What is a 3GA file?
3GA stands for 3GPP audio. It was created by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and first released in 2003. A 3GA file is a 3GP file with sound and no picture. Samsung phones saved voice recordings in it for years, with AMR speech at low bitrates or AAC for better quality, which is why so many voice memos turn up as .3ga.
| Type | audio |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | AMR speech or AAC audio in a 3GP container |
| In a browser | does not play in most browsers; plays on Android phones and in VLC |
| Common uses | voice memos and call recordings from Samsung and other Android phones |
| MIME type | audio/3gpp |
Which format should you convert 3GA to?
- 3GA to MP3 to play on any device, car stereo or website.
3GA is already lossy, so converting it to a lossless format makes the file bigger without improving it; pick a lossless target only if a program requires one.
How to open a 3GA file
Whether a 3GA file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | Films and TV and Media Player open the common formats; VLC opens almost any audio file, 3GA included. |
|---|---|
| Mac | QuickTime Player opens formats Apple supports; VLC or IINA open the rest. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app plays formats Apple supports. For others, a player such as VLC for iOS, or converting the file here, is the easiest route. |
| Android | Most gallery and music apps play the common formats; VLC for Android plays almost everything. |
| Web browser | 3GA does not play in most browsers; plays on Android phones and in VLC. |
Want the technical details? See what a .3ga file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
3GA compared with other audio formats
How 3GA stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3GA | Lossy | AMR speech or AAC audio in a 3GP container | 2003 | voice memos and call recordings from Samsung and other Android phones |
| MP3 | Lossy | MP3 audio, typically 128 to 320 kbps | 1993 | music libraries, podcasts and anything that has to play everywhere |
| WAV | Lossless | uncompressed PCM, usually 16-bit at 44.1 or 48 kHz | 1991 | recording, editing, sound effects and CD audio |
| M4A | Either | AAC, or ALAC for lossless files | 2001 | iTunes purchases, iPhone voice memos and Apple Music downloads |
| FLAC | Lossless | FLAC lossless audio, up to 32-bit and 655 kHz | 2001 | CD rips, hi-res music stores and audio archives |
How to use the 3GA converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your 3GA files on the box, or press Choose 3GA files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Nothing is uploaded at any point.
Tips for converting 3GA files without losing quality
3GA is lossy, so some detail was already discarded when the file was made. Converting it cannot bring that back. Converting to a lossless format preserves what is left exactly but makes the file larger; converting to another lossy format adds a small extra loss, which is invisible at sensible settings.
- Keep a lossless master. If you have WAV, FLAC, AIFF or ALAC, keep it, and make lossy copies such as MP3 or AAC from it when you need them.
- Avoid converting one lossy format into another more than once. Each MP3, AAC or OGG encode throws away a little more, and the losses add up.
- Match the bitrate to the content: 192 kbps and up for music, 96 to 128 kbps for podcasts, 64 kbps for voice notes.
- Stick to 44.1 kHz for music and 48 kHz for audio that goes with video; resampling between them is harmless but pointless.
Convert 3GA files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common 3GA conversion, to MP3, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.3ga -vn -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 192k output.mp3Change the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same ffmpeg engine inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
3GA converter FAQ
What is a 3GA file?
3GA stands for 3GPP audio, an audio format created by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project in 2003. A 3GA file is a 3GP file with sound and no picture. Samsung phones saved voice recordings in it for years, with AMR speech at low bitrates or AAC for better quality, which is why so many voice memos turn up as .3ga.
How do I open a 3GA file?
3GA does not play in most browsers; plays on Android phones and in VLC. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common 3GA conversion?
3GA to MP3 is the conversion people search for most. The audio is decoded and written as MP3 at 192 kbps.
Does converting 3GA files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your 3GA files never leave your device.
Is the 3GA converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many 3GA files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert 3GA files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your 3GA files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several 3GA files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.