WAV to Base64
Use this free WAV to Base64 converter to turn any Waveform Audio File Format audio file into a Base64 string or a ready-made code snippet. Select a local .wav file (or paste a link to a remote one), pick the output format and press Encode WAV to Base64.
How to convert WAV to Base64 online
- Choose Local file and select a .wav file, or choose Remote URL and paste a link.
- Select the output format: plain Base64, data URI, HTML tag, CSS, JavaScript, JSON or XML.
- Click Encode WAV to Base64. The result appears instantly with a preview.
- Copy the result to the clipboard or download it as a .txt file.
About WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
WAV is a RIFF container from Microsoft and IBM that normally holds uncompressed PCM audio. It is the reference format for recording and editing because nothing is lost.
Uncompressed audio is large (about 10 MB per stereo minute), so Base64-encoded WAV files grow quickly. Use WAV for very short sounds, or convert to MP3/Ogg first.
| Developed | 1991, Microsoft & IBM |
|---|---|
| Compression | Usually none (PCM) |
| Container | RIFF |
| Browser support | All browsers |
| File signature | RIFF....WAVE |
Output formats
Choose how the result should be wrapped. The converter can return:
- txt: only the Base64 string, ready to paste into code, a database field or an API request.
- uri: a complete
data:URI that you can paste in a browser address bar or use anywhere a URL is accepted. - html audio: an HTML5
<audio controls>player. - html source: a media element with a nested
<source>tag and MIME type. - html embed: an
<embed>tag. - html object: an
<object>tag with a type attribute. - html hyperlink: an
<a>link that downloads or opens the embedded file. - html iframe: an
<iframe>that renders the content inline. - javascript audio: JavaScript that creates and plays an
Audioobject. - javascript popup: JavaScript that opens the content in a new window.
- json: a JSON object with the file name, MIME type and data.
- xml: an XML element with the data inside a CDATA section.
Is it safe and how large will the result be?
Your file is never uploaded: it is read and converted locally by your browser using the File API, so even confidential documents stay on your device.
Base64 represents every 3 bytes with 4 characters, so the encoded result is about 33% larger than the original file (plus a few bytes for padding and the data URI prefix).
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert WAV to Base64?
Select your .wav file above and click "Encode WAV to Base64". The converter reads the file in your browser and outputs the Base64 string or a ready data URI.
What does a Base64-encoded WAV start with?
A WAV file encoded to Base64 typically starts with "UklGR". As a data URI it begins with "data:audio/wav;base64,".
Is there a file size limit?
There is no hard limit because the conversion runs locally, but very large files produce very long strings. Files up to about 50 MB work comfortably in modern browsers.
How do I convert the Base64 back to WAV?
Use the Base64 to WAV decoder: paste the string, and you can preview and download the original .wav file.
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