Windows 10 doesn’t have a built-in tool for cutting MP3 files, and Windows Media Player can’t do it. Use Clipchamp, Microsoft’s video and audio editor from Microsoft Store: add the MP3, drag the ends of the clip to trim it, then export it as audio only. The trimmed file saves as an M4A audio file, which plays in Windows and on most phones.
Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.
Get Clipchamp
- Select Start, open Microsoft Store, and search for Microsoft Clipchamp.
- Select Get or Install, then open it.
Trim the MP3
- In Clipchamp, create a new video.
- Select Import media and choose your MP3 file.
- Drag the MP3 from Your media down to the timeline.
- Select the audio on the timeline, then drag its left or right edge to cut off the parts you don’t want.
Trim more precisely and add fades
- Zoom in: press Ctrl + = to zoom into the timeline, and Ctrl + – to zoom out, so small drags change less of the audio.
- Play and pause: press the spacebar to listen to the spot you’re about to cut.
- Cut out the middle: move the playhead to where the unwanted part starts and press S to split. Split again where it ends, select the middle piece, and press Delete.
- Fade in or out: select the audio and open Fade in the panel on the right. Drag the sliders so the sound starts or ends smoothly instead of cutting off.
Save the trimmed file
- Select Export in the top-right corner.
- Choose Audio only.
- When it finishes, save the file to your PC. It saves as an .m4a file.
Your original MP3 isn’t changed. Video has its own guides: trim a video in Windows 10 and merge videos on Windows 10.
Another option: Audacity
If you need the result as an MP3, use Audacity, a free audio editor. Open the MP3, drag across the part you don’t want, and press Delete. Then select File > Export Audio and choose MP3. Download it only from Audacity’s official website.
If trimming doesn’t work
- Audio only isn’t offered when you export. Clipchamp only offers it when the project has nothing but audio. Remove any video, images, or text from the timeline.
- The MP3 won’t import. The file may be damaged or protected. Check that it plays in Windows Media Player first.
- Clipchamp asks you to sign in. It needs a free Microsoft account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep it as an MP3?
Clipchamp exports audio as M4A, not MP3. M4A plays in Windows Media Player and on most phones.
What about my own voice recordings?
The Voice Recorder app in Windows 10 can trim its own recordings. Open the recording and select Trim.
Will trimming lower the sound quality?
Slightly, because the audio is saved again in a new file. For music and voice clips, most people won’t hear a difference.
Where is the trimmed file saved?
Clipchamp saves exports to your Downloads folder unless you choose another place. Rename the file so it’s easy to find later.
Can I trim several MP3 files at once?
Not in one step. Trim each file in its own project, or put them all on one timeline if you want to join them into a single file.
Is it different on Windows 11?
The steps are the same. Clipchamp usually comes installed on Windows 11, so you can skip getting it from the Store.
Can I use Clipchamp without installing it?
Yes. Clipchamp also runs in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome at app.clipchamp.com, with the same tools.
Can I make a ringtone this way?
Yes. Trim the part you want to about 30 seconds, export it, and copy the file to your phone. Many Android phones accept M4A ringtones. iPhones need extra steps through a computer, so check Apple’s instructions.
Microsoft’s reference is Exporting and saving a video in Clipchamp.
Related: How to Edit an MP3 File on Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.