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- Audacity 4.0.0 launched on September 3, 2026, with a rebuilt Qt interface, customizable Workspaces, and a new clip-editing system.
- Existing Audacity 3 .aup3 projects can be opened and converted to the new .aup4 format, while the original files remain unchanged.
- The update is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, but some Audacity 3 features—including Time Tracks, MIDI tracks, Mixer, and Macro Manager—aren’t included yet.
Audacity 4 is officially available
Audacity 4.0.0 was released on September 3, 2026. It’s the biggest redesign the free, open-source audio editor has received in years, but it isn’t simply a visual makeover. The update changes how clips are selected, moved, trimmed, grouped, recorded, and organized.
The application has been rebuilt on Qt, giving Audacity a more modern interface across Windows, macOS, and Linux. The core workflow should still feel familiar: tracks and the timeline remain central, common keyboard shortcuts are still available, and projects made in Audacity 3 can be brought into Audacity 4.
For users in Canada and the United States, Audacity 4 is available through the official Audacity download page. There’s no separate regional version or country-specific release process.
The biggest new features in Audacity 4
A completely redesigned clip workflow
The most important change is the new clip-based editing model. In Audacity 4, you can select a clip directly by clicking its header, then Shift-click to select several clips. Once selected, clips can be moved, trimmed, or time-stretched together.
Clips can also be grouped so they stay together when you move, copy, paste, or duplicate them. They can be moved between compatible mono and stereo tracks, and dropping one clip over another replaces the overlapped section rather than simply preventing the move.
Trimming is non-destructive. If you cut away part of a clip, you can extend it later to recover the hidden audio. A dedicated Split tool is also included; press or hold the S key and click the waveform or clip header to split a clip.
More flexible recording
Recording no longer has to begin at the end of existing material. Audacity 4 lets you start recording at any point on the timeline and creates a new clip at that position without automatically moving other clips out of the way.
The playhead remains visible while you navigate, and you can seek to another point during playback without stopping first. Punch and Roll, lead-in recording, latency compensation, software playthrough, and per-track input monitoring have also been rebuilt around the new interface.
Workspaces and a customizable interface
Audacity 4 introduces Workspaces, which let you save different interface layouts for different jobs. The included Modern, Classic, and Music workspaces can be used as starting points, or you can create your own arrangement.
Toolbars and panels can be moved, docked, floated, hidden, or shown as needed. You can also switch between light, dark, and high-contrast themes, select an accent color, and assign colors to tracks and clips.
This is useful if you use Audacity for several types of work. A podcast workspace might prioritize voice tracks and meters, while a music workspace can provide a more production-focused timeline and layout.
Home screen and project thumbnails
The new Home screen displays recent projects with preview thumbnails instead of relying only on filenames. It can also provide access to cloud projects saved through audio.com.
Cloud saving remains optional. You can continue saving projects locally, or use audio.com when you want access from another device or need a sharing workflow.
Improved meters, effects, and spectrograms
Live playback and recording meters are now available in track headers, making it easier to monitor levels without relying only on the main meter area. The official Windows builds also include ASIO playback and recording support.
Audacity’s built-in effects, generators, and analyzers have been rebuilt for the Qt interface. Realtime effect stacks can be managed on individual tracks and on the master output, and effect preset handling is more consistent.
The spectrogram has also been redesigned with clearer guides and rulers, along with faster rendering. Plugin support includes VST3, Nyquist, LV2 on Linux, and Audio Units on macOS. Audacity 4 can also display generated controls when a plugin’s own interface isn’t available.
What changed from Audacity 3?
The interface may take a little time to learn because several older tools and controls have been replaced with context-sensitive editing.
| Audacity 3 workflow | Audacity 4 replacement |
|---|---|
| Select, Envelope, Draw, and Multi-tool modes | Context-sensitive controls, Clip gain mode, sample-level drawing, and the Split tool |
| Sync-Lock | Explicit ripple-editing commands for leaving a gap or moving later material |
| Separate tool switching | Clip handles, direct clip selection, and keyboard-driven actions |
| Traditional project browsing | Home screen with recent-project thumbnails |
The old Sync-Lock system has been removed. To keep tracks synchronized while deleting or inserting material, use the Audacity 4 commands that delete and close a gap across tracks or insert material while preserving sync.
