What is the AWB file format?
.awb is an audio file storing speech encoded with the AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband) codec. AMR-WB was standardized by 3GPP in 2001 (TS 26.190) and adopted as ITU-T G.722.2; the .awb file storage format is defined in RFC 4867 (2007).
AMR-WB samples at 16 kHz - twice the 8 kHz of narrowband AMR (.amr) - delivering noticeably better voice quality. It is the codec behind "HD Voice" in modern mobile networks. The codec encodes 20 ms speech frames using ACELP (Algebraic Code-Excited Linear Prediction) at nine selectable bit rates from 6.60 to 23.85 kbps.
An .awb file opens with the 9-byte ASCII magic string #!AMR-WB\n (hex: 23 21 41 4D 52 2D 57 42 0A), followed by a linear sequence of encoded frames. Each frame is prefixed by a 1-byte header encoding the Frame Type Index (modes 0-8 for active speech, mode 9 for SID comfort noise, mode 15 for silence). There is no index or seek table - frames are simply concatenated. The file has no built-in checksum.
.awb audio is also commonly embedded inside .3GP video containers on mobile devices. The codec is patent-encumbered; most modern players support it under license. For new voice applications, the royalty-free Opus codec is the recommended modern replacement.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWAn .awb file is passive audio data and safe to open in a legitimate media player. Practical risks: 'AWB converter' searches surface ad-heavy sites and fake players bundling PUP/adware - prefer VLC or FFmpeg from their official sites. Voice recordings may be private/sensitive - handle accordingly.
Format details
in a nutshell- ArcView World Basemap file - Esri ArcGIS uses .awb for certain basemap bundle files; completely unrelated to audio.
Programs that open AWB files
Windows3 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Media > Open File > select the .awb to play it. The reliable free choice - handles AMR-WB natively. 
FFmpeg
Open-source Play with ffplay or convert: 'ffmpeg -i voice.awb voice.mp3'. The most dependable AMR-WB decoder/converter. 
Foobar2000
Free Open the .awb in this lightweight audio player; AMR-WB supported via its codec library. 
macOS2 apps
FFmpeg
Open-source Install via Homebrew ('brew install ffmpeg'), then 'ffmpeg -i voice.awb voice.m4a'. 
Linux2 apps
Android1 app
VLC for Android
Open-source Open the .awb from a file manager. Many Android devices also play AMR-WB natively (system codec). Technical details
deep spec| Magic bytes | 23 21 41 4D 52 2D 57 42 0A (#!AMR-WB followed by newline byte 0x0A, 9 bytes total) at offset 0 |
| Sample rate | 16 kHz (wideband; 2× the 8 kHz of AMR-NB / .amr) |
| Codec | AMR-WB - ACELP (Algebraic Code-Excited Linear Prediction) |
| Available bit rates | 9 modes: 6.60, 8.85, 12.65, 14.25, 15.85, 18.25, 19.85, 23.05, 23.85 kbps |
| Frame duration | 20 ms per speech frame |
| Frame header byte | 1-byte prefix per frame: bits 3-6 = Frame Type Index (0-8 active, 9=SID, 15=NO_DATA); bit 2 = quality flag |
| Container | RFC 4867 flat binary - magic header followed by linearly concatenated frames; no index or seek table |
| Silence/comfort noise | Frame Type 9 = SID (comfort noise / silence insertion); Frame Type 15 = NO_DATA (pure silence) |
| Standards | 3GPP TS 26.190; ITU-T G.722.2; RFC 4867 (2007) defines the .awb file storage format |
| Typical file size | ~100 KB/min at 12.65 kbps; ~145 KB/min at 23.85 kbps |
| Patent status | Patent-encumbered; commercial implementation requires a patent license |
| MIME type | audio/amr-wb |
| Multi-channel variant | Uses #!AMR-WB_MC1.0 magic header (RFC 4867 §5); standard single-channel .awb uses the #!AMR-WB header |
| Released | AMR-WB standardized by 3GPP in 2001 (TS 26.190); adopted as ITU-T G.722.2 |
| Latest version | RFC 4867 (2007) defines the current .awb storage format (supersedes RFC 3267) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | datatracker.ietf.org |
AWB conversions
Community Q&A
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