What is the 3GA file format?
Files with the .3ga extension are audio files containing audio data stored in the 3GPP format. .3ga files are usually encountered on mobile phones, and they are used while recording, playing or sending audio data. The format was popularized by Samsung and LG as the default output of their built-in voice recorders.
.3ga files have many similarities to .3gp files; however, the former store only sound while the latter additionally stores video. Both formats share the same ISO Base Media File Format (ISO-BMFF) container - the same binary structure used by .mp4 files. Audio codecs used for storing audio tracks in the .3ga format include:
- AMR-WB+ (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband Plus)
- AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband)
- AMR-NB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Narrowband)
- HE-AAC v2
- HE-AAC v1
- AAC-LC
Due to its characteristics and structure, .3ga files use less disk space than standard audio files, which gives them an advantage in mobile device usage - the memory of a device is less affected. The official MIME type is audio/3gpp. On modern systems, .3ga files can be opened in VLC or converted to more widely supported formats such as .m4a or .aac using a tool like FFmpeg.
Security & safety
RISK: LOW3GA files are audio data, not executable code, so a genuine recording is safe to play. The only real cautions: a file arriving as "memo.3ga.exe" would be malware in disguise (check the true extension), and online 3GA-to-MP3 converters upload your audio to a third party - for private voice recordings use a local tool (VLC/FFmpeg) instead.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open 3GA files
Windows2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Drag the .3ga onto VLC - it includes the AMR/AAC codecs and plays it directly; best first choice. 
Media Player (Windows 11)
Built-in Try double-clicking; modern Windows can play AAC-based 3GA, but AMR voice recordings usually need VLC. 
macOS2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Open the .3ga in VLC; reliable for both AMR and AAC recordings on a Mac. 
QuickTime Player
Built-in Plays AAC-based 3GA; for AMR voice recordings use VLC instead. (QuickTime for Windows is discontinued - Mac only.) 
Linux2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Open in VLC or mpv; available in every distro repository, plays 3GA out of the box. 
FFmpeg
Open-source Play/inspect or convert from the command line: 'ffplay file.3ga' or 'ffmpeg -i file.3ga out.mp3'. 
Android1 app
VLC for Android
Open-source Open the .3ga in VLC; the phone's own Voice Recorder/Files app also plays its recordings natively. Technical details
deep spec| Container format | ISO Base Media File Format (ISO-BMFF) - same binary box structure as MP4 and 3GP |
| File signature | ASCII "ftyp" at byte offset 4; bytes 0-3 hold the box size (4-byte big-endian integer) |
| MIME type | audio/3gpp |
| Typical file brand | 3gp4, 3gp5, or 3gpp stored in the ftyp box immediately after the signature |
| Supported audio codecs | AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AMR-WB+, AAC-LC, HE-AAC v1, HE-AAC v2 |
| Sampling rate | AMR-NB: 8 kHz; AMR-WB / AMR-WB+: 16 kHz; AAC variants: up to 48 kHz |
| Channel support | Mono for AMR codecs; mono or stereo for AAC codecs |
| Typical bitrate | AMR-NB: ~4.75-12.2 kbps; AMR-WB: ~6.6-23.85 kbps; AAC-LC: ~32-128 kbps |
| Relationship to 3GP | Audio-only subset of .3gp - identical container, video track omitted |
| Primary platform origin | Android smartphones (Samsung, LG built-in voice recorders) and older Symbian/feature phones |
| Raw AMR fallback | Some devices write AMR-NB content as raw AMR with an "#!AMR\n" text header instead of ISO-BMFF |
| Developer / standard body | 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project); widely adopted by Samsung since ~2010 |
| Desktop compatibility | Not natively supported on Windows or macOS - requires VLC, FFmpeg, or codec pack |
| Conversion | FFmpeg command: ffmpeg -i input.3ga -c:a aac output.m4a converts to a universally supported AAC file |
| Released | 3GPP file format finalized ~2004; .3ga used by Samsung/LG voice recorders since ~2010 |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | www.3gpp.org |
3GA conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about 3GA files.
