---
title: ".wav file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .wav file is a Waveform Audio File. Uncompressed audio — perfect quality, very large files, universal support. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/wav/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .wav files

**.wav file: Waveform Audio File**

Uncompressed audio — perfect quality, very large files, universal support.

## What opens a .wav file

- **Windows:** Media Player (built in), VLC, Audacity
- **macOS:** Music (built in), QuickTime Player (built in), Audacity
- **Linux:** Rhythmbox / Music (built in), VLC, Audacity
- **In a browser:** Any web browser

## What a .wav file is

WAV is Microsoft and IBM's 1991 container, normally holding raw PCM samples with no compression at all. That makes it the standard working format for recording, editing and mastering, at roughly 10 MB per minute for CD-quality stereo. The classic WAV header caps a file at 4 GB, which is why long recordings sometimes appear truncated in older software.

## Converting it

A .wav file is commonly converted to .mp3, .flac, .m4a, .ogg or .aiff. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .wav
- **Full name:** Waveform Audio File
- **Category:** Audio
- **MIME type:** audio/wav
- **Created by:** Microsoft / IBM
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .wav file?

On Windows use Media Player (built in); on macOS use Music (built in); on Linux use Rhythmbox / Music (built in). Uncompressed audio — perfect quality, very large files, universal support.

### What is a .wav file?

Waveform Audio File. WAV is Microsoft and IBM's 1991 container, normally holding raw PCM samples with no compression at all. That makes it the standard working format for recording, editing and mastering, at roughly 10 MB per minute for CD-quality stereo.

### Can I convert a .wav file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .mp3, .flac, .m4a, .ogg or .aiff, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.mp3 — MPEG-1 Audio Layer III](https://atoneplace.net/file/mp3/)
- [.m4a — MPEG-4 Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4a/)
- [.flac — Free Lossless Audio Codec](https://atoneplace.net/file/flac/)
- [.aac — Advanced Audio Coding](https://atoneplace.net/file/aac/)
- [.ogg — Ogg Vorbis Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/ogg/)
- [.opus — Opus Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/opus/)
- [.mid — MIDI Sequence](https://atoneplace.net/file/mid/)
- [.m3u — Media Playlist](https://atoneplace.net/file/m3u/)
- [.wma — Windows Media Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/wma/)
- [.aiff — Audio Interchange File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/aiff/)
- [.m4b — MPEG-4 Audiobook](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4b/)
- [.amr — Adaptive Multi-Rate Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/amr/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)