YouTube to MP3: how to convert videos to audio for free

Lots of YouTube videos are really meant for your ears. A two-hour lecture. A podcast where two people sit and talk. A language lesson. A Quran recitation. A speech from a graduation day. You do not need to watch the screen for any of these. You just want to listen, maybe on a walk or in the car, maybe with your phone screen turned off.

That is what YouTube to MP3 means: you take the sound from a YouTube video and save it as an MP3 file. This guide shows you how to do it for free, step by step, on a phone or a computer.

What does "YouTube to MP3" actually do?

Every YouTube video has a picture track and a sound track. A YouTube MP3 converter keeps the sound track and drops the picture. Then it saves the sound in the MP3 format, which almost every device can play.

Here is why people like it:

• Smaller files. One hour of audio is much smaller than one hour of HD video. You can keep many more files on your phone.
• Plays everywhere. Car radios, old MP3 players, smart speakers, any phone. MP3 is the most common audio format in the world.
• Listen offline. No internet needed once the file is saved. Great for flights, long drives and places with weak signal.
• Screen off. The YouTube app stops playing when you lock your phone, unless you pay for Premium. An MP3 keeps playing.

Real examples: what people convert to MP3

Here are common ways people use a YouTube to MP3 converter in daily life:

How to convert YouTube to MP3 in 5 steps

1. Copy the YouTube link

On your phone, open the video in the YouTube app. Tap Share, then Copy link. On a computer, copy the address from the bar at the top of the browser. A link looks like youtube.com/watch?v=... or youtu.be/....

2. Open the YouTube to MP3 tool

Go to our free YouTube to MP3 converter. Paste the link into the box at the top. You can also tap the small clipboard button to paste.

3. Tap the globe

Tap the spinning globe. In a few seconds you will see the video title, a small picture and how long it is. The Audio Only tab is already chosen on this page.

4. Pick a bitrate

The bitrate decides the sound quality and the file size. See the table below to choose.

5. Tap Download Now

A ring fills up while the MP3 is made. Then your browser saves the file. On Android, look in the Download folder. On iPhone, open the Files app and go to Downloads. On a computer, check your Downloads folder.

Which bitrate should you pick?

YouTube streams its sound at roughly 128 to 160 kbps. A converter cannot add detail that was never there. So a YouTube to MP3 320kbps file sounds the same as the original, it is just bigger. For speech, 128 kbps is plenty. For everything else, 192 kbps is a good middle.

YouTube to MP3 on different devices

Android

Use Chrome. Follow the steps above. Your MP3 shows up in the Files app and in most music or audio player apps right away.

iPhone and iPad

Use Safari. After the download, the MP3 is in the Files app. You can play it there, or share it to another audio app you like.

Windows and Mac

Any browser works: Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. The MP3 lands in your Downloads folder. Double-click it to play.

Already have the video file?

If the video is already on your phone or computer, you do not need a YouTube link. Use our video to MP3 converter instead. And if you want the full video with picture, use the YouTube video downloader or the YouTube to MP4 page.

Common problems and quick fixes

1. "This link is not supported." The video may be private, deleted or age-restricted. Try a different public video.
2. Live stream will not convert. A live video can only be saved after the stream ends.
3. Very long video. Videos longer than 3 hours are not supported. Split long lectures into parts if the channel offers them.
4. Nothing happens on iPhone. Make sure you are using Safari, and check the Downloads folder in the Files app.
5. The tool is slow. YouTube links take about 10 seconds to read. Wait for the globe to finish before tapping again.

Is converting YouTube to MP3 allowed?

YouTube's Terms of Service say you may only download content when YouTube gives you a download option or the owner allows it. So convert your own uploads, talks shared under a free license, or videos where the speaker or channel says you can save them. Do not upload the audio somewhere else as your own work. The YouTube Help Center explains copyright in more detail.

Quick summary

Copy the YouTube link, paste it into our YouTube to MP3 converter, tap the globe, pick 128 kbps for talks or 192 kbps for anything else, and tap Download Now. Your MP3 is ready in seconds, free, with no app and no sign-up.