Audacity 4.0 released with major Qt interface redesign

Audacity has released version 4.0, marking the most significant overhaul in the open-source audio editor’s 25-year history. Developed by Muse Group, the update features a complete rebuild of the user interface using the Qt framework, replacing the previous wxWidgets toolkit. This transition enables native high-DPI rendering, support for light and dark modes, and customizable “Workspaces” including Modern, Classic, and Music layouts.

A central feature of the update is a new clip-based editing model. Users can now select, trim, time-stretch, and group multiple clips simultaneously. The new system allows clips to overlap and replace underlying audio rather than blocking movement. Additionally, a dedicated split tool has been introduced, and users can now record starting from any point on the timeline without moving existing clips.

The update also introduces the .aup4 project format, which supports preview thumbnails and new metadata. While the new format is backward compatible with .aup3 and older files, conversion is a one-way process. To maintain focus on core editing, some legacy features such as MIDI support, the mixer, and time tracks have not yet been migrated to the new version.