What is the OGG file format?
.ogg files refer to both audio and multimedia container files, meaning they can include compressed audio, video or text data (for example: subtitles) and metadata. This changed in 2007, when the Xiph.Org Foundation - creator of the container format - decided to create separate file extensions for specific types of multimedia. Other extensions in the Ogg family include .ogv for video, .oga for dedicated audio, .ogx for multiplexed streams, .spx for Speex speech audio, and .opus - the modern successor to the Vorbis codec.
Since 2007, the .ogg extension should be used only for audio files encoded with the Vorbis codec.
A file in the .ogg format stores audio data in a compressed form using the Vorbis lossy codec. .ogg files have common features with .mp3 files: both use psychoacoustic compression to reduce file size. However, Vorbis can deliver better perceived quality while maintaining the same file size, and unlike MP3 it is fully open and patent-free. .ogg files also contain metadata in the form of Vorbis Comments - UTF-8 key=value pairs carrying information about artists, tracks, and albums.
The Vorbis encoder works at variable bitrate (VBR) by default, with quality levels from -2 to 10 translating to average bitrates of roughly 32 kbps to 500 kbps. All .ogg files open with the four-byte magic sequence OggS at byte offset 0, identifying the Ogg container, while the string vorbis inside the first page's identification header marks the Vorbis codec specifically.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWAn .ogg file is passive compressed audio - it contains no executable code, so the format itself is safe to open. Standard media caveats apply: malformed files can target bugs in a player's decoder, so keep VLC/players updated; and game-extracted or downloaded audio may be copyrighted. Beware fake "OGG player" downloads from portal/ad sites bundling adware - use VLC, foobar2000 or Audacity from their official sites instead.
Format details
in a nutshell- Ogg Opus / Ogg FLAC audio - The .ogg extension is sometimes used for Opus or FLAC audio in an Ogg container, though .opus/.oga are the correct extensions for those.
- Ogg Theora video (OGV) - An Ogg container can carry Theora video; such files are normally given the .ogv extension but occasionally appear as .ogg.
- Game audio asset - Many games (Unity, Source engine, RPG Maker) ship sound effects and music as .ogg Vorbis files inside their data archives.
Programs that open OGG files
Windows5 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Drag the .ogg onto VLC - plays Vorbis (and any other Ogg codec) out of the box. 
Web Media Extensions (Microsoft)
Free Install from the Microsoft Store to add Ogg Vorbis playback to Windows Media Player and Edge. 
macOS2 apps
Linux2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Plays .ogg; virtually every Linux player (mpv, Rhythmbox, Audacious) supports Vorbis via GStreamer. 
Android1 app
VLC for Android
Open-source Open the .ogg from the Audio tab; Android also plays Vorbis natively in most stock players.
Any modern browser
Built-in Firefox, Chrome and Edge play Ogg Vorbis natively; just open the file URL (Safari does not). Technical details
deep spec| MIME type | audio/ogg |
| Magic bytes | 4F 67 67 53 ("OggS") at byte offset 0 |
| Codec | Vorbis (lossy psychoacoustic compression) |
| Container format | Ogg bitstream (pages of up to 65,536 bytes) |
| Bitrate mode | Variable bitrate (VBR) by default; ABR and CBR modes also available |
| Quality / bitrate range | Quality settings -2 to 10, yielding approximately 32-500 kbps average bitrate |
| Supported channels | Mono, stereo, and up to 255 discrete audio channels |
| Sample rate support | 8 kHz to 192 kHz |
| Internal processing | 32-bit floating-point MDCT (Modified Discrete Cosine Transform) |
| Metadata format | Vorbis Comment - UTF-8 key=value pairs embedded in the second Ogg page |
| Codec identification | String "vorbis" at approximately byte offset 29 inside the first Ogg page header |
| Endianness | Little-endian |
| Seeking | Random access supported via Ogg page granule positions |
| Developer | Xiph.Org Foundation |
| Released | 2000 (Ogg container); Vorbis 1.0 codec released July 2002 |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | xiph.org |
OGG conversions
Community Q&A
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