What is the VPD file format?
A .vpd file is a project file created by VSO PhotoDVD, a Windows application by VSO-Software (France) for assembling photo slideshows and burning them to DVD. It stores project metadata: the slide sequence, transition types and durations, background audio assignments, caption and subtitle text, DVD menu template references, and output settings such as video format and bitrate.
The .vpd file does not embed the actual photos or audio tracks - it holds only references (file paths) to the source media. Moving or renaming the project file without its accompanying images and audio files will break all media links.
VSO PhotoDVD was first released in 2004. The last public build, version 4.0.0.37, was published in September 2011. The product has been effectively abandoned since then, with no confirmed compatibility with Windows 10 or 11. Users migrating away from PhotoDVD typically re-create projects in tools such as Pinnacle Studio or similar slideshow applications.
The internal format is proprietary to VSO PhotoDVD and is not publicly documented; it cannot be parsed or edited outside the application. Since the software is no longer maintained, .vpd files represent a legacy format with limited long-term viability.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWVPD project files are data/configuration containers with no execution capability. Risk is limited to the usual concern with any file from an untrusted source. The bigger practical risk is that PhotoDVD (abandonware, 2011) may not run on modern Windows without compatