What is the OGV file format?
.ogv is a video file saved using the Ogg multimedia container format. The Ogg format was created by the Xiph.Org Foundation, which develops and promotes open-source multimedia software.
A multimedia container can be thought of as a "box" that holds various types of data streams - audio, video, and more. Each stream is encoded with a specific codec. .ogv files most commonly carry video compressed with Theora (a DCT-based lossy codec derived from On2's VP3, donated to Xiph in 2002) alongside audio encoded with Vorbis or Opus. Some .ogv files may also carry VP8 video instead of Theora.
.ogv files can be opened with many free software tools, including VLC media player, mpv, and Firefox or Chrome. They can also be played on websites using the HTML5 <video> tag - the registered MIME type is video/ogg.
All Ogg files share the same OggS file signature at byte offset 0; the actual content type is determined by which codec appears in the first logical bitstream inside. Xiph introduced the .ogv extension specifically so video Ogg files would not be confused with audio-only .ogg files. Besides .ogv, the Ogg container uses other extensions for different types of data:
For modern open-codec video delivery, .ogv has largely been superseded by WebM (VP8/VP9 or AV1 in a Matroska-derived container).
Security & safety
RISK: LOWOGV is a media container and carries no scripting or macros, so the files themselves are low-risk. The realistic concern is the usual one for any media file: a maliciously crafted stream could try to exploit a bug in a decoder, so keep your player (VLC/FFmpeg) updated. Files downloaded from Wikimedia and other reputable sources are safe; be wary of "free OGV converter" download sites that bundle adware - use VLC, HandBrake or FFmpeg.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open OGV files
Windows3 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Double-click, or drag the OGV onto the VLC window; plays Theora/Vorbis out of the box. 
MPC-HC (Media Player Classic)
Open-source Open with MPC-HC; the actively maintained clsid2 fork includes the needed decoders.
Firefox / Chrome
Free Drag the OGV into a browser tab - both render Ogg Theora natively (no plugin). 
macOS2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Open with VLC; QuickTime does not support Theora, so VLC is the simplest route. 
Linux2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Double-click; preinstalled or one apt/dnf install away on most distributions. 
Android1 app
VLC for Android
Open-source Open the OGV from the Browse tab; Android's built-in player usually rejects Theora.
VLC for Mobile
Open-source Add the file via the Files app or Wi-Fi upload; iOS has no native Theora support.
Any modern browser
Free Open file:// the OGV or drop it into a tab - Firefox and Chrome decode Ogg Theora natively. Technical details
deep spec| MIME type | video/ogg (also video/x-theora+ogg) |
| Container | Ogg bitstream (RFC 3533 / RFC 5334) |
| Primary video codec | Theora (DCT-based lossy, derived from On2 VP3) |
| Alternative video codec | VP8 (also valid inside .ogv containers) |
| Audio codec | Vorbis or Opus |
| File signature (magic bytes) | OggS - 0x4F 0x67 0x67 0x53 at byte offset 0 |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Chroma subsampling | 4:2:0 YCbCr (Theora default) |
| Color depth | 8-bit per channel |
| Integrity check | CRC32 per Ogg page (polynomial 0x04C11DB7); corrupt pages can be skipped |
| Maximum frame size | Up to 1,048,560 × 1,048,560 px (Theora 20-bit width/height fields) |
| Audio sample rate | Typically 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz (Vorbis/Opus track) |
| Typical file size | 5 MB - 2 GB (varies by length, resolution and bitrate) |
| Stream structure | Interleaved Ogg pages; each page carries a serial number, granule position and CRC32 |
| Released | 2007 (Ogg .ogv profile defined by Xiph; Theora 1.0 released November 2008) |
| Latest version | Theora 1.1 (Thusnelda, 2009); container per RFC 5334 (2008) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | xiph.org |
OGV conversions
Community Q&A
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