How to Extract Audio from MP4 on Windows. Easy and Free Methods

Sometimes, you just want to keep the audio track from a video — whether it’s a lecture, podcast, music, or interview. There’s no need for complex tools or online converters: you can extract audio from an MP4 file directly on your Windows PC — quickly, for free, and without losing quality. In this article, we’ll show you the best programs for this task and how to use them step by step. So, how to extract audio from MP4 on Windows? Let’s find out below.

Why would you want to extract audio from a video?

File formats gain popularity because of their practicality and wide support. MP4 is one of the most common video formats out there.

In simple terms:

MP4 is like a container or box that can hold:

• video (e.g., H.264 format)
• audio (e.g., AAC or MP3 format)
• subtitles
• cover image and metadata (title, author, etc.)

🟢 Why is it so popular?

• Plays on almost any device — PCs, smartphones, smart TVs
• Great quality with small file size
• Perfect for streaming, YouTube, downloading, and storing videos

🧩 Example:

A file named video.mp4 might include:

• camera footage
• recorded audio
• subtitles
• and all of it in one file

Top reasons to extract audio from MP4:

• Save a podcast or lecture in MP3 format
• Create a ringtone or background sound
• Use audio for video editing or a presentation
• Just listen to a favorite clip without the video

In all these cases, it’s convenient to extract the audio once and reuse it as needed — without launching the video every time.

Method 1: Use VLC Media Player

VLC is not just a media player — it’s a powerful converter too. It’s completely free and runs on Windows without ads or limitations.

How to extract audio using VLC:

1. Download VLC from the official site (videolan.org)
2. Open VLC → Media menu → Convert / Save
3. Add your MP4 file → click “Convert”
4. Choose “Audio – MP3” or “Audio – FLAC” in the profile
5. Select where to save the file and click “Start“

VLC handles audio extraction well and keeps the quality intact.

Method 2: Use the free Audacity program

Audacity is one of the most popular free audio editors. It lets you trim and enhance sound, and also import video files to extract audio.

Instructions:

1. Download and install Audacity (audacityteam.org)
2. You’ll need to install the FFmpeg plugin (it will prompt you)
3. Open your MP4 file in Audacity — it will import the audio only
4. You can edit the track and export it as MP3 or WAV

Perfect if you want to trim, improve, or edit the audio right away.

Method 3: Use Format Factory converter

Format Factory is a versatile media converter that supports a huge number of formats.

How to extract audio:

1. Download Format Factory from the official site (pcfreetime.com)
2. Select “Audio” → “MP3”
3. Add your MP4 file and click “Start”

Great for batch conversions — you can process multiple video files at once.

Alternative: Use FFmpeg (for advanced users)

FFmpeg is a command-line tool that lets you do almost anything with video and audio.

Example command:

ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -acodec copy audio.aac

-vn means “no video,” and -acodec copy keeps the original audio codec without re-encoding.

Recommended only if you’re familiar with command-line tools.

Which method is best? How to extract audio from MP4?

For most users, VLC or Format Factory are the best options. If you want to edit the audio — go with Audacity. FFmpeg is great if you’re comfortable with the terminal.

In any case, all you need is the right tool and a few minutes. We hope this guide was helpful! If you have a favorite tool not listed here — let us know in the comments below!