FormatDrop
Video Format

OGV

Ogg Video Container

OGV is the video file format associated with the open-source Ogg container and Theora video codec. You'll encounter OGV primarily in older web projects (it was required for Firefox HTML5 video support before 2011), Linux video recordings, and open-source game engine assets. It's essentially been replaced by WebM for open-source web video.

What is OGV?

OGV uses the Ogg container format (the same one used by .ogg audio files) combined with the Theora video codec. Theora was developed by Xiph.Org (the same foundation behind FLAC and Ogg Vorbis) as a free, open-source, patent-free video codec. It was standardised around 2004. In the early HTML5 video era (2008–2011), the video codec war meant different browsers required different video formats. Firefox required OGG Theora (or later WebM). Safari required H.264 MP4. This forced web developers to encode videos in both formats. This fragmentation ended when Firefox and other browsers added H.264 support in 2011–2012. WebM (using VP8/VP9 video, a successor to Theora from the same philosophical space — open-source, patent-free video) replaced OGV for open-source web video. Today, Theora and OGV are largely superseded by WebM (VP8/VP9/AV1) for open-source video and H.264 MP4 for universal compatibility. Software support: VLC plays OGV on all platforms. Firefox still supports OGV natively. Chromium-based browsers support OGV via their Theora codec. Most video editing software doesn't handle OGV well.

OGV pros and cons

Advantages

  • Open standard — no patents, no licensing fees
  • Plays natively in Firefox and most Linux video players
  • VLC support on all platforms
  • Good for archiving open-source software assets

Limitations

  • Essentially obsolete — superseded by WebM for open-source video
  • No native support on Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android
  • Theora codec is less efficient than VP8, VP9, H.264, or H.265
  • Poor software support in most video editing applications
  • No hardware decode acceleration on modern devices

When should you convert OGV files?

Convert OGV to MP4 H.264 for universal playback on all devices and platforms. Convert to WebM if you need an open-source web format (WebM is the modern replacement for OGV). Keep OGV only if you're working in an environment that specifically requires Ogg Theora format.

Convert OGV files

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All FormatDrop conversions run entirely in your browser — no file upload, no server processing. Your files stay on your device.

OGV FAQ

How do I play an OGV file?
VLC Media Player plays OGV on Windows, Mac, and Linux — it's the easiest option. Firefox can also open OGV files directly (drag the file onto Firefox, or File → Open File in Firefox). On Mac and Windows without VLC, you'll need to either install VLC or convert the OGV to MP4 first.
What is the difference between OGV and OGG?
OGG typically refers to the Ogg container with Vorbis audio content (.ogg is used for audio). OGV refers to the Ogg container with Theora video content (and usually Vorbis audio). Both use the same underlying Ogg container format — the difference is in the content: audio-only (.ogg) versus video (.ogv). Some systems and software treat the Ogg container with video as .ogv to clarify the content type.

More formats

HEICWebPAVIFEPUBWebMOpusMP3WAVM4AFLACAACMP4AVIMKVMOVJPGPNGGIFSVGTIFFICOBMPEPSARWOGGWMVPPTXPagesPDFDOCXRAWHEVCH.264AIFFM4VWMA3GPDNGRTFPSDTSFLVAIXLSXCSVZIPAPNGMIDIJPEG XLMPG/MPEGVOBM2TSAC3ALACDTSJP2HEIFAPECBZ3G2SRTDOCPPTXLSODTODSM3URAR7ZM4BAMRTXTMOBITARGZJSONXMLYAMLKEYMTSCR2NEFMXFTGACAFASSVTTDSFRMF4VWVASFRMVBORFRW2EAC-3TTAISODMGXZDjVuFB2AUM4RAZW3MKAEXRVCFICSAAXPRCMP2SPXXSPFM3U8