iOS · iPhone & iPad
Extract Audio From a Video on iPhone With Shortcuts
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Use the Shortcuts app's Encode Media action with Audio Only enabled, then save or share the resulting audio file. This creates a separate audio file and leaves the original video unchanged.
Choose a video you may reuse
Open Photos or Files and identify the exact video whose audio you are allowed to extract. Copy it first when the video is important, because this workflow creates a new output but does not replace the original.
Create a new shortcut
Open Shortcuts, tap the add button, and name the shortcut so you can recognize it later. Keep the shortcut private when the source video contains personal recordings or licensed material.
Add the media input
Add a Receive or Select input that supplies the video to the shortcut, then confirm it accepts media files. Test with a short non-sensitive clip before processing a long recording.
Add Encode Media
Add the Encode Media action and turn on Audio Only. Apple documents this action for transcoding media and letting you choose whether the encoded output contains video or only audio.
Save the audio output
Add a Save File or Share action after Encode Media and choose the intended destination when prompted. Give the file a clear name and avoid saving it to a shared folder unless everyone there should access the recording.
Run and verify the shortcut
Run the shortcut on the selected video, wait for it to finish, then open the output in Files or a compatible player. Listen to the start and end before deleting any source material or sending the audio to someone else.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the shortcut saves a video instead, reopen Encode Media and confirm Audio Only is enabled before running it again.
- If the output will not play, try a short standard video first and keep the original until you have verified the audio file.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: iPhone & iPad.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.