What is a .m2ts file?
Blu-ray / AVCHD Video · Video · Blu-ray Disc Association · 2006
An .m2ts file is the video container used on Blu-ray discs and AVCHD camcorders. It is an MPEG-2 transport stream, usually holding H.264 high-definition video, found in the BDMV or AVCHD folders.
What is a .m2ts file used for?
M2TS wraps each transport-stream packet with a 4-byte timestamp, which is the main difference from a plain .mts. It stores the main movie on Blu-ray discs and the recordings on AVCHD media.
VLC plays M2TS. To make a portable file, convert it to MP4 with HandBrake, which most players and editors handle easily.
How to open a .m2ts file
The .m2ts format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .m2ts file.
Windows
- VLC
- MPC-HC
- HandBrake (convert)
macOS
- VLC
- IINA
- HandBrake (convert)
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
- HandBrake
How to convert a .m2ts file
You can convert a .m2ts file to mp4, mkv, mov using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.m2ts file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .m2ts file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for M2TS.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| (no fixed signature) | 0 | MPEG-2 transport stream; a 4-byte timestamp precedes each 0x47 sync |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .m2ts file?
An .m2ts file is the video container used on Blu-ray discs and AVCHD camcorders. It is an MPEG-2 transport stream, usually holding H.264 high-definition video, found in the BDMV or AVCHD folders.
How do I open an .m2ts file?
Play it in VLC, which reads Blu-ray and AVCHD streams. For editing or sharing, convert it to MP4 with HandBrake.
Where do .m2ts files come from?
The STREAM folder of Blu-ray discs and the AVCHD folders of camcorders. They hold the actual high-definition video.
What is the difference between M2TS and MTS?
Both are AVCHD transport streams. M2TS (disc form) adds a 4-byte timestamp to each packet; MTS is what camcorders write to memory cards.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: