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Compressed audio and music file, mp3 songs or ringtones
File type: Mobile ringtone file, Audio and sound file
The mp3 file extension is traditionally used for one of the most common types of compressed audio files, MP3s, which you can playback using almost any media player.
Found 3 different file type records with the same mp3 filename suffix.
File type category:
Mobile ringtone file
Audio and sound file
Date updated: May 21, 2026
File extension mp3 is used for MPEG-1 Layer III Audio Streams - audio files commonly referred to as MP3s. This standard has evolved from early MPEG (The Moving Picture Experts Group) work. It is an audio compression technology that is part of the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 specifications.
MP3 lossy audio compression algorithm was developed by Karlheinz Brandenburg at German Fraunhofer Institute and introduced in 1991.
MP3 uses perceptual audio coding to compress CD-quality sound with almost the same fidelity. It is the most used audio file format to store music supported by various software and hardware multimedia players, mobile phones, portable players, smartphones, tablets, cd players, DJs decks, etc.
There also exists a lossless version called MP3HD. Both share the same MP3 file extension.
Fraunhofer Institute, a developer and owner of rights for MP3, announced the MP3 format as obsolete in May 2017.
MIME types used for mp3 sound files:
audio/mp3
audio/mpeg3
audio/mpg
audio/mpeg
audio/x-mpeg
audio/x-mpeg-3
audio/mp3
audio/x-mpegaudio
audio/x-mpg
audio/x-mp3
audio/mpeg3
video/mpeg
video/x-mpeg
MP3 is the de facto standard for compressed sound files. This file format opens most media players available today. Many players and apps exist on any platform or mobile phone.
MP3 is one of the most used audio formats by computers, mobile phones, and multimedia devices. Use any mp3 converter or conversion app from our app list, or select a conversion link to view more information.
Some kinds of multimedia players or music management software like iTunes, Helium music manager, Media Monkey, etc., can transform MP3 into various audio formats (or other sound file formats to MP3).
Software applications that can open mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Multiplatform
Apple iOS
Software applications that can edit mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Multiplatform
Apple iOS
Software capable of saving mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Multiplatform
Apple iOS
Apps designed for playing mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
Google Android
Software apps that create mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Software apps that record to mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that convert mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Apple iOS
Software apps that import mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
Software apps that export mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
On-line services
Software apps that burn mp3 files to disc:
Microsoft Windows
Linux/Unix
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File type category:
Text file
Date updated: June 23, 2017
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The mp3 file extension is very rarely used for simple text files that contain saved game scores from some Bridge card game by Masterpoint.
Not to be confused with MP3 songs.
Use any text editor to view content of *.mp3 files.
File type category:
Ransomware encrypted file
Date updated: August 12, 2019
The mp3 file extension is also used by the notorious TeslaCrypt ransomaware. The variant that uses mp3 file suffix was discovered 12.2.2016 and works much like the previous version. It encrypts users files and demands ransom in bitcoins.
The difference is mainly in the ransomware notes that now the following files:
So far, options to decrypt TeslaCrypt files are pretty limited if non-existent.
You cannot convert this particular file to anything else.
Software apps that recover mp3 files:
Microsoft Windows
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