How to open a .au file
Quick, free ways to open AU on any system.
A .au file is a Sun Audio. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads AU yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .au file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .au. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or Audacity.
- On Mac, use VLC or Audacity.
- On Linux, try VLC or Audacity.
- Still stuck? Convert the .au to wav, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .au files
Windows
- VLC
- Audacity
- foobar2000
macOS
- VLC
- Audacity
- QuickTime
Linux
- VLC
- Audacity
- ffmpeg
!
Before you open it: Safe. AU is simple audio read by a media player.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .au file?
Almost always because no installed app understands AU. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open an .au file?
Play it in VLC or open it in Audacity. To use it elsewhere, convert it to WAV or MP3.
What is a .au file?
Sun audio, an old Unix and Java sound format that starts with the .snd marker. It is largely historical today.