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.MTS

MTS File

AVCHD Video (MPEG-2 Transport Stream)
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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 27, 2026 3.5 (15 votes) Thanks for rating!
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An MTS file is HD video recorded by an AVCHD camcorder - Sony, Panasonic, Canon or JVC. The free VLC media player opens it on Windows, macOS and Linux with no extra codecs. To share or edit the footage, convert it to MP4 with the free HandBrake.

Developer: Sony & Panasonic (AVCHD consortium) Category: Video Files Open standard MIME: video/mp2t
OPENS ON Windows macOS Linux
Related: .DAV · .MKV · .MP4 · .H264

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Last reviewed Jul 27, 2026

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What is the MTS file format?

Files with the .mts extension contain video data stored in the AVCHD format, dedicated to high-resolution movies using the MPEG-2 Transport Stream container with H.264/AVC video compression.

.mts files are most commonly produced by consumer camcorders recording high-definition video. The AVCHD format was jointly introduced by Sony and Panasonic in 2006, and .mts is the on-camera extension for footage captured directly to flash memory, built-in hard drive, or miniDVD disc. The format can also serve as a carrier for high-resolution content on Blu-ray discs.

When AVCHD video is processed on a PC or imported from a Blu-ray disc, it is typically stored as a .M2TS file instead. Both formats share the same MPEG-2 Transport Stream structure, but .m2ts packets carry a 4-byte Blu-ray timecode prefix, making each packet 192 bytes rather than the standard 188 bytes used in .mts.

Properties of the .mts format:

  • uses H.264/AVC (MPEG-4 Part 10) video compression
  • supports 720p and 1080i HD resolutions; AVCHD 2.0 extended this to 1080/60p and 3D
  • supports dual-channel (stereo) and 5.1 surround audio tracks
  • enables audio compression with the Dolby AC-3 codec
  • audio can also be stored as uncompressed linear PCM

Beyond audio/video content, the format supports navigation features including simple menus, subtitles, and slide shows.

Content in the AVCHD format can be stored on SDHC or SDXC memory cards and played directly on many TVs and multimedia consoles. It is worth noting that regular DVD players do not support .mts content - a Blu-ray player or compatible device is needed.

Security & safety

RISK: LOW

MTS is passive video data with no scripting, so opening one is safe. The only real cautions are practical: a malformed download could be mislabelled, so play unknown files in VLC (sandboxed-ish, robust) rather than enabling unknown codec packs; and avoid sketchy 'MTS codec' or 'free MTS converter' downloads that bundle adware - VLC and HandBrake are the trustworthy free tools.

Format details

in a nutshell
FULL NAMEAVCHD Video (MPEG-2 Transport Stream)
DEVELOPERSony & Panasonic (AVCHD consortium)since AVCHD format announced 2006 by Sony and Panasonic
CATEGORYVideo Files
MIME TYPEvideo/mp2t
TYPEMPEG-2 Transport Stream container with H.264/AVC video (binary)
STANDARDOpen · royalty-free
RELATED.dav.mkv.mp4.h264
MAGIC BYTES · FILE SIGNATURE
OFFSET
00
HEX
47
ASCII
G
MTS is an MPEG-2 Transport Stream: it is built from fixed 188-byte packets, each starting with the sync byte 0x47 ("G"). So 0x47 appears at offset 0 and again every 188 bytes, which is the reliable structural fingerprint (TS has no single file-header magic). The .m2ts variant on Blu-ray/AVCHD discs is the same stream with a 4-byte timecode prefix per packet (192-byte packets), so its sync byte sits at offset 4.

Programs that open MTS files

Windows4 apps
VLC media player Open-source Drag the .mts into VLC and it plays immediately - no extra codecs needed.
HandBrake Open-source Open the .mts, pick the 'Fast 1080p30' MP4 preset (enable deinterlace if 1080i), and Start Encode to convert to MP4.
Films & TV / Windows Media Player Built-in Windows 10/11 can play many MTS files natively (HEVC/AVCHD support); if audio/video is missing, use VLC instead.
DaVinci Resolve Freemium Free professional editor; import the MTS (or the whole AVCHD folder) to edit and export.
macOS2 apps
VLC media player Open-source Open the .mts in VLC for instant playback on macOS.
iMovie / Final Cut Pro Free Import from the AVCHD camera/folder; iMovie (free) and Final Cut transcode AVCHD on import.
Linux3 apps
VLC media player Open-source Play the .mts directly in VLC.
HandBrake Open-source Convert MTS to MP4 with the same presets as on Windows/Mac.
Shotcut / OpenShot Open-source Free editors that import MTS for cutting and export to MP4.

