no audible downside for speech. Keep stereo for music, field recordings and anything recorded with a stereo microphone, where left and right differ.
Large batches
If you have a semester of lecture recordings, convert them one after another in the same browser tab; each file is processed independently. Name the outputs consistently so they sort in order, and consider M4A instead of MP3 when the source is AAC, since copying the original audio is both faster and lossless.
Troubleshooting
No sound in the output usually means the video had no audio track or a muted one; check the original in a media player. Very quiet output means the original recording was quiet, so use the volume booster afterwards. If a file won't load, it may use an unusual codec; converting it to MP4 first with the video converter usually helps.
Car stereos and older players
Many car stereos read MP3 from a USB stick but not M4A, and some older units only accept constant-bitrate files at 44.1 kHz. If a file won't play in the car, re-export it as a 192 kbps constant-bitrate MP3 at 44.1 kHz, which works on almost every device. Keep folder and file names short and avoid special characters, because some stereos display or sort them incorrectly. Format the USB stick as FAT32, which most car systems require.
What to avoid
Don't convert copyrighted videos you don't have rights to, and don't use converters that pull audio from other people's online videos; that breaches most platforms' terms. Converting your own recordings or licensed files is fine.
Frequently asked questions
What bitrate should I use for MP3?
- 128 kbps for speech, 192 kbps general, 320 kbps for music.
Can I convert MOV or MKV to MP3?
- Yes. Any common video format works.
Is the conversion lossless?
- MP3 is lossy. For lossless output from AAC, save as M4A or extract the original track.
Is my video uploaded?
- No. Conversion runs in your browser.
How long does it take?
- Usually seconds to a minute, since only audio is processed.
Can I convert a voice memo video on iPhone?
- Yes, in Safari with Videozify.
Can I convert a screen recording to MP3?
- Yes. Screen recordings with sound convert just like camera videos; silent ones produce no usable audio.
Can I convert just part of a video to MP3?
- Trim the video first, or trim the MP3 afterwards with the audio trimmer.
Mono or stereo for speech?
- Mono is fine and halves the size.
Does converting keep the full length?
- Yes. The whole soundtrack is converted unless you trim first.
Will the MP3 work on iPhone?
- Yes. MP3 plays in the Files app, Music and most audio apps.
Can I convert a video to WAV instead?
- Yes. Use the MP4 to WAV converter for uncompressed audio, which suits editing.
Is there a file size limit?
- Only your browser's memory; most laptops handle files up to about 1.5 GB.