Fact · Transcription
7file formats
OpenAI's transcription API accepts seven file formats: mp3, mp4, mpeg, mpga, m4a, wav and webm.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“Supported input formats are mp3 , mp4 , mpeg , mpga , m4a , wav , and webm .”
Speech to text (OpenAI API guide), OpenAI, OpenAI, 2026, Transcriptions API section.
Open the original- What it measures
- This is the upload format list for OpenAI's hosted transcription endpoint. Other tools, such as a local Whisper install or a phone recorder, accept a different set of formats.
- What it does not show
- A vendor's list for its own API on the day checked. It does not say which formats a phone or a desktop app accepts, and the list can change.