Extract Audio from Video on iPhone and Mac

Extracting audio from a video gives you a separate sound file you can listen to, share, or edit without the original moving images. On iPhone, use Apple’s Shortcuts app to create an audio-only file; on Mac, QuickTime Player can export the sound directly. Keep the original video until you have checked the new file.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone with the Shortcuts app, or a Mac with QuickTime Player. Both are included with current Apple operating systems; if Shortcuts is missing, find it in the App Store.
The video saved in Photos, Files, or on the Mac. For a video stored in iCloud, wait for it to download before starting.
Enough free storage for the audio file. The required space depends on the video’s length and the audio format.

Step-by-Step

Choose the device and locate the video. On iPhone, identify whether the video is in Photos or Files. On Mac, open the folder containing the video. Make sure you have permission to use and share its audio, and leave the original untouched.
On iPhone, create an audio-extraction shortcut. Open Shortcuts and tap the plus button to create a shortcut. Tap the shortcut name or its menu button and choose a clear name such as “Extract Audio.” Add the action “Select Photos” and, if the action offers the option, turn on selection of videos. Add the action “Encode Media.” Expand its options and enable “Audio Only.” Add “Save File” and choose whether to ask where to save the result. Action names and layout can vary slightly by iOS version; search for each action in the action picker if needed.
Run the shortcut on the iPhone. Tap the shortcut’s play button, select the video, and confirm. If you enabled the save-location prompt, choose a folder in Files and tap Save. Otherwise, the shortcut saves to its configured location. Open Files and check the destination to confirm an audio file was created. If the video is in Files and is not offered by “Select Photos,” add a “Get File” action instead and select the video from Files.
Optionally make the iPhone shortcut available from the share sheet. Open the shortcut’s settings and enable “Show in Share Sheet” if available. Set the accepted input to video or media, then save. In Photos, open the video, tap Share, choose the shortcut, and follow its prompts. If it does not appear, run it from Shortcuts or check its input settings.
On Mac, open the video in QuickTime Player. In Finder, control-click the video, choose “Open With,” then select QuickTime Player. If the video is already open in another app, use QuickTime Player’s File menu to open the file instead. Confirm the picture and sound play before exporting.
Export only the audio on Mac. In QuickTime Player, choose File > Export As > Audio Only. Select a filename and a folder, then click Save. The resulting audio is typically an MPEG-4 audio file, commonly shown with an .m4a extension. If “Audio Only” is not available, check that the video opened successfully in QuickTime Player and try another source copy or a compatible format.
Check the exported file. Open the audio file in an audio player, listen to the beginning and a section near the end, and confirm it has the expected duration and sound. Rename or move it only after confirming it plays. Keep the video until you know the extraction worked.
Transfer the file if needed. On iPhone, share the file from Files or use AirDrop to send it to a nearby Mac. On Mac, use AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or another normal file-transfer method to move it to an iPhone. Check that the receiving device has finished downloading the complete file.

Common Mistakes

Looking for a built-in Photos export button: Photos does not provide a general “save audio only” command. Use a Shortcut on iPhone or QuickTime Player on Mac.
Saving somewhere unexpected: A shortcut may use its default save location or ask you each time. Check the “Save File” action and the Files app’s Recents or chosen folder.
Choosing the wrong shortcut input: A shortcut that accepts images may not receive a video from Photos. Set the input to video or media, or select the video within the shortcut.
Assuming the new file is silent because the video is silent: Extraction separates the existing audio track; it cannot restore sound that was never recorded or has been removed.
Deleting the source too soon: Verify playback and duration first. Extraction can fail or produce an incomplete file if the video is still downloading, storage is low, or the process is interrupted.

Tips

Use a descriptive filename with the original video’s subject and, if helpful, the date.
For a long video, keep the device awake and avoid closing Shortcuts or QuickTime while the export is running. Allow extra time for large files.
Choose the Mac method when you want a straightforward export without building a workflow. A saved Shortcut is useful on iPhone when you expect to repeat the task.
Extraction generally retains the audio track rather than improving it. If you need to remove noise, trim sections, or change volume, use an audio editor after exporting.
Audio files may be large, and compatibility depends on the app or device receiving them. If a recipient cannot open the file, ask which audio formats it accepts before converting it.

Troubleshooting

The iPhone shortcut cannot find the video: Check that it is downloaded, then look in the correct source. For videos in Files, use a file-selection action such as “Get File”; for videos in Photos, make sure the shortcut accepts video input and that Shortcuts has permission to access Photos.
“Encode Media” does not show “Audio Only”: Expand the action’s options or search for “Encode Media” again and add the correct action. If the option is still missing, update iOS when practical or use QuickTime Player on a Mac.
The shortcut produces no file or stops: Check available storage, confirm that “Save File” follows “Encode Media,” and run the shortcut again with a short video. If that works, the original may be too large or still downloading.
QuickTime has no Audio Only option: Confirm the file is a playable video with an audio track, and open it directly in QuickTime Player. Try a locally stored copy rather than a cloud placeholder. If the file still is not supported, use an app that can read its video format and export audio.
The exported file has no sound or is cut short: Play the original and compare its duration with the export. If the source has sound but the export does not, repeat the export after the file is fully downloaded. If it remains incomplete, try another copy of the video.
You cannot locate or share the result: Check the destination selected in the shortcut or QuickTime’s Save dialog. On iPhone, look in Files under Recents and Downloads; on Mac, check the folder you selected. Wait for any cloud upload or download to finish before sharing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I extract audio from a video on iPhone without installing another app?
Yes. The Shortcuts app can encode a selected video with “Audio Only” enabled, then save the result in Files.

Does extracting audio delete or change the video?
No. These steps create a separate audio file. The original video remains in its original location.

What format will the extracted audio use?
QuickTime Player commonly exports an MPEG-4 audio file with an .m4a extension. Shortcuts’ output depends on its encoding action and system version.

Can I extract audio from a video in iCloud?
Yes, but let the video download fully first. An online-only placeholder may not be available to the shortcut or export process.

Can I extract just one part of the audio?
These steps extract the video’s audio track, not a selected section. Trim the resulting file in an audio editor, or trim a copy of the video first if your tools support it.

Why is the exported file silent?
The video may not contain an audio track, or its track may already be silent. Play the original to check before repeating the export.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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