What is a .mts file?
AVCHD Camcorder Video · Video · Sony / Panasonic (AVCHD) · 2006
An .mts file is AVCHD video, the format many Sony and Panasonic camcorders record. It is an MPEG-2 transport stream carrying high-definition H.264 video, and is the same content as the .m2ts files on AVCHD discs.
What is a .mts file used for?
MTS is a transport stream, built for reliable playback rather than editing, so it uses recurring 0x47 sync bytes instead of a single header. Camcorders write .mts to memory cards; the on-disc form is .m2ts.
VLC plays MTS directly. For smooth editing and sharing, convert it to MP4 with HandBrake, which many video editors prefer.
How to open a .mts file
The .mts 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 .mts file.
Windows
- VLC
- PowerDirector
- HandBrake (convert)
macOS
- VLC
- iMovie
- HandBrake (convert)
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
- HandBrake
How to convert a .mts file
You can convert a .mts file to mp4, mkv, mov using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.mts file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .mts file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for MTS.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| (no fixed signature) | 0 | MPEG-2 transport stream; 0x47 sync bytes recur every 188 bytes |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .mts file?
An .mts file is AVCHD video, the format many Sony and Panasonic camcorders record. It is an MPEG-2 transport stream carrying high-definition H.264 video, and is the same content as the .m2ts files on AVCHD discs.
How do I open an .mts file?
Play it in VLC, which handles AVCHD directly. For editing, convert it to MP4 with HandBrake first, since many editors handle MP4 better.
What is the difference between MTS and M2TS?
Same AVCHD content. Camcorders record .mts to memory cards; the version stored on AVCHD discs and Blu-rays is .m2ts, with slightly different packaging.
How do I convert MTS to MP4?
Use HandBrake: load the .mts and encode to MP4 with H.264. VLC can also convert it.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: