What is a .vob file?
DVD Video Object · Video · DVD Forum · 1996
A .vob file is a DVD Video Object, the container that holds the actual video, audio and subtitles on a DVD. VOB files are MPEG-2 program streams found in the VIDEO_TS folder of a disc.
What is a .vob file used for?
VOB files start with the MPEG-2 pack header 00 00 01 BA and bundle the movie in chunks (usually 1 GB each). They also carry the DVD's audio tracks, subtitles and menus.
VLC plays VOB directly. To turn a DVD rip into a single modern file, convert the VOBs to MP4 with HandBrake.
What opens a .vob file?
The .vob format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- VLC
- MPC-HC
- HandBrake (convert)
macOS
- VLC
- HandBrake (convert)
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
- HandBrake
Open a .vob file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .vob. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or MPC-HC.
- On Mac, use VLC or HandBrake (convert).
- On Linux, try VLC or mpv.
- Still stuck? Convert the .vob to mp4, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .vob file?
Almost always because no installed app understands VOB. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .vob at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .vob file
You can convert a .vob file to mp4, mkv, mpg using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .vob file signature (magic bytes)?
A .vob file starts with the hex bytes 00 00 01 BA. Programs identify VOB by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for VOB. For a full breakdown, see the MPEG-1/2 file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 00 01 BA | 0 | - | MPEG-2 program stream pack header |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .vob file?
A .vob file is a DVD Video Object, the container that holds the actual video, audio and subtitles on a DVD. VOB files are MPEG-2 program streams found in the VIDEO_TS folder of a disc.
How do I open a .vob file?
Play it in VLC, which handles DVD Video Objects directly. To make a portable copy, convert it to MP4 with HandBrake.
Why is my DVD split into several .vob files?
DVDs split video across VOB files of about 1 GB each. Players follow them in order; converting tools can join them into one file.
How do I convert VOB to MP4?
Use HandBrake: add the VOB (or the VIDEO_TS folder) and encode to MP4 with H.264.
Related formats
Sources
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