What is the IFO file format?
.ifo files are used to store information describing a DVD disc. The .ifo format does not contain any multimedia data itself - it only references video content through correlated files. Data contained within an .ifo file includes:
- movie chapters and title structure,
- location of subtitle streams,
- location of audio tracks,
- menu navigation and playback start points.
A DVD disc contains two types of .ifo file: VIDEO_TS.IFO (the Video Manager, identified by the DVDVIDEO-VMG signature at offset 0) and one or more VTS_##_0.IFO files (Video Title Sets, identified by DVDVIDEO-VTS). Using these files, a device reading a DVD is able to access all the information necessary for correct display of the whole disc structure. It is therefore essential that .ifo files are present on the disc.
.ifo files work alongside .VOB files, which carry the actual MPEG-2 audio and video data, and .BUP backup files. Each .ifo has a matching .bup - a byte-for-byte copy kept as a fallback if the primary file is damaged.
Opening an .ifo file in a compatible video application will typically launch playback of the associated DVD structure. If no .vob data is present in the same folder, video will not play.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWAn IFO is inert navigation data - safe. The considerations are legal/practical, not malware: commercial DVDs are usually CSS-encrypted, and copying/converting their VOBs (which the IFO maps) can be restricted by copy-protection law in your country; home-recorded/unprotected discs convert freely. Keep IFO/VOB/BUP together to retain menus. Avoid uploading ripped DVDs to online converters for size and privacy reasons.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open IFO files
Windows3 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Media → Open Folder → pick the VIDEO_TS folder to play with menus, or open VIDEO_TS.IFO directly. The IFO provides chapters/menus; video comes from the VOBs. 
HandBrake
Open-source Not a player - point it at the VIDEO_TS folder; it reads the IFO for titles/chapters and converts the DVD to MP4/MKV. 
Cyberlink PowerDVD
Paid Open the DVD/VIDEO_TS folder for full menu navigation; long-standing commercial DVD player. 
macOS2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Open the VIDEO_TS folder (or VIDEO_TS.IFO) in VLC to play with menus and chapters.
HandBrake
Open-source Convert the ripped DVD folder to MP4 for Apple devices; uses the IFO for chapter/title info. 
Linux2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source 'vlc path/to/VIDEO_TS' plays the DVD structure including menu navigation. Technical details
deep spec| File signatures | `DVDVIDEO-VMG` (12-byte ASCII at offset 0) for `VIDEO_TS.IFO`; `DVDVIDEO-VTS` for each `VTS_##_0.IFO` |
| Byte order | Big-endian (network byte order) throughout all multi-byte integer fields |
| MIME type | `application/octet-stream` - no dedicated MIME type is registered for this format |
| Naming convention | `VIDEO_TS.IFO` for the disc-level Video Manager; `VTS_##_0.IFO` for each Video Title Set (## ranges 01-99) |
| Maximum Video Title Sets per disc | 99 (`VTS_01_0.IFO` through `VTS_99_0.IFO`) |
| Audio streams mapped | Up to 8 per title set; each entry records the codec (AC-3, MPEG, DTS, LPCM), language code, and stream ID within the VOB |
| Subtitle (subpicture) streams mapped | Up to 32 per title set, each with a language code and stream ID referencing subpicture data in the paired VOB |
| Backup copy | Every `.ifo` file has a byte-for-byte duplicate stored as a `.bup` file on the same disc for error recovery |
| Chapter timecodes | Stored as VOBU (Video Object Unit) address and timing tables, enabling frame-accurate chapter seek without scanning the VOB |
| Parental control levels | Stores per-title parental management information for up to 8 regional guard levels as defined in the DVD-Video specification |
| Video attributes recorded | Each title's aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:9), letterbox/pan-scan permission flags, resolution, and NTSC/PAL system identifier |
| Developer / governing body | DVD Forum; defined in the DVD-Video Book (DVD Specification for Read-Only Disc, Part 3) |
| Media it indexes | References `.vob` sector addresses for audio/video cells but stores no compressed media data itself |
| Typical file size | A few kilobytes up to roughly 1 MB, depending on the number of titles, chapters, and menu structures on the disc |
| Released | 1996 (DVD-Video specification) |
IFO conversions
Community Q&A
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