# Upload audio files on the web

> Drag audio files anywhere onto Canto on the web — multiple at once, each file becomes its own recording with a transcript and notes.

Updated: 2026-08-16 · Canonical: https://usecanto.com/help/recording/import-audio-web/

On the web, drag audio files from your computer anywhere onto Canto — an overlay appears saying **Drop audio to import** — and drop them. You can drop several at once; as the overlay says, "Each file becomes a recording", with its own transcript, speakers, and AI notes.

## How do I upload files?

Two ways:

- **Drag and drop** — drag files from your file manager over the Canto window and release when the **Drop audio to import** overlay appears. This works from anywhere in the app.
- **Import audio** button — click it on the home screen and pick files with the system dialog.

Either way, each file starts uploading immediately and shows up in your library, moving through **Uploading**, **Processing**, and **Transcribing** to **Ready** — see [How does Canto process recordings?](https://usecanto.com/help/getting-started/how-canto-works/)

Keep the tab open until uploads finish. Once a file shows **Transcribing**, the cloud has it and you can close the tab.

## What about multiple files?

Drop them all together. They upload in parallel and each becomes a separate recording — Canto never merges files. That makes the web the right place to migrate a backlog: a folder of old voice memos or interview files becomes a searchable, chattable library in one drag. Untitled files are named "Imported recording" until the AI titles them from their content.

## Which formats work?

m4a, mp4 (audio), aac, mp3, wav, ogg, oga, opus, flac, webm, and caf — which covers the voice-note formats messaging apps export — up to 1 GB per file. A file Canto can't recognise as audio fails with an import error naming the file; other files in the same drop still go through.

## Do uploads count against my free minutes?

Yes — every transcribed minute counts, recorded or uploaded. The free plan includes 100 min / mo per month, so a bulk import can hit the limit; files over it wait untranscribed until you upgrade or the month resets. See [Why is my recording locked or not transcribed?](https://usecanto.com/help/transcription/locked-recordings/)

## FAQ

### Can I upload from my phone's browser?

Use the apps instead — they take shared files from any app, which is the natural path on a phone. See [Import audio files on iOS and Android](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/import-audio-ios-android/)

### Where do uploaded recordings go?

Into your library, synced to all your devices like any recording. To file them, see [Move recordings](https://usecanto.com/help/organize/move-recordings/)

### The language of my file isn't English — anything to set?

No. Transcription detects the spoken language per file automatically.

Related articles:

- [Import audio files on iOS and Android](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/import-audio-ios-android/)
- [How does Canto process recordings?](https://usecanto.com/help/getting-started/how-canto-works/)
- [Why is my recording locked or not transcribed?](https://usecanto.com/help/transcription/locked-recordings/)