Technical details

deep spec
Container formatMPEG-2 Transport Stream (MPEG-TS); fixed 188-byte packets
Video codecH.264/AVC (MPEG-4 Part 10)
MIME typevideo/mp2t
Sync / magic bytes0x47 ("G") at offset 0, repeating every 188 bytes - the TS packet boundary fingerprint
Supported resolutions720p (1280×720), 1080i (1920×1080); AVCHD 2.0 adds 1080/60p
Maximum video bitrateUp to 24 Mbps (AVCHD 1.0); up to 28 Mbps (AVCHD 2.0)
Audio codecsDolby AC-3 (Dolby Digital) and uncompressed linear PCM
Audio channelsStereo (2.0) and 5.1 surround
Color subsamplingYCbCr 4:2:0
DeveloperSony and Panasonic (AVCHD consortium)
Primary use caseOn-camera recording by consumer and prosumer camcorders
Supported storage mediaSDHC/SDXC cards, built-in camcorder HDD, miniDVD optical discs
Relation to .m2ts.m2ts uses the same TS stream with a 4-byte Blu-ray timecode prefix per packet (192-byte packets vs. 188)
Subtitle supportBitmap-based sub-picture subtitle streams multiplexed into the TS
Frame scanInterlaced (1080i) or progressive (720p, 1080/60p in AVCHD 2.0)
ReleasedAVCHD format announced 2006 by Sony and Panasonic
Open standardYes · royalty-free
Specificationen.wikipedia.org

MTS conversions

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.MTS .MPGOnline converter
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.MTS .M4VOnline converter
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.MTS .WEBMOnline converter
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.MTS .TSOnline converter
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.MTS .DIVXOnline converter
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.MTS .TRPOnline converter
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.MTS .AVIOnline converter
Yes, MTS converts to AVI with HandBrake, VLC, or FFmpeg -- but MP4 is almost always a better target.
How to convert
.MTS .MKVOnline converter
Yes - MKVToolNix remuxes MTS to MKV without re-encoding, so the conversion is lossless and fast.
How to convert
.MTS .MP4Online converter
Yes - open the MTS in the free HandBrake, pick an MP4 preset, and click Start Encode.
How to convert
.MTS .F4VOnline converter
How to convert
.MTS .M2TSOnline converter
Yes, you can convert MTS to M2TS without re-encoding using tsMuxeR or FFmpeg.
How to convert
.MTS .MOVOnline converter
Yes, MTS converts to MOV - HandBrake does it for free on Windows, macOS and Linux in a few clicks.
How to convert
.MTS .MP3Online converter
Yes - VLC or FFmpeg can extract the audio track to MP3 in minutes; the video is discarded.
How to convert
.MTS .WMVOnline converter
Yes, you can convert MTS to WMV using the free VLC media player or FFmpeg - both work on Windows without…
How to convert

Community Q&A

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Frequently asked questions

How do I play an MTS file?
Use the free VLC media player on Windows, macOS or Linux - it plays MTS instantly with no extra codecs. Windows 10/11 can also play many MTS files in the built-in Films & TV / Media Player app.
How do I convert MTS to MP4?
Open the file in the free HandBrake, choose an MP4 preset (e.g. Fast 1080p30), tick Deinterlace if the footage is 1080i, and click Start Encode. The result plays on phones, web and editors.
What is an MTS file?
It's AVCHD high-definition video from a camcorder (Sony, Panasonic, Canon and others). Technically it's an MPEG-2 transport stream containing H.264 video and Dolby/PCM audio.
What's the difference between MTS and M2TS?
They're the same AVCHD video stream. M2TS (used on Blu-ray/AVCHD discs) adds a small 4-byte timecode in front of each packet; MTS is the camera's on-card form. Both convert to MP4 the same way.
Why won't my MTS file import into my video editor?
Some editors don't accept raw MTS or need the whole AVCHD folder for clip metadata. Import from the camera's AVCHD folder if possible, or convert to MP4 with HandBrake first.
My MTS footage looks combed/interlaced - how do I fix it?
Many camcorders record 1080i (interlaced). When converting in HandBrake, enable the Deinterlace (or Decomb) filter so it displays smoothly on computer and phone screens.
Can I join my split MTS files into one video?
Yes. Long recordings are split into numbered clips. Import the whole AVCHD folder into an editor (which spans them automatically), or concatenate with FFmpeg/a video joiner, then export one MP4.

References

1Wikipedia - AVCHDen.wikipedia.org
2Wikipedia - MPEG transport stream (.m2ts/.mts)en.wikipedia.org

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