What is the LRV file format?
The .lrv format was designed to store low-resolution proxy video, generated automatically by GoPro action cameras - and more recently by DJI drones and Osmo devices - alongside each full-quality MP4 video recording. Both clips capture the same footage, but the .lrv copy is downscaled so that GoPro's mobile and desktop apps can scrub, preview, and edit recordings smoothly without loading the heavy main file.
Additional facts about .lrv files:
- Clips saved with the
.lrvextension use MPEG-4 / H.264 encoding inside a standard MP4 container, typically at 240p (426 × 240) resolution and approximately 29.97 frames per second. - Video in the
.lrvformat uses far less disk space: the same footage that occupies roughly 450 MB as a 4K.mp4compresses to around 20 MB as an.lrvproxy, making it practical to share a quick preview or scrub a long clip on a low-power device. - Because
.lrvis technically just a renamed.mp4, most applications that cannot open the file directly can play it after a simple extension rename - no re-encoding needed. VLC and GoPro Quik handle.lrvnatively. - GoPro cameras also store a companion .THM file alongside each
.lrv. The.thmfile is a small JPEG thumbnail used for cover art in apps and on-camera previews; like.lrv, it shares the same base filename as the main HD clip.
The .lrv file's binary structure is identical to a standard MP4: the ISO Base Media ftyp box appears at byte offset 4 (the first four bytes encode the box length, commonly 00 00 00 18), making the file indistinguishable from a regular MOV by signature alone. DJI cameras and drones generate a similar proxy sidecar - sometimes saved as .lrf - using the same MP4 container approach.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWLRV files are ordinary MP4 video with no executable content, so they are safe to open and safe to delete. The only real 'risk' is user error: when renaming .lrv to .mp4, give it a NEW name - if you reuse the high-res clip's name you can overwrite your full-quality footage with the low-res proxy. Also be wary of sketchy 'LRV converter' download sites that bundle adware; you don't need them - VLC, the rename trick, or FFmpeg/HandBrake do everything for free. It is normal and safe to delete .LRV (and .THM) files once you've offloaded the real .MP4 clips.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMELow Resolution Video (GoPro / DJI proxy clip)
DEVELOPERGoPro (also used by DJI and other action cameras)since GoPro action cameras (HERO era, ~2014 onward); also DJI drones/Osmo
CATEGORYVideo Files
MIME TYPEvideo/mp4
TYPEMPEG-4 / H.264 video in an MP4 container (just a renamed proxy .mp4)
STANDARDOpen · royalty-free
MAGIC BYTES · FILE SIGNATURE
OFFSET
0405060708090a0b
HEX
0000001866747970
ASCII
····ftyp
An LRV file is really an MP4: the ISO Base Media 'ftyp' box appears at offset 4 (the first 4 bytes are the box size, commonly 00 00 00 18 or 00 00 00 1C). The leading bytes are the box length, so identify by the ASCII 'ftyp' at offset 4, not offset 0. It plays in any MP4-capable player; the .lrv extension is the only thing 'special'.
Programs that open LRV files
Windows3 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Media > Open File and select the .lrv - VLC ignores the extension and plays it. The no-rename option. 
Rename to .mp4 (then any player)
Built-in Enable file-name extensions in Explorer, rename file.lrv to file2.mp4 (new name!), then open with Films & TV / Media Player.
GoPro Quik (desktop)
Freemium GoPro's own app uses the LRV proxies to preview/edit your footage; import the clips from the camera/card. 
macOS2 apps
QuickTime Player (rename to .mp4)
Built-in Rename the .lrv to a new .mp4 name, then double-click to play in QuickTime/Photos. 
