How to trim an audio file or an MP3 online, for free

A voice message that runs too long, an interview where you only want one answer, a meeting recording that opens with five minutes of silence, a podcast clip to share, a ringtone made from a song: trimming an audio file is one of the most common edits. You do not need to install Audacity or a full audio editor for it.

This guide explains how to cut an MP3 (or a WAV, M4A, FLAC…) online, how to remove a passage from the middle of a recording, and which quality to pick when you export.

Trim an audio file, step by step

1. Open Trim audio.
2. Drop your file: MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG or FLAC.
3. The waveform appears. Drag across it to select the passage, or type the start and end times to a tenth of a second (for example 1:05.5).
4. Click Play selection to check the cut.
5. Choose the output format (MP3 or WAV), then click Create the audio file.

The trimmed file downloads with a -cut suffix: interview.mp3 becomes interview-cut.mp3.

Keep a clip or remove a passage

The tool has two modes:

• Keep the selection: only the selected passage is kept. Use it to extract a clip, trim the start and end of a recording, or make a 30-second ringtone.
• Remove the selection: the selected passage is cut out and what comes before and after is joined back together. Handy for removing a hesitation, a cough, a confidential passage or an ad break in the middle of a recording.

The total duration of the result updates live, so you know exactly what you will get before exporting.

Fade in and fade out

A hard cut in the middle of a word or a note can cause a small "click". To prevent it, the tool always applies a very short transition (5 milliseconds) at the edges of each cut.

For a softer result, set a fade in and a fade out, up to 10 seconds each. This is especially useful for:

• a ringtone or a music clip that starts and ends smoothly;
• a podcast clip posted on social media;
• a jingle or an intro.

Which MP3 quality should you choose?

When exporting to MP3, three levels are offered, each with the estimated file size:

Level	Bitrate	Best for
Standard	128 kbit/s	Voice, voice messages, meetings, lectures: light and perfectly clear
High	192 kbit/s	Podcasts, music on headphones: the sweet spot
Maximum	320 kbit/s	Music, when quality matters more than size

As a rough guide, one minute of stereo audio is about 1 MB at 128 kbit/s and 2.4 MB at 320 kbit/s.

WAV is uncompressed: it keeps full quality, which makes it the right choice if you will keep editing the file in an audio editor, but it is about ten times larger than an MP3 (around 10 MB per minute in stereo).

Keep in mind that trimming cannot improve quality. Exporting a 128 kbit/s MP3 at 320 kbit/s only makes the file bigger. Pick a level equal to or below your original.

Your files stay on your device

Trimming happens right in your browser. Your audio file is not sent to our servers to be processed: it is fast, works on a slow connection, and is reassuring for a meeting recording, an interview or a personal voice message.

The tool is free, up to 5 files a day across all free tools.

Common uses

Situation	How
Remove silence at the start of a recording	"Keep the selection", start set just before the first word
Cut out a passage in the middle	"Remove the selection" on that passage
Make a phone ringtone	20 to 30 second selection, 1 to 2 second fades, MP3 High
Share a podcast clip	Select the answer, add a fade out, MP3 Standard or High
Prepare a file for editing	Export as WAV

To join several pieces into one file, use Merge audio instead, which also lets you trim each file before joining them. To get the sound out of a video, start with MP4 to MP3.

Frequently asked questions

How do I trim an MP3 without software?

Open Trim audio, drop the MP3, select the passage on the waveform and export. Everything runs in the browser, with nothing to install, on a computer or a phone.

Can I trim audio on an iPhone or Android phone?

Yes, the tool works in your phone's browser. On mobile, typing the start and end times is often more precise than selecting on the waveform with a finger.

Which formats are supported?

MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG and FLAC. Exact support depends on the browser: some browsers cannot read every OGG file, for example. If a file cannot be opened, the tool tells you clearly.

Does the trimmed file lose quality?

As WAV, no. As MP3, the file is re-encoded at the level you choose: use the same bitrate as the original, or lower if you want a smaller file.

Is my recording uploaded to a server?

No, trimming happens in your browser and the file is not sent anywhere to be processed.