OGV is a video file saved using OGG multimedia container format. OGG format was created by Xiph.org foundation, which develops and promotes open source software.
Multimedia container can be seen as a ‘box’ that contains various types of data streams (audio, video, etc.). Each resource is encoded with a number of codecs specified for given container. For example, OGV uses lossy video compression codec called Theora.
Video streams saved in OGV file can be opened with various free software tools. OGV files can also be played on websites using the HTML5 <video> tag.
Besides OGV extension, OGG container supports other extensions for different types of data:
Files with OGV suffix can be copied to any mobile device or system platform, but it may not be possible to open them properly on target system.
Updated: 05/29/2023
Being unable to open files with OGV extension can be have various origins. What is important, all common issues related to files with OGV extension can be resolved by the users themselves. The process is quick and doesn’t involve an IT expert. The list below will guide you through the process of addressing the encountered problem.
The most common reason for such problems is the lack of proper applications that supports OGV files installed on the system. This issue can be addressed by downloading and installing VLC media player or different compatible program, such as Media Player Classic, J. River Media Center, Miro Video Converter. Above you will find a complete listing of programs that support OGV files, classified according to system platforms for which they are available. The safest method of downloading VLC media player installed is by going to developer’s website (VideoLAN Project Team) and downloading the software using provided links.
If you already have VLC media player installed on your systems and OGV files are still not opened properly, check if you have the latest version of the software. Sometimes software developers introduce new formats in place of that already supports along with newer versions of their applications. This can be one of the causes why OGV files are not compatible with VLC media player. The latest version of VLC media player should support all file formats that where compatible with older versions of the software.
If the issue has not been solved in the previous step, you should associate OGV files with latest version of VLC media player you have installed on your device. The method is quite simple and varies little across operating systems.
The procedure to change the default program in Windows
The procedure to change the default program in Mac OS
Should the problem still occur after following steps 1-3, check if the OGV file is valid. Problems with opening the file may arise due to various reasons.
If the OGV is indeed infected, it is possible that the malware is blocking it from opening. It is advised to scan the system for viruses and malware as soon as possible or use an online antivirus scanner. If the OGV file is indeed infected follow the instructions below.
If you obtained the problematic OGV file from a third party, ask them to supply you with another copy. The file might have been copied erroneously and the data lost integrity, which precludes from accessing the file. It could happen the the download process of file with OGV extension was interrupted and the file data is defective. Download the file again from the same source.
Some files require elevated access rights to open them. Switch to an account that has required privileges and try opening the Ogg Video Format file again.
If the system is under havy load, it may not be able to handle the program that you use to open files with OGV extension. In this case close the other applications.
Latest versions of programs and drivers may help you solve problems with Ogg Video Format files and ensure security of your device and operating system. It is possible that one of the available system or driver updates may solve the problems with OGV files affecting older versions of given software.
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