Linux1 app
Android1 app
VLC for Android
Open-source Open the .lrv in VLC; or rename to .mp4 to use the default gallery player.
iOS1 app
VLC for Mobile
Open-source Play the .lrv in VLC on iPhone/iPad, or use the GoPro Quik app which handles the proxies. Technical details
deep spec| Container format | ISO Base Media / MPEG-4 Part 12 - binary structure identical to a standard .mp4 file |
| Video codec | H.264 (AVC), typically Baseline or Main profile |
| Audio codec | AAC-LC, low-bitrate mono or stereo |
| Proxy resolution | 240p (426 × 240 px) on most GoPro HERO models; exact dimensions vary by camera generation |
| Frame rate | ~29.97 fps, mirroring the paired main clip's frame rate |
| Typical video bitrate | 1-4 Mbps (vs. 45-120 Mbps for the paired 4K main file) |
| MIME type | video/mp4 - no LRV-specific MIME type is registered; same as standard MP4 |
| File signature | ISO Base Media ftyp box at byte offset 4; ASCII ftyp = hex 66 74 79 70; first 4 bytes are box length (e.g. 00 00 00 18) |
| Companion files | Always paired with a same-named .mp4 main clip and a .thm thumbnail; all three share the same base filename |
| Producers | GoPro HERO series (HERO3+ onward), GoPro MAX, GoPro Fusion; DJI drones and Osmo devices |
| Primary purpose | Proxy preview and in-app scrubbing - enables smooth editing on mobile or low-power hardware without decoding the full HD stream |
| Typical size ratio | Approximately 2-5% of the paired 4K .mp4 (≈20 MB vs. ≈450 MB for equivalent footage) |
| Rename workaround | Renaming .lrv to .mp4 makes the file immediately playable in any MP4-capable player - no re-encoding required |
| Related DJI variant | DJI cameras use .lrf as a near-identical proxy format - same MP4 container, same sidecar pairing concept |
| Released | GoPro action cameras (HERO era, ~2014 onward); also DJI drones/Osmo |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | gopro.com |
LRV conversions
Possible
.LRV .MP4GUIDE
Yes - the fastest method is renaming the file from .lrv to .mp4, since LRV is already an MP4 container…
How to convert
.LRV .MOVGUIDE
Yes, LRV converts to MOV with FFmpeg or VLC - fastest route is ffmpeg -i clip.lrv -c copy out.mov.
How to convert
.LRV .MP3GUIDE
Yes, you can extract the audio from an LRV file to MP3 using VLC or a single FFmpeg command.
How to convert
.LRV .GIFGUIDE
Yes - the fastest way is FFmpeg on the command line, or drag the LRV into an online GIF maker after renaming…
How to convert
.LRV .AVIGUIDE
You can convert LRV to AVI with VLC or HandBrake, but the output will be low-resolution because the LRV is a…
How to convert
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about LRV files.
Frequently asked questions
What is an LRV file?
It's a Low Resolution Video - a small, low-quality proxy copy of a clip your GoPro or DJI camera recorded alongside the full-quality .MP4. The camera and phone app use it for fast previewing and editing. Technically it's just an MP4 with a different extension.
How do I open an LRV file?
Open it directly in VLC (it ignores the extension), or rename the file from .lrv to .mp4 (give it a new name) and play it in any video player. On a phone, VLC or the GoPro Quik app works.
How do I convert LRV to MP4?
The fastest way is to just rename .lrv to .mp4 - it's already MP4 internally. For a clean copy use 'ffmpeg -i in.lrv -c copy out.mp4' or HandBrake. Note it stays low resolution; renaming can't restore full quality.
Can I delete LRV files?
Yes. Once you've copied the real high-resolution .MP4 clips off the camera, the .LRV proxies (and .THM thumbnails) are safe to delete unless you want them for fast proxy editing in the GoPro app.
Why is my GoPro video an LRV and where's the real file?
The .LRV is the low-res proxy; the full-quality version is the matching .MP4 with the same clip number on the SD card (GoPro names them like GH01xxxx.MP4 vs GL01xxxx.LRV). If only the .LRV exists, the .MP4 may not have copied across - re-check the card.
Is LRV the same on DJI and GoPro?
Both use .LRV the same way - a low-resolution MP4 proxy generated next to the main clip for quick editing. The opening/renaming advice is identical for either.
References
1GoPro Support - LRV and THM files on the SD cardcommunity.gopro.com
2VideoLAN - VLC media playerwww.videolan.org
