How to Convert MP3 to WAV on Windows 10 and 11

To convert MP3 to WAV on Windows 10 or 11, open a free converter in your browser, add your MP3 files and download the WAVs. Nothing to install, and with our converter the files never leave your PC. Windows itself has no “convert to WAV” option: File Explorer, the Media Player app and Windows Media Player Legacy can play MP3s, but none of them can save one as WAV.

Here are five free methods, from quickest to most technical. Unless noted, the steps are the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

• Nothing to install: a browser converter (Method 1)
• You want to edit too: Audacity (Method 2)
• You already have VLC or iTunes: Methods 3 and 4
• Hundreds of files: FFmpeg (Method 5)

Method 1: Convert MP3 to WAV in your browser (fastest)

This works in Edge, Chrome or Firefox on Windows 10 and 11, with nothing to install.

1. Open our MP3 to WAV converter.
2. Drag your MP3 files onto the drop area, or click Select MP3 files.
3. Wait a moment while each file converts. It happens on your PC, so nothing is uploaded.
4. Click Download WAV, or Download all as ZIP for several files.

The WAV files land in your Downloads folder. Open Output settings first if you need 48 kHz, 24-bit or mono. Each MP3 can be up to 100 MB.

Method 2: Audacity (free, best if you also want to edit)

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor for Windows. Choose it when you want to trim, fade or normalize the audio while you convert.

1. Open Audacity and choose File → Open, then select your MP3 (or drag it into the window).
2. Choose File → Export Audio…
3. Set Format to WAV (Microsoft) and Encoding to Signed 16-bit PCM. Use 44100 Hz for music or 48000 Hz for video.
4. Pick a folder and file name, then click Export. If a metadata window appears, click OK.

Audacity can also batch convert a whole folder with Macros. Our Audacity MP3 to WAV guide shows every step, including the best encoding for each use.

Method 3: VLC media player

VLC is free and can convert as well as play.

1. Open VLC and choose Media → Convert / Save.

2. Click Add, select your MP3, then click Convert / Save.

3. Next to Profile, click the wrench icon to create a profile:

   • Encapsulation tab: choose WAV
   • Audio codec tab: tick Audio, choose WAV as the codec, and set the sample rate (44100 for music)
   • Name the profile “WAV” and click Create

4. Choose a Destination file ending in .wav, then click Start.

VLC is handy, but its conversion settings are fiddly. Play the result once to check it before you delete the MP3.

Method 4: iTunes for Windows

If you already use iTunes, it can create WAV copies of songs in your library.

1. Open iTunes and go to Edit → Preferences → General → Import Settings.
2. Set Import Using to WAV Encoder and click OK twice.
3. Add your MP3 to the library if it isn’t there (File → Add File to Library).
4. Select the song, then choose File → Convert → Create WAV Version.

The WAV appears in your library next to the original. Right-click it and choose Show in Windows Explorer to find the file.

Using Apple’s newer Apple Music app? It has no Convert option, and once it’s installed, iTunes no longer manages your music library. Use Method 1, 2 or 5 instead.

Method 5: FFmpeg (for batch jobs and power users)

FFmpeg is the free command-line tool that powers many audio apps.

1. Install it by typing this in a terminal: winget install --id Gyan.FFmpeg -e
2. Close the terminal, then open a new one in the folder with your MP3s:
   • Windows 11: right-click an empty spot in the folder in File Explorer and choose Open in Terminal.
   • Windows 10: hold Shift, right-click an empty spot in the folder and choose Open PowerShell window here.

Convert one file:

ffmpeg -i song.mp3 song.wav

Convert to CD-standard 44.1 kHz, 16-bit:

ffmpeg -i song.mp3 -ar 44100 -c:a pcm_s16le song.wav

Convert every MP3 in the folder:

Get-ChildItem *.mp3 | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.FullName ($_.BaseName + ".wav") }

Can Windows Media Player convert MP3 to WAV?

Not directly. Windows 11’s Media Player app plays MP3s but has no convert or export option. Windows Media Player Legacy, still included with Windows 10 and 11, can save WAV only when it rips an audio CD. It can’t re-save MP3 files already in your library.

