What is an OPUS file?
OPUS stands for Opus audio. It was created by the Internet Engineering Task Force and first released in 2012. Opus was built for speech and music over the internet, and it holds up at bitrates as low as 16 kbps. Voice messages from WhatsApp and Telegram usually arrive as Opus files.
| Type | audio |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | Opus in an Ogg container |
| In a browser | plays in current browsers; many car stereos and older players cannot |
| Common uses | WhatsApp and Telegram voice notes, Discord and video calls |
| MIME type | audio/ogg |
Which format should you convert OPUS to?
- OPUS to MP3 to play on any device, car stereo or website.
- OPUS to M4A for iPhone, iTunes and Apple Music.
- OPUS to WAV to edit in an audio editor or burn to CD.
- OPUS to FLAC to archive without losing any quality.
- OPUS to MP4 to upload somewhere that only accepts video.
OPUS 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 OPUS file
Whether an OPUS 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, OPUS 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 | OPUS plays in current browsers; many car stereos and older players cannot. |
Want the technical details? See what a .opus file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
OPUS compared with other audio formats
How OPUS stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPUS | Lossy | Opus in an Ogg container | 2012 | WhatsApp and Telegram voice notes, Discord and video calls |
| 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 OPUS converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your OPUS files on the box, or press Choose OPUS 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 OPUS files without losing quality
OPUS 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 OPUS files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common OPUS conversion, to MP3, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.opus -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.
OPUS converter FAQ
What is an OPUS file?
OPUS stands for Opus audio, an audio format created by the Internet Engineering Task Force in 2012. Opus was built for speech and music over the internet, and it holds up at bitrates as low as 16 kbps. Voice messages from WhatsApp and Telegram usually arrive as Opus files.
How do I open an OPUS file?
OPUS plays in current browsers; many car stereos and older players cannot. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common OPUS conversion?
OPUS to MP3 is the conversion people search for most. The audio is decoded and written as MP3 at 192 kbps.
Does converting OPUS files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your OPUS files never leave your device.
Is the OPUS converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many OPUS files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert OPUS files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your OPUS files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several OPUS files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.