How to Convert MP4 to MP3 on iPhone
· Updated · 4 min read · By Furkan Kaya
Quick answer
iPhone has no built-in MP4-to-MP3 option — the Shortcuts app can extract a video's audio, but only as M4A. For a real MP3, open a browser converter in Safari, such as the free MP4 to MP3 converter below: choose the video from your Photo Library, pick 192 kbps and tap Convert to MP3. The MP3 saves to Files → Downloads, and the video is not uploaded.
Or do it right here — this converter runs in Safari on your iPhone and never uploads the file:
Sometimes you only want the sound from a video — a song, a lecture, a podcast clip, an interview or a voice recording. Converting an MP4 to MP3 strips out the audio so you can listen with the screen off, save space, or drop it into an editor. Here's how to do it on your iPhone, no computer required.
Why convert MP4 to MP3?
- Listen anywhere — play audio with your screen off or in the background, like a podcast.
- Much smaller files — audio-only is a fraction of the size of the full video.
- Save just the sound — keep the song, talk or recording without the picture.
- Use it elsewhere — ringtones, voice notes, audio editing or sharing.
Is there a built-in way? (Shortcuts gives M4A, not MP3)
iOS can pull the audio out of a video with the free Shortcuts app, with one catch: the result is an M4A (AAC) file, not an MP3.
- Open Shortcuts, tap + and add the action Encode Media; tap Show More and turn on Audio Only.
- Add the action Save File after it.
- Turn on Show in Share Sheet in the shortcut's settings (ⓘ).
- Share a video from Photos or Files and run the shortcut to save the audio.
M4A plays fine on Apple devices, but many car stereos, older players, editing tools and upload forms still ask specifically for MP3. For a real MP3 file, use a converter.
How to convert MP4 to MP3 on iPhone in Safari (step by step)
The free MP4 to MP3 converter works in any modern browser, including Safari on iPhone. The audio is decoded and re-encoded by your browser, so the video is not uploaded anywhere.
- Open the converter above (or fileconverterapp.com/mp4-to-mp3/) in Safari.
- Tap Choose files, then Photo Library or Browse, and pick the MP4 or MOV video.
- Pick the MP3 quality — 192 kbps for music, 128 kbps for speech.
- Tap Convert to MP3 and download the result. On iPhone it lands in Files → Downloads.
Because the whole file is processed in your phone's memory, very long videos (roughly 200 MB and up) may be too much for Safari — trim the clip first or convert on a computer. Audio-only files work the same way with the M4A to MP3 converter and the Voice Memo to MP3 converter.
MP4 to MP3: which method fits?
| Method | Output | Privacy | Quality control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser converter in Safari | MP3 | Processed in your browser, not uploaded | Choose 128–320 kbps |
| Shortcuts (Encode Media) | M4A only | On your iPhone | Fixed |
| Upload-based MP4 to MP3 site | MP3 | Video uploaded to a server | Often fixed / capped |
Videos are large, so uploading them is slow and sends private footage to someone else's server. A converter that runs in the browser skips both problems.
What about the ConvertEase iPhone app?
To be straightforward: the ConvertEase app does not create MP3 files. On iOS it converts audio to M4A, WAV and AAC and converts video between MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and 3GP — on the device. If you need WAV or M4A, or want to turn a MOV into an MP4, the app handles that. It is free to download; saving results requires a Premium subscription. For MP3, use the web converter above.
Tip: trim before you convert
Only need a portion — a chorus, a quote, a single answer? Trim the video first in the Photos app, then convert the trimmed clip to MP3 so the audio file contains just the part you want (and stays small enough for Safari to handle quickly).
Pull MP3 audio from any video
Free · runs in Safari · the video is not uploaded
Open the MP4 to MP3 converterFrequently asked questions
Open a browser-based converter such as ConvertEase's free MP4 to MP3 tool in Safari, choose the video from your Photo Library, pick a bitrate and tap Convert to MP3. The audio is extracted in your browser and the MP3 is saved to Files → Downloads; the video is not uploaded.
Not directly. The Encode Media action with Audio Only extracts the soundtrack as an M4A (AAC) file, not an MP3. M4A plays on Apple devices; if you need an actual MP3, use a converter.
Yes. Converting creates a new MP3 audio file and leaves your original MP4 video untouched in your library.
192 kbps is a good default for music, 128 kbps is enough for speech such as lectures or interviews, and 320 kbps is the maximum MP3 quality. The MP3 cannot sound better than the video's original audio track.
No. On iOS the ConvertEase app converts audio to M4A, WAV and AAC, not MP3. For MP3, use the free ConvertEase web converter in Safari. The app is free to download; saving results requires a Premium subscription.