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MP3 to WAV Converter — Free, Online, No Upload

Need a WAV for a video editor, DAW or delivery spec? Convert your MP3 here in seconds — nothing is uploaded.

Free · no signup2 free files a day100% in-browser · no uploadPopular converter

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Need the reverse?WAV → MP3

How to convert MP3 to WAV online

  1. 1

    Drop your MP3 file

    Drag your MPEG-1 Audio Layer III file onto the box above, or click it to pick a file.

  2. 2

    Wait a few seconds

    Conversion starts on its own and runs on your device, not on a server.

  3. 3

    Download your WAV

    Click Download to save the Waveform Audio File Format file.

MP3 vs WAV: format overview

MP3

MPEG-1 Audio Layer III

Fraunhofer Society · 1993

Compression
lossy
Transparency
No
  • ✓ Universal compatibility — plays everywhere
  • ✓ Good compression at 128–320 kbps
  • ✗ Lossy — artifacts at low bitrates
WAV

Waveform Audio File Format

Microsoft and IBM · 1991

Compression
none
Transparency
No
  • ✓ Lossless — no quality degradation
  • ✓ Universal DAW compatibility for production

MP3 magic bytes: 49 44 33 (ID3) / FF FB

WAV magic bytes: 52 49 46 46 xx xx xx xx 57 41 56 45

Why convert MP3 to WAV?

MP3 keeps files small by permanently removing sound detail you're unlikely to hear. WAV stores audio uncompressed, sample by sample. That makes WAV files much bigger — and it's the format a lot of audio and video work expects.

Converting MP3 to WAV won't bring back the detail the MP3 removed. The WAV sounds the same as the MP3. What you get is a different kind of file: uncompressed audio that any editor, sampler or delivery system can use without decoding MP3 first.

Many editors import MP3 directly these days. People still convert when a delivery spec asks for WAV, when an older app or hardware sampler only reads WAV, or when they want an uncompressed working copy so repeated edits and exports don't add new MP3 compression each time.

Common reasons to convert MP3 to WAV:

  • ›A podcast, radio or client delivery spec that asks for WAV
  • ›A sampler, drum machine or older editor that only reads WAV
  • ›An uncompressed working copy for editing and re-exporting
  • ›Burning or loading audio on equipment that expects WAV

Quality & file size: MP3 to WAV

The WAV sounds exactly like the MP3 — no better, no worse. Decoding can only give back what the MP3 still contains.

The WAV is 16-bit PCM. It keeps the MP3's sample rate and channels: in our tests a 44.1 kHz MP3 became a 44.1 kHz WAV and a 48 kHz MP3 became a 48 kHz WAV, both stereo. The length stays exact — no silence is added at the start.

Expect a much bigger file. A stereo WAV at 44.1 kHz takes about 10.6 MB per minute (11.5 MB at 48 kHz). How much bigger than the MP3 depends on the MP3's bitrate: about 11 times for 128 kbps, about 7 times for 192 kbps (our 481 KB test MP3 became a 3.5 MB WAV), and about 4.4 times for 320 kbps.

Frequently asked questions

Will converting MP3 to WAV improve audio quality?
No. The WAV sounds the same as the MP3 — the detail MP3 removed is gone for good. You get an uncompressed file that more tools accept, not better sound.
Can you convert MP3 to WAV?
Yes — drop the MP3 here and the WAV downloads a few seconds later. Just remember it won't sound better than the MP3 you started with.
What sample rate and bit depth is the WAV?
16-bit, at the same sample rate as your MP3 — usually 44.1 kHz for music, 48 kHz for audio taken from video. Mono stays mono and stereo stays stereo.
How much bigger will the WAV be?
Roughly 10.6 MB per minute for stereo at 44.1 kHz. Compared with the MP3 that's about 11 times bigger for a 128 kbps MP3, 7 times for 192 kbps and 4.4 times for 320 kbps.
Why does my editor or DAW want WAV instead of MP3?
Editors work on the raw waveform. A WAV is already uncompressed, so there's nothing to decode, and repeated edits and exports don't add new MP3 compression. Some delivery specs and older tools accept WAV only.
How do I convert MP3 to WAV on a Mac?
Drop the MP3 on this page and download the WAV. In Apple's Music app you can also choose Music > Settings > Files > Import Settings, set Import Using to WAV Encoder, then select the song and choose File > Convert > Create WAV Version.
How do I convert MP3 to WAV on Windows?
Open this page in Edge or Chrome, drop the MP3 and download the WAV. There's nothing to install.

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