The only Media Player route is a detour through a CD:

1. Burn your MP3s to an audio CD on the Burn tab (see how to burn an audio CD from MP3).
2. Choose Organize → Options → Rip Music, set Format to WAV (Lossless) and click OK.
3. Put the disc back in and click Rip CD.

It works, but it needs a disc drive and a blank CD, and the WAVs are no better than a direct conversion with Method 1 or 2.

Windows 10 vs Windows 11: what’s different?

The browser, Audacity, VLC and iTunes steps are the same on both. Only a few Windows parts differ:

	Windows 10	Windows 11
Built-in players	Windows Media Player Legacy and the Media Player app	Media Player app; Legacy still included
Open a terminal in a folder	Shift + right-click → Open PowerShell window here	Right-click → Open in Terminal
winget for installing FFmpeg	Included on current versions; update App Installer from the Microsoft Store if it’s missing	Included

Windows 10 reached the end of support in October 2025, but every method here still works on it.

Which method should you use?

Method	Install needed	Files uploaded?	Batch	Best for
Browser converter	No	No, converts on your PC	Yes, with ZIP	Most people, quick jobs
Audacity	Yes	No	Yes, with Macros	Editing while you convert
VLC	Yes	No	Limited	People who already have VLC
iTunes	Yes	No	Yes	Songs already in iTunes
FFmpeg	Yes	No	Yes, scriptable	Large folders, automation

Other free Windows apps such as fre:ac and foobar2000 can also convert MP3 to WAV in batches. We focus on the five above because they’re the most widely used.

Troubleshooting

• The WAV is much bigger than the MP3. That’s normal: WAV is uncompressed, about 10 MB per minute. See MP3 vs WAV.
• The WAV doesn’t sound better. Converting can’t restore detail an MP3 removed. It only prevents further loss. More in does converting MP3 to WAV improve quality?
• My editor says the sample rate doesn’t match. Re-convert at the project’s rate (usually 44.1 or 48 kHz). See choosing sample rate and bit depth.
• “ffmpeg is not recognized”. Windows only picks up a newly installed command in a new window. Close the terminal and open it again.
• VLC made a silent or 0 KB file. Edit the profile again: the Audio box on the Audio codec tab must be ticked, and the destination must end in .wav.
• “This file is larger than 100 MB.” Our browser converter takes MP3s up to 100 MB each. For longer recordings, split the file or use Audacity or FFmpeg.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a built-in MP3 to WAV converter in Windows 10 or 11?

No. File Explorer, the Media Player app and Windows Media Player Legacy all play MP3s, but none of them can save an MP3 file as WAV. The closest built-in route is winget, included with current Windows 10 and 11, which installs FFmpeg with one command (see Method 5). Otherwise, our browser converter works in Edge without installing anything.

Can Windows Media Player convert MP3 to WAV?

Not directly. Windows Media Player Legacy offers WAV (Lossless) only when it rips an audio CD, so it can’t re-save MP3 files already in your library. Burning the MP3s to a CD and ripping them back works, but it is slow, uses up a disc and gives the same result as a direct conversion.

How do I batch convert MP3 to WAV on Windows?

Drop all the files into our browser converter and click Download all as ZIP. That is the quickest way for a few dozen songs. For hundreds of files or a repeatable job, use the FFmpeg PowerShell one-liner in Method 5, or a Macro in Audacity.

Is it safe to use an online MP3 to WAV converter?

It depends on the site. Many online converters upload your file to their server, often with size limits and deletion after a set time. Our converter works differently: the conversion runs inside your browser, so the MP3 never leaves your PC. For private recordings, that or an offline app such as Audacity is the safest choice.

Can I just rename an .mp3 file to .wav?

No. Renaming changes only the label, not the data inside: the file is still MP3-encoded audio with a .wav ending. Some players will still play it because they check the content, but editors, samplers, CD-burning software and upload forms that need a real WAV will reject it or show an error. A proper conversion decodes the MP3 and writes uncompressed PCM audio.

Is Audacity a good MP3 to WAV converter for Windows?

Yes, especially if you also want to edit. Audacity is free and open source, opens MP3s directly in current versions, and exports WAV in 16-bit, 24-bit or 32-bit float. For plain conversions it takes more clicks than a browser converter. Our Audacity guide walks through every step, including batch export.