How to open a .mp3 file
Quick, free ways to open MP3 on any system.
A .mp3 file is a MPEG-1 Audio Layer III. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads MP3 yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .mp3 file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .mp3. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Media Player or VLC.
- On Mac, use Music or QuickTime.
- On Linux, try VLC or Rhythmbox.
- Still stuck? Convert the .mp3 to WAV, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .mp3 files
Windows
- Media Player
- VLC
- any browser
macOS
- Music
- QuickTime
- VLC
Linux
- VLC
- Rhythmbox
- mpv
Web
- Every browser
!
Before you open it: Safe. MP3 is audio data. Only the metadata tags carry text, no code.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .mp3 file?
Almost always because no installed app understands MP3. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
Is MP3 or WAV better quality?
WAV is uncompressed and technically higher fidelity, but a high-bitrate MP3 sounds close to identical to most listeners at a tenth of the size.
What bitrate should I use for MP3?
320 kbps is near-transparent for music. 128 kbps is fine for speech and podcasts.