This help page is a how-to guide. It details processes or procedures of some aspect(s) of Wikipedia's norms and practices. It is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, and may reflect varying levels of consensus and vetting.

Before a file can be used, it must be uploaded to either Wikipedia or the Wikimedia Commons sister project. Uploading to Commons is recommended as files can be used by other sister projects. Files being used under fair use provisions must be stored on Wikipedia. The markup is the same regardless of where it is uploaded.

The following sound formats may be uploaded:

• ogg/oga – recommended.
• wav
• flac
• mid

To the side

Normally, sound files are presented on Wikipedia pages using the Template:Listen or its related templates.

This is an example, displaying common usage:

Accordion chords

Chords being played on an accordion

---

Problems playing this file? See media help.

{{listen |filename=Accordion chords-01.ogg |title=Accordion chords |description=Chords being played on an accordion }}

Inline

Template:Audio

This template links to an audio file for quick listening. It is meant to be used inline with text, for pronunciations and the like.

{{Audio|name of sound file|text to use as link to soundfile}}

Example:

'''Eisenhüttenstadt''' ({{Audio|De-Eisenhüttenstadt.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a town in ...

gives this:

Eisenhüttenstadt (pronunciation^ⓘ) is a town in ...

Other inline templates

• Template:Pronunciation – A shortcut for {{Audio|soundfile.ogg|pronunciation}}

In an infobox

• Template:Audio sample – This template is for adding a music sample within {{Infobox song}}.

Normally, sound files are presented on Wikipedia pages using the Template:Listen or its related templates. However, it is also possible to present an audio file without any template.

File:Accordion chords-01.ogg

The parameter |thumbmay be used to give the file a caption. That will also float the playbutton to the right.

File:Accordion chords-01.ogg|thumb|Caption

The size of the player can be specified:

File:Accordion chords-01.ogg|233px

Combining size and caption:

File:Accordion chords-01.ogg|thumb|240px|Caption

None of these examples provide links to Help:Media. Thus, whenever this method is used, the Template:Inline audio must be shown on the page.

To link to a description page, put a colon before the prefix.

:File:Example.ogg

File:Example.ogg

You can also link directly to the file using "Media:" instead of "File:". This method must not be used solely for a file under a license which requires attribution, such as CC-BY licenses.

Media:Example.ogg

Media:Example.ogg

In both cases piped links also work.

• Wikipedia:Extended image syntax#Sound files
• Help:Music
• Help:Phonos