# Trim an Audio File

Keep only the part you need: play the file, mark the start and the end, and save the clip. MP3 stays MP3 and M4A stays M4A, copied without re-encoding when you add no fades.

_Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/trim-audio · Updated 2026-09-29_

## How to use it

1. Choose or drop an audio file.
2. Play it and press “Use current position” for the start and the end, or type the times.
3. Add a short fade in or fade out if the cut sounds abrupt.
4. Press Trim audio, listen to the clip, then download it or send it with a link.

## Lossless when it can be

An MP3 or AAC file is a chain of small frames of about 1/40 of a second. If you keep the format and add no fades, the tool copies the frames between your start and end as they are: no re-encoding, no quality loss, done in a moment. The cut then lands on the nearest frame, which nobody can hear.

Adding a fade, or changing the format (for example WAV to MP3), decodes the audio and encodes it again at the quality you pick.

## Tips for a clean cut

- Start in a pause or just before a beat; a 0.5 s fade in hides any click.
- For music, a 2 to 3 second fade out sounds natural.
- Times can include tenths: 1:05.5 is one minute, five and a half seconds.

Need several pieces from one recording? Use [Split audio](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/split-audio). Cutting a video instead? Use [Trim video](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/trim-video).

## Private, on phone or computer

The file is cut in your browser and never uploaded, so interviews and unreleased songs stay with you. It works in Safari on iPhone, Chrome on Android and every current desktop browser, and you can install the tools as an app.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does trimming an MP3 lower its quality?

Not when you keep MP3 and add no fades: the frames are copied unchanged. With fades or a format change the audio is re-encoded at the quality you choose.

### How precise is the cut?

Within about 1/40 of a second for copied MP3 and M4A, and to the exact sample when the audio is re-encoded or the file is WAV.

### Can I trim a voice memo on iPhone?

Yes. Save the memo to Files, open this page in Safari, choose it, trim, and save the result.

### Is there a length limit?

No time limit; files up to the size shown on the page. Long files take a little longer to open.

### Is my audio uploaded?

No. It is processed on your device.