Audacity 4.0 arrives with a full UI rewrite

Audacity just overhauled its core interface, bringing the long-standing audio editor into the modern era.

The open-source project released version 4.0.0, rebuilding its user interface on Qt to support native high-DPI screens and customizable workspaces. The update replaces old dedicated tool modes with context-sensitive controls, introduces direct clip editing and grouping, and adds native ASIO audio support for official Windows builds. Project files now use a new .aup4 format, and yes, they changed the logo too.

Why it matters: Audacity is the go-to free tool for quick audio edits, but its workflow felt frozen in time. The Qt rewrite adds modern multi-clip editing and cleaner visual layouts. Just check your workflow requirements before jumping in: temporary omissions in 4.0 include MIDI tracks, the Mixer panel, and Macro scripting, all planned for future updates.

Here's the gist on backwards compatibility: opening an older .aup3 file converts it to .aup4 automatically without changing your original project file.

It looks and feels like a modern application—just make sure your must-have features aren't on the temporary pause list.