AUP3 File

What are AUP3 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an AUP3 file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your AUP3 files.

What is an AUP3 file?

An .AUP3 file is an Audacity 3 Project file.

Audacity Project files store the complete state of an audio editing session created by Audacity version 3.0.0 or later. They include all tracks and clips, label tracks, volume envelopes, panning, effects settings and metadata so that work in progress can be resumed exactly where it was left off. These files do not export to a format other applications can read - they are meant for saving and reopening projects in Audacity only.

Earlier Audacity versions used two parts: a project instruction file plus a data folder with audio clips. The modern format consolidates everything into a single database file so there is no risk of losing audio by moving or deleting components. Projects saved in the new format cannot be opened in Audacity versions before 3.0.0. Work-in-progress audio is stored losslessly inside this file.

This format is implemented as an SQLite 3 database. It uses internal tables named project and autosave (holding project state as binary blobs), a sampleblocks table for storing audio data in blocks of up to about 1 MB, plus other tables to hold schema info, tags, metadata and sample formats. Immediately recognizable by its database header beginning "SQLite format 3".

How to open AUP3 files

Important: Different programs may use files with the AUP3 file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your AUP3 file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested two different AUP3 openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 22, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of AUP3 files. Remember, different programs may use AUP3 files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about AUP3 file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.