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What are programs I can use to play audio files on my computer?

Many programs are available for playing audio files on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux-based systems. Since there are so many audio formats available, you will most likely need more than one player on your computer. Below is a list of audio programs for the Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms.

Windows:

Company Program Name Primary Formats
Notes

Apple iTunes .M4P The most popular audio playback program for Mac and Windows; supports all major audio formats except for Windows Media and Real Media files; the only program that can play songs downloaded from the iTunes music store and that is compatible with the Apple iPod.

Cowon JetAudio Basic n/a Plays all major file formats, including WAV, MP3, OGG, WMA, MPEG, AVI, WMV, RM, MIDI, as well as video and audio CD tracks; also supports CD burning, recording, and audio file conversion.

Foobar2000 Foobar2000 n/a Supports more than a dozen audio formats, gapless playback, and advanced tagging capabilities; includes tabbed playlists and customizable keyboard shortcuts; also known as "fb2k."

Microsoft Windows Media Player .WMA, .ASF Microsoft media program that plays both audio and video files; included with the Windows operating system; plays Windows Media files and several other common formats.

MODPlug MODPlug Player .MOD Audio module player for Windows that supports many module formats, including MOD, MDL, XM, S3M, 669, FAR, IT, NST, and PTM files as well as many others; also includes other features such as a graphic equalizer for adjusting the sound output.

Nullsoft Winamp n/a The most commonly used Windows music playback program for many years; supports many formats, including Ogg Vorbis files; also supports custom skins, which change the look of the player's interface.

Quux Software QuuxPlayer n/a Music player for Windows designed to focus on the listening experience; supports Home Theatre PC (HTPC) mode and includes a spectrum analyzer and 30-band equalizer.

RealNetworks Real Player .RA, .RAM Plays Real Media audio and video files, including streaming media; also supports other common audio formats.

Yahoo! Music Jukebox n/a Formerly Musicmatch Jukebox, now developed by Yahoo!; supports many different formats and plays back songs downloaded from Yahoo! Music Unlimited, a music download subscription service.

Macintosh:

Company Program Name Primary Formats
Notes

Apple iTunes .M4P The most popular audio playback program for Mac and Windows; supports all major audio formats except for Windows Media and Real Media files; the only program that is compatible with the Apple iPod and that can play songs downloaded from the iTunes music store.

Microsoft Windows Media Player .WMA, .ASF Media playback program from Microsoft that plays both audio and video files; included with the Windows operating system; plays Windows Media files and several other common formats.

Panic Audion n/a Supports MP3, AIFF, WAV, Vorbis, and other common formats; also plays back streaming audio files from Icecast or Shoutcast; includes additional features such as MP3 encoding and visualizations during playback.

RealNetworks Real Player .RA, .RAM Plays Real Media audio and video files, including streaming media; also supports other common audio formats.

Sven Janssen CocoModX .MOD Freeware audio module player developed for Mac OS X; supports over three dozen module formats such as MOD, XM, S3M, IT, AHX, and MDZ files, as well as many others.

VideoLAN VLC Media Player n/a Compact cross-platform media player that plays audio and video files; supports nearly all uncompressed and compressed audio formats, including Ogg Vorbis files.

Linux:

Company Program Name Primary Formats
Notes

4Front Technologies XMMS n/a Popular free audio player for Unix systems; plays MP3s, WAVs, MODs, and other audio file types using Input plugins; also supports Output, Effect, and Visualization plugins, as well as skins that customize the player's interface.

Amarok Project Amarok n/a Audio player with a highly customizable interface that includes support for song lyrics; supports Last.fm radio streams, Ampache server connections, Librivox audio books, Magnatune music, and the OPLM Podcast Directory.

Kaffeine Kaffeine - KDE Media Player n/a Media player for the K Desktop Environment (KDE); supports audio CD playback and several audio files types including MOD and STM files.

Company	Program Name	Primary Formats	Notes
Apple	iTunes	.M4P	The most popular audio playback program for Mac and Windows; supports all major audio formats except for Windows Media and Real Media files; the only program that can play songs downloaded from the iTunes music store and that is compatible with the Apple iPod.
Cowon	JetAudio Basic	n/a	Plays all major file formats, including WAV, MP3, OGG, WMA, MPEG, AVI, WMV, RM, MIDI, as well as video and audio CD tracks; also supports CD burning, recording, and audio file conversion.
Foobar2000	Foobar2000	n/a	Supports more than a dozen audio formats, gapless playback, and advanced tagging capabilities; includes tabbed playlists and customizable keyboard shortcuts; also known as "fb2k."
Microsoft	Windows Media Player	.WMA, .ASF	Microsoft media program that plays both audio and video files; included with the Windows operating system; plays Windows Media files and several other common formats.
MODPlug	MODPlug Player	.MOD	Audio module player for Windows that supports many module formats, including MOD, MDL, XM, S3M, 669, FAR, IT, NST, and PTM files as well as many others; also includes other features such as a graphic equalizer for adjusting the sound output.
Nullsoft	Winamp	n/a	The most commonly used Windows music playback program for many years; supports many formats, including Ogg Vorbis files; also supports custom skins, which change the look of the player's interface.
Quux Software	QuuxPlayer	n/a	Music player for Windows designed to focus on the listening experience; supports Home Theatre PC (HTPC) mode and includes a spectrum analyzer and 30-band equalizer.
RealNetworks	Real Player	.RA, .RAM	Plays Real Media audio and video files, including streaming media; also supports other common audio formats.
Yahoo!	Music Jukebox	n/a	Formerly Musicmatch Jukebox, now developed by Yahoo!; supports many different formats and plays back songs downloaded from Yahoo! Music Unlimited, a music download subscription service.