What is a .ogv file?
Ogg Video · Video · Xiph.Org Foundation · 2007
An .ogv file is Ogg video, an open, royalty-free video format from the Xiph.Org Foundation. It usually carries Theora video with Vorbis audio, and was an early open alternative for web video.
What is a .ogv file used for?
OGV files share the Ogg container signature OggS with Ogg audio. The open, patent-free codecs made OGV a favourite for free-software and Wikipedia video before WebM and AV1 took over.
VLC and Firefox play OGV. For the widest reach today, convert to MP4 or WebM.
How to open a .ogv file
The .ogv 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 .ogv file.
Windows
- VLC
- Firefox
- MPC-HC
macOS
- VLC
- Firefox
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
- Firefox
How to convert a .ogv file
You can convert a .ogv file to mp4, webm, mkv using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.ogv file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .ogv file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for OGV. For a full breakdown, see the OGV file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 4F 67 67 53 | 0 | 'OggS' (Ogg container) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .ogv file?
An .ogv file is Ogg video, an open, royalty-free video format from the Xiph.Org Foundation. It usually carries Theora video with Vorbis audio, and was an early open alternative for web video.
How do I open an .ogv file?
Play it in VLC or a modern browser like Firefox. To use it more widely, convert it to MP4 or WebM.
What is OGV used for?
Open, royalty-free web video, historically on Wikipedia and free-software sites. It usually holds Theora video and Vorbis audio.
What is the difference between OGV and WebM?
Both are open Xiph-related video formats. OGV uses the older Theora codec in an Ogg container; WebM uses newer VP8/VP9 and has broader support.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: