Audacity

Download Details

Version

4.0.2.263060742 (latest)

File size

47.52 MB

License

Free

Security scan

VirusTotal: 62 of 62 engines say OK (0 flagged)

SHA-256 checksum Copy

ff6cad670befee96fee563056965fa5e17bfa8c7ea3aba10c461c18799409e22

Developer

Audacity

Supported OS

Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8.1

Installers

64-bit (x64), Portable, Offline

Downloads

11302

Rating

3.8 out of 5 · 97 reviews

File name(s)

audacity-win-4.0.2-x86_64.msi, audacity-win-4.0.2-arm64.msi

Reviewed by Eman Sakr
Tested on Windows 11 and 10 · November 9, 2026 · How we review

Screenshots

Audacity suits podcasters, streamers, teachers and home musicians who want to record and fix audio on a PC without paying.

The main draw is a free offline editor with no watermark, no ads and no account.

It runs on Windows 10 and 11 with a 64-bit installer, a portable ZIP and a beta ARM64 build.

The standout tool is Noise Reduction, which strips hiss from a voice track in a few clicks.

Skip it if you want a loop-based studio with virtual instruments.

What is Audacity?

Audacity is an open-source multitrack audio editor and recorder, built by volunteers and now maintained under the Audacity name. It started as a university project in 1999.

It works on waveforms: you record or import sound, cut and rearrange it, apply effects, then export a finished file.

Recording from a microphone or from what your PC plays

You can record from a mic, an instrument through an interface, or the sound your PC is playing. Loopback recording on Windows captures system audio when your sound card supports it.

This makes it useful for voice-overs, interviews and capturing audio you already own the rights to.

Tip: set the project sample rate before you hit record, so you do not resample the audio later.

Cleaning up a voice track with Noise Reduction

Select a few seconds of room noise, tell Audacity to learn that noise profile, then apply the effect to the whole track. Hiss and fan hum drop noticeably.

Push it too far and the voice starts to sound watery. Small steps work better than one heavy pass.

Tip: after cleanup, run Loudness Normalization so spoken tracks sit at a consistent volume.

Multitrack editing for podcasts and music beds

Stack as many tracks as your PC can handle, trim clips, add fades and move pieces around on the timeline. Label tracks help you mark chapters or mistakes while you listen.

Truncate Silence removes long pauses automatically, which saves time on talk recordings.

It handles voice-and-music projects well. It is not built for composing with MIDI or software instruments.

Formats: MP3 export, FFmpeg and the project file

MP3, WAV, FLAC and OGG export work out of the box in current releases, so you no longer hunt for a separate MP3 encoder.

Extra formats such as M4A and WMA depend on the optional FFmpeg library.

Audacity saves unfinished work in its own project format. Export to a normal audio file when you are done, because other apps cannot open the project.

Effects, plugins and real-time processing

The built-in set covers EQ, compression, reverb, echo, pitch and speed changes. Recent releases add real-time effects, so you can hear changes while you adjust them.

Third-party VST3 plugins and Nyquist scripts extend it further on the standard 64-bit build.

Is Audacity safe to install, and who owns it?

The file on this page is checked with VirusTotal and came back clean. Audacity is open source, so its code is public.

The project is owned by Muse Group. Some people dislike that and prefer Tenacity, a community fork that tries to stay independent.

Update checks and error reporting are optional. You can review them in Preferences.

When Audacity’s waveform editing falls short for songwriting

If you want to write songs with virtual instruments, MIDI and loops, a full music studio program suits you better.

If you dislike the plain gray interface, you may also prefer a newer-looking editor. The workflow here is functional rather than pretty.

Fixes for common install and setup problems

• Microphone not listed: open Windows Settings, go to Privacy, then Microphone, and allow desktop apps to use it. Then pick the right device in Audacity’s device toolbar.
• M4A, AAC or WMA will not import or export: these formats need the optional FFmpeg library. Install it, then point Audacity to it in Preferences, Libraries.
• Plugins missing on an ARM laptop: the ARM64 beta does not load third-party plugins. Use the standard 64-bit build on an x64 PC if you rely on them.

Pros & Cons

Conclusion

3.8★★★★★out of 5 · 97 user ratings

Audacity is a dependable free choice for recording, cleaning and exporting audio on Windows. If your work is voice, podcasts or simple music edits, you get what you need without paying or signing up.

If you want something cleaner to look at and quick to learn, Ocenaudio is a free alternative with live effect previews. If you prefer a community-run fork of the same idea, Tenacity is free too.

For full song production with MIDI and virtual instruments, a paid studio program such as Reaper is the better step up. Adobe Audition suits broadcast and post-production teams that already pay for Adobe.

FAQ

Found a problem with this download? Report an outdated version, broken link, suspicious installer or incorrect information.

Changelog - What's new in version 4.0.2.263060742

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