What is an AMR file?
AMR stands for Adaptive Multi-Rate audio. It was created by Ericsson and the 3GPP and first released in 1999. AMR was designed for mobile phone calls and only carries the frequencies of the human voice, so music sounds thin in it. Call recorders on Android still save to AMR because the files are tiny.
| Type | audio |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | AMR narrowband speech, 4.75 to 12.2 kbps |
| In a browser | does not play in browsers; plays on most Android phones |
| Common uses | call recordings and voice notes on older Android and Nokia phones |
| MIME type | audio/amr |
Which format should you convert AMR to?
- AMR to MP3 to play on any device, car stereo or website.
- AMR to M4A for iPhone, iTunes and Apple Music.
- AMR to WAV to edit in an audio editor or burn to CD.
- AMR to MP4 to upload somewhere that only accepts video.
AMR 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 an AMR file
Whether an AMR 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, AMR 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 | AMR does not play in browsers; plays on most Android phones. |
Want the technical details? See what a .amr file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
AMR compared with other audio formats
How AMR stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMR | Lossy | AMR narrowband speech, 4.75 to 12.2 kbps | 1999 | call recordings and voice notes on older Android and Nokia 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 AMR converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your AMR files on the box, or press Choose AMR 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 AMR files without losing quality
AMR 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 AMR files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common AMR conversion, to MP3, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.amr -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.
AMR converter FAQ
What is an AMR file?
AMR stands for Adaptive Multi-Rate audio, an audio format created by Ericsson and the 3GPP in 1999. AMR was designed for mobile phone calls and only carries the frequencies of the human voice, so music sounds thin in it. Call recorders on Android still save to AMR because the files are tiny.
How do I open an AMR file?
AMR does not play in browsers; plays on most Android phones. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common AMR conversion?
AMR to MP3 is the conversion people search for most. The audio is decoded and written as MP3 at 192 kbps.
Does converting AMR files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your AMR files never leave your device.
Is the AMR converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many AMR files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert AMR files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your AMR files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several AMR files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.