YouTube to MP3 Converter

Y2WAV saves the audio of any YouTube video as an MP3 file. Paste the link, click Convert, then use the red Download button. No account, no software and no limit on how many files you convert.

MP3 is the format that plays on almost anything: phones, laptops, car stereos, smart speakers and old MP3 players. The files are small because MP3 leaves out sound you're unlikely to notice, which makes it ideal for listening but not the best choice for editing.

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How to convert a YouTube video to MP3?

  1. Open YouTube and copy the link of the video you want.
  2. Paste the link above and click the red "Convert to MP3" button.
  3. When it's done, click "Download MP3 File" to save it to your device.

Quality and file size

YouTube stores music as compressed audio, usually Opus or AAC at around 128 to 160 kbps. Y2WAV makes your MP3 at 320 kbps, the highest MP3 setting. That doesn't make it sound better than the video, nothing can, but it keeps the conversion from adding any noticeable loss of its own.

Expect roughly 2.4 MB per minute, so a four-minute song is about 10 MB. That's around a quarter of the size of a WAV file, small enough to keep hundreds of songs on a phone.

When MP3 isn't the best choice

  • Editing, mixing or DJing. MP3 loses a little more each time it's edited and saved again. Start from the uncompressed WAV version instead.
  • Apple devices. MP3 plays fine on iPhone and Mac, but an M4A file sounds slightly better at the same size.
  • A music archive. If you're keeping songs long term and space isn't tight, a FLAC converter keeps everything without extra compression.

Tips for better results

  • Use the official upload. Re-uploads are often recompressed or slightly sped up. The artist's own channel, or the auto-generated "Artist - Topic" channel, usually has the cleanest audio.
  • Any YouTube link works. A youtu.be share link from the app, a Shorts link or a YouTube Music link are all fine.
  • Download straight away. Files are deleted from our server about 30 minutes after conversion. If the link has expired, just convert again.

Frequently asked questions

Is 320 kbps better than 128 kbps?

A 320 kbps MP3 stays closer to the YouTube audio than a 128 kbps one, because less is thrown away during conversion. It still can't be better than the source. The cost is a file about two and a half times bigger.

Will the MP3 play in my car?

Almost certainly. MP3 is the one format nearly every car stereo, USB player and Bluetooth speaker supports.

Can I edit the MP3 in Audacity or a video editor?

Yes, it opens everywhere. For a quick trim that's fine. If you plan to cut, mix or re-export several times, use WAV so the quality doesn't drop with every save.

Why did a video fail to convert?

Usually because it's private, deleted, age-restricted, members-only or blocked in some countries. No converter can download those. If a normal public video fails, try again after a minute.

All YouTube Converters

Choose from any format below:

🎵 WAV 🎵 FLAC 🎵 M4A 🎵 OGG

Thank you for choosing Y2WAV.