Audio file won't open or export? Troubleshooting
Sound Trimmer decodes audio with your browser's built-in audio engine, so what works can vary a little between browsers and devices. Work through the message you see, or the checks below.
Start with the demo
Every tool has a Try a demo button that generates a short sound in your browser. If the demo works, the tool and browser are fine and the problem is the file. If the demo also fails, update the browser or try another one.
Error messages
| Message | Cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a file no larger than 60 MB | The file is above the size limit | Use a shorter recording, or trim it in desktop software first |
| Choose a recording no longer than five minutes | The audio is longer than the length limit | Split the recording first, or use desktop software for long files |
| Choose a mono or stereo file / Use mono or stereo MP3/WAV recordings | The file has surround channels | Export a stereo version from the original software |
| This browser cannot read that audio file | Unsupported format, damaged file or protected audio | See the checks below |
Check the format
Sound Trimmer supports standard MP3 and PCM WAV files. Common files that may not open:
- M4A and AAC from phone voice recorders and some music apps. Use your phone's own trim feature, or convert to MP3 or WAV first.
- Protected music bought from or downloaded in streaming apps. These files are protected and cannot be decoded by a website.
- Unusual WAV variants, such as compressed or 32-bit float WAV from some recorders. Re-export as 16-bit or 24-bit PCM WAV.
- Video files. Extract the audio as MP3 or WAV first.
- Renamed files. Changing a file's extension does not change its format. A file renamed from .m4a to .mp3 is still M4A inside.
Damaged or partial files
A download that did not finish, or a recording made when a device ran out of storage, can be cut off or corrupted. Try playing the file in another player. If it stops early or will not play there either, the file itself is damaged.
Phones and low memory
Decoding turns a compressed MP3 into raw audio in memory, which is several times larger than the file. On a phone, close other tabs and apps, then try again. A shorter file helps most.
Export problems
- MP3 takes longer to prepare than WAV, so allow a few seconds and watch the progress bar.
- Changing any setting clears the previous download, so prepare it again after a change.
- If the download link does nothing, check that your browser is not blocking downloads for this site, and look in your Downloads folder.
- On iPhone and iPad, Safari may show the audio in a player rather than saving it. Use the share button and choose Save to Files.
Still stuck?
Email [email protected] with your browser, device, the file format and size, and the message you saw. Please describe the problem rather than attaching a private recording.
Reviewed October 2026 · How we write our guides · Suggest a correction