WAV is an uncompressed audio format that stores raw waveform data exactly as captured — full quality, zero degradation, at about 10 MB per minute of stereo CD-quality audio.
Safe format
Type Audio
By Microsoft / IBM
MIMEaudio/wav
Drop any file to identify it
We read file headers, not extensions. Nothing gets uploaded.
WAV is an uncompressed audio format that stores raw waveform data exactly as captured — full quality, zero degradation, at about 10 MB per minute of stereo CD-quality audio. The sound of sound. No compression, no shortcuts, no compromises. Music producers, sound engineers, and podcast editors work in WAV because every edit, mix, and effect operates on the full signal. It is the format you record in and edit in. When you are done, you export to MP3 or AAC for distribution, or FLAC if you want lossless compression. WAV was designed by Microsoft and IBM in 1991, and it has not needed to change because raw audio does not go out of style.
Technical details
Full Name
Waveform Audio
MIME Type
audio/wav
Developer
Microsoft / IBM
Magic Bytes
52 49 46 46 ?? ?? ?? ?? 57 41 56 45
Safety
.wav is a known, safe format.
What opens it
Every media player
FREEAll
Convert with fwip
Convert .wav files instantly in your browser. No upload, no signup, no subscription. Your files never leave your device.
Free in your browser. Batch processing & offline mode in the desktop bundle.
FAQ
What is the difference between WAV and MP3?
WAV is uncompressed — full quality, large files (about 10 MB per minute). MP3 is lossy compressed — smaller files (about 1 MB per minute) at the cost of discarding audio data your ears are unlikely to notice. Use WAV for editing and archiving. Use MP3 for sharing and streaming. Convert with <a href="https://fwip.app/tools/wav-to-mp3/">fwip's WAV to MP3 converter</a>.
Why are WAV files so large?
Because they store every single audio sample without compression. A CD-quality WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo) uses about 10 MB per minute. A 24-bit recording session at 96 kHz uses even more. That is the point — no data is thrown away.
What is the difference between WAV and FLAC?
Both are lossless — identical audio quality. FLAC compresses the data to about 50–70% of the original size without losing anything, like a ZIP file for audio. WAV stores it raw. FLAC saves space; WAV is simpler and more universally supported in audio editors.
Can I convert WAV to MP3 without losing too much quality?
Yes. At 320 kbps, most people cannot distinguish MP3 from the original WAV in a blind test. Use <a href="https://fwip.app/tools/wav-to-mp3/">fwip's WAV to MP3 converter</a> for a quick, private conversion right in your browser.