What is a .caf file?
Core Audio Format · Audio · Apple · 2005
A .caf file is Apple's Core Audio Format, a flexible container that can hold many kinds of audio with no practical size limit. It is used on macOS and iOS for high-quality and long recordings.
What is a .caf file used for?
CAF files start with the marker caff. Unlike WAV, which is capped at 4 GB, CAF can store enormous recordings, and it can wrap many codecs, from uncompressed PCM to AAC or Apple Lossless.
It is mostly seen in Apple audio workflows and game sound. VLC and Apple's tools open it; convert to WAV or MP3 for other software.
What opens a .caf file?
The .caf format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- VLC
- foobar2000 (plugin)
macOS
- QuickTime
- Logic Pro
- VLC
Linux
- VLC
- ffmpeg
Open a .caf file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .caf. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or foobar2000 (plugin).
- On Mac, use QuickTime or Logic Pro.
- On Linux, try VLC or ffmpeg.
- Still stuck? Convert the .caf to wav, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .caf file?
Almost always because no installed app understands CAF. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .caf at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .caf file
You can convert a .caf file to wav, aiff, mp3 using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .caf file signature (magic bytes)?
A .caf file starts with the hex bytes 63 61 66 66, which read as caff in ASCII. Programs identify CAF by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for CAF. For a full breakdown, see the Core Audio Format file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63 61 66 66 | 0 | caff | 'caff' |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .caf file?
A .caf file is Apple's Core Audio Format, a flexible container that can hold many kinds of audio with no practical size limit. It is used on macOS and iOS for high-quality and long recordings.
How do I open a .caf file?
On a Mac, QuickTime plays it. On any system, VLC opens it; convert to WAV or MP3 with ffmpeg for other apps.
Why does CAF exist when there is WAV?
WAV is limited to 4 GB and to certain codecs. CAF removes the size limit and can carry many codecs, which suits long or high-quality Apple recordings.
How do I convert CAF to MP3?
Use VLC's convert feature or ffmpeg (ffmpeg -i sound.caf sound.mp3).
Related formats
Sources
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