AMR File Won’t Play in Gmail — Here’s the Fix
You received an .amr attachment — a voicemail, call recording, or voice note — and Gmail won’t play it. AMR is a mobile telephony codec that browsers don’t support. Here’s how to play it inline.
Play any voicemail attachment directly in Gmail
Gmail Audio Player decodes µ-law, A-law, GSM, AMR and other telephony formats inside your browser. No downloads. First 10 plays free.
What AMR is
AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate) is the speech codec built into mobile networks and used by many voicemail systems, call recorders and voice-note apps. It compresses voice aggressively, which keeps files tiny — ideal for phones, useless for browsers.
Chrome ships no AMR decoder, so when an .amr file lands in Gmail the built-in player has nothing to decode it with. The file isn’t broken; the browser just can’t read this format.
Where AMR comes from
The fix: play AMR inline in Gmail
Gmail Audio Player decodes AMR directly in your browser using a bundled WebAssembly engine. It detects the attachment, converts it to standard audio locally, and shows a working player inside the email — no converting to MP3, no download, no uploads.
Install it once and every AMR recording plays inline, with scrubbing, speed control, and optional AI transcription on paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I get AMR files in the first place?
AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate) is the speech codec used by mobile networks and many call-recording and voicemail apps. If a recording originated on a phone, it's often saved as .amr.
Why won't Gmail play an .amr file?
Chrome doesn't include an AMR decoder. It's a mobile telephony codec, not a web media format, so Gmail's player can't decode it even though the file is valid.
Do I have to convert AMR to MP3 every time?
No. Converting works but is tedious for every file. Gmail Audio Player decodes AMR inline in your browser, so the attachment just plays — no conversion, no download.
Is my AMR audio uploaded when it's played?
No. Basic playback decodes the file locally in your browser. Audio only leaves your device if you choose AI transcription on a paid plan.
Related fixes
Play your voicemail attachments inside Gmail.
Fix playback in under two minutes. First 10 plays free, no account required.
Install Free on ChromeWorks instantly in Gmail · No account required · Audio never leaves your browser