Audacity
Also called audacity editor
A free audio editor. Muse Group owns it now. Audacity.exe is the process. It is not Audition.
What you need to know
Audacity is free. Audition is Adobe's paid editor.
Audacity.exe is a GPL waveform editor now owned by Muse Group. Adobe Audition.exe grew from Cool Edit Pro. An .aup3 file is Audacity.
- What is it?
- Free audio editor
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is Audacity?
Audacity is an open-source waveform editor. Projects live in .aup3 files. The Windows executable is Audacity.exe.
If you have never used it
Audacity is a free audio editor. Muse Group owns the project now. Audacity.exe is the process. It is not Adobe Audition. Download from audacityteam.org. A telemetry debate happened after the Muse acquisition. The editor is still the free waveform app.
What is it used for?
Cut, amplify, and noise-reduce a file. Audition does this as a paid Adobe app.
A simple project. Audition sessions are SESX. This is .aup3.
WAV, MP3 (with a library), FLAC. The working file is still Audacity.
Who is it for?
- Podcasters who want free
- Students who were told to install Audacity
- Anyone who opened Audition looking for a free editor
Current status
Audacity (2000) is a current free audio editor from Muse Group. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.audacityteam.org/download/.
How old is it?
Audacity started in 2000. Muse Group acquired it in 2021. Adobe Audition is the Cool Edit descendant (2003 as Audition). Current Audacity uses .aup3 project files.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| Audacity.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
Audacity does not need to start with Windows.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\Audacity\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
MP3 export missing
Install the FFmpeg library Audacity documents. This is not Audition's encoder.
Privacy prompts after Muse
Read the current Audacity privacy settings. That debate is not an Audition issue.
Getting unstuck
Confirm Audacity.exe
Program Files\Audacity is the app. Adobe Audition.exe is Creative Cloud.
Install from audacityteam.org/download
Avoid random Audacity.exe hosts.
Reset settings from Help
Audacity documents a settings reset. This is not Adobe preferences.
Alternatives
Audition and REAPER overlap. Audition does not replace a free .aup3 workflow.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | www.audacityteam.org/download/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | support.audacityteam.org/ Vendor support |
| Official site | www.audacityteam.org/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
Any current Windows 10 or 11 PC runs it. Long files want disk, not a GPU.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Audacity official site · Vendor product page
- Audacity help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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