Is there any MP4 to MP3 free video converter? This article shows 3 effective video-to-audio converters, including MiniTool Video Converter, Windows Media Player, and VLC Media Player.

MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is a digital multimedia container format capable of storing both video and audio data. In contrast, MP3 is an encoding format that can only be used to store digital audio. Clearly, MP4 has a wider range of applications than MP3.

How to Convert MP4 to MP3

  • MiniTool Video Converter
  • Windows Media Player
  • VLC Media Player

Fast Track:

  • Get a video-to-audio converter
  • Upload an MP4 file
  • Set MP3 as the converted format
  • Start the conversion
  • Check or save the converted audio

#1. MiniTool Video Converter

I have used MiniTool Video Converter numerous times, and it has never let me down. This tool supports a wide range of audio and video formats. Whether you want to complete MP4 to MP3 conversion, MOV to WMA, MKV to AC3, FLV to AIFF, etc., MiniTool Video Converter makes it a breeze. Let’s see how to convert an MP4 video to MP3 for free with MiniTool Video Converter.

1. Click the download button below to download MiniTool Video Converter and install it on your computer.

MiniTool Video ConverterClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

2. Launch this program to enter its main interface. Next, click the Add Files option to import the MP4 file you need to convert to the program.

MiniTool Video Converter with the Add Files selected in the Video Convert tab.

3. Enable the output format window by clicking the folder with gear icon, switch to the Audio tab, and choose MP3 as the output format. You will see preset profiles with different qualities. Choose one you like.

MiniTool Video Converter output format window showing how to set MP3 as the output format in the Audio tab.

4. Open the Output list and click Browse to choose a folder to save the converted files.

5. Click the Convert button to initiate the conversion process. Once done, you will be guided to the Converted subtab. Simply click the Open button to locate the converted file.

Tips:
MiniTool Video Converter can also convert MP3 to MP4. The process is the same as converting MP4 to MP3, only with one difference. In Step 3, you need to go to the Video tab and choose MP4 as the output format.   
MiniTool Video Converter output format window showing how to set MP4 as the output format in the Audio tab.

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#2. Windows Media Player

Speaking of playing video & audio files on Windows, a lot of people will think of Windows Media Player – the media player and media library application developed by Microsoft and built-in most windows systems. In addition to audio and video playback, Windows Media Player can also work as an MP4 to MP3 converter. Here are the steps to convert MP4 to MP3 in Windows Media Player.

1. Double-click on the WMP icon to launch it. (If you don’t know where it is, you can run it by pressing Windows + S, typing Windows Media Player, and pressing strong > Enter.)

2. Select File from the menu bar at the top.

3. Choose Open from the drop-down list.

4. Navigate to the MP4 file that you want to play in the Open window.

5. Select the file and click on the Open button to add MP4 to WMP.

Windows Media Player Open window with the Open button selected.

6. Click File again and choose Save as.

7. Move your cursor to the File name and change the .mp4 extension to .mp3.

8. Choose a storage path for the MP3 file and click Save.

Some people are saying Windows Media Player not showing the menu bar, how to fix such problems?

1. Click on the Organize button (with a downward triangle) in the upper left area.

2. Navigate to the Layout option from the drop-down list.

3. Click Show menu bar from the submenu of Layout.

4. Now, you can see the menu bar on top of the opening window.

Windows Media Player showing how to open the menu bar.

If the above method didn’t work, please Rip Music with Windows Media Player.

1. Make sure you have WMP on your computer. (If not, please install one manually.)

2. Open File Explorer (also called Windows Explorer).

3. Navigate to the MP4 file that you want to convert.

4. Right click on the MP4 video -> select Open with from the context menu -> choose Windows Media Player from the submenu.

5. Click on the Switch to Library button in the upper right corner of the opening window.

6. Click Organize in the upper left area.

7. Select Options from the drop-down menu.

8. Shift to the Rip Music tab (the Library tab is selected by default).

9. Look for the Rip music to this location area and click on the Change button under it to choose a path for saving the MP3 file. Browse the computer to choose a storage folder for music and click OK to confirm. MP3 will be chosen as the target format under Rip settings. (If not, please change it to MP3.)

Windows Media Player Options window with the Change option and the MP3 option selected.

10. Click on the OK button and wait.

See, the Windows Media Player can sometimes be a good MP4 converter on Windows computers.

#3. VLC Media Player

VLC is a free and open-source media player; it’s popular throughout the world. VLC also allows you to change the format of a file, so it can be used as a free video converter.

1. Download and install VLC on your computer.

2. Launch it. Select Media from the menu bar.

3. Select Convert / Save from the drop-down menu.

4. Click on the Add button.

5. In the pop up, navigate to the MP4 file and click Open.

6. Click Convert / Save.

7. Choose Audio – MP3 as the target format from the drop-down list of Profile.

8. Click Browse to select a destination to save the MP3 file.

9. Click on the Start button and wait for it to finish.

VLC Media Player Convert window showing how to set MP3 as the output format.

Please note that VLC can also help you convert MP3 to MP4 with ease.

Don’t worry when your music gets lost; here’s how to recover music files easily.

MP4 vs MP3

What are the differences between MP4 and MP3? Check the chart below for details.

MP4MP3
UsageMultimedia container formatDigital audio format
CompatibilityUniversalUniversal
File SizeLargeLow
Audio QualityBetter audio performance with adjustable codecsStandard audio quality for listening

Why do people want to convert MP4 to MP3?

The main reasons include:

  • Extract background music from an MP4 movie.
  • Reduce the size of MP4 files containing only audio (you can do it when you only need the audio).
  • Add the audio included in MP4 to the audio library.
  • Create some listening materials out of movies, TV shows, etc., just for fun.

Conclusion

MP4 and MP3 are both popular digital information storage file formats. This article introduces three free MP4 to MP3 free video converters. You can choose the converter that best suits your needs or is your favorite.

If you have any issues while using MiniTool Video Converter, please contact MiniTool’s official support via support@minitool.com.

MP4 to MP3 Free Video Converter FAQ

Will there be any loss in converting MP4 to MP3 audio quality?
Yes. MP3 is a lossy audio format. A loss of audio quality is unavoidable during conversion, but the difference is almost imperceptible during everyday listening.
Can I batch convert?
Most free desktop tools, such as VLC Media Player, HandBrake, or MiniTool Video Converter, support batch conversion.
Why is my conversion stuck?
You can refresh the page, switch to a more mainstream browser, compress the file and then import it, or free up memory.
Can I convert DRM-protected MP4 files?
No. DRM will prevent file extraction. Removing DRM may violate copyright law.
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