Features missing from Audacity 4.0
Audacity 4 is a major release, but it doesn’t include every Audacity 3 feature. The official release notes say the following are not available in version 4.0:
- Time Tracks
- Note and MIDI tracks
- The Mixer
- Macro Manager and the scripting pipe
- VAMP and LADSPA plugin hosting
- Play-at-speed
Some exporting and rendering features, analyzers, and effects are also still missing. The Audacity team says these areas are being worked on for future releases, but users shouldn’t assume that every older function will be restored immediately.
If your work depends heavily on MIDI, macros, the Mixer, or a particular legacy plugin format, keep Audacity 3 installed for now and test Audacity 4 on a copy of your projects.
Project compatibility: .aup3 becomes .aup4
Audacity 4 uses a new .aup4 project format. Existing .aup3 projects can be opened and converted, and Audacity leaves the original .aup3 file unchanged.
There is one important limitation: after a project is converted and saved as .aup4, it cannot be saved back to .aup3. That means the safest approach is to make a backup before opening important projects in Audacity 4.
- Close Audacity 3 and copy your project folder to another drive or backup location.
- Install Audacity 4 without deleting your existing Audacity 3 installation.
- Open the copied .aup3 project in Audacity 4.
- Check the tracks, effects, labels, timing, and plugins.
- Save the converted project as .aup4 only after confirming that everything works.
Older .aup projects can also be imported, but projects that depend on unavailable features or unsupported plugins may need adjustments.
How to update to Audacity 4
The most reliable option is to download the current installer from the official Audacity website. Audacity 4 is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can download the standard package through MuseHub or choose the official “without MuseHub” download.
Windows
- Open the official Audacity download page.
- Choose the Windows download, preferably the option without MuseHub if you want a traditional standalone installer.
- Run the downloaded installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
- Choose the installation location and complete the setup wizard.
- Launch Audacity 4 from the Start menu and test your microphone or audio interface.
The official Windows builds include ASIO support. Windows on ARM users should choose the appropriate ARM64 build where offered and confirm plugin compatibility before moving production work over.
macOS
- Download the current macOS package from the official Audacity website.
- Open the downloaded DMG file.
- Drag Audacity into the Applications folder.
- Launch Audacity from Applications rather than directly from the DMG window.
- Allow microphone or audio-device access if macOS asks for permission.
Linux
- Download the current AppImage or the package recommended for your distribution.
- If you use the AppImage, give it permission to run.
- Launch Audacity and verify that your recording and playback devices appear in Audio Setup.
- Check your distribution’s package version before relying on it; repository packages can lag behind the current official release.
Should you install Audacity 4 right away?
For new users, Audacity 4 is the version to try first. The interface is more flexible, clip editing is more capable, and the application remains free and open source.
Existing users should be more selective. Update now if you mainly record microphones, edit podcasts, cut music, restore recordings, or export standard audio files. Wait or keep Audacity 3 available if you rely on MIDI tracks, Time Tracks, Macro Manager, the Mixer, VAMP or LADSPA plugins, or any workflow that depends on features not yet included.
In either case, back up important projects before converting them. The original .aup3 files are preserved, but Audacity 4 projects cannot be converted backward to the older format.
Helpful Links
- Audacity official download page – Download Audacity 4.0.0 for Windows, macOS, or Linux, including the standalone option without MuseHub.
- Audacity 4 official release details – Review the new interface, Workspaces, clip editing tools, project compatibility, and supported platforms.
- Audacity official changelog – Read the complete Audacity 4.0.0 release notes and the list of features not yet included.
- Audacity 4 editing guide – Learn how to select, split, trim, stretch, move, and adjust clips in the new editing workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Audacity 4 free?
A. Yes. Audacity 4 remains free and open source under the GPL v3 license. Optional services such as audio.com cloud storage and third-party plugins may have their own terms or pricing.
Q. Will Audacity 3 projects work in Audacity 4?
A. Yes. Audacity 4 can open .aup3 projects and convert them to the new .aup4 format. The original .aup3 file remains unchanged, but the converted project cannot be saved back to .aup3.
Q. Can I keep Audacity 3 after installing Audacity 4?
A. Keeping Audacity 3 available is a sensible precaution, especially if you use MIDI, Time Tracks, macros, the Mixer, or older plugin formats. Install Audacity 4 separately, back up your projects, and test copies before changing your regular workflow.
Q. Does Audacity 4 support VST plugins?
A. Audacity 4 supports VST3, along with Nyquist, LV2 on Linux, and Audio Units on macOS. Some Audacity 3 plugin formats and hosts, including VAMP and LADSPA hosting, are not available in version 4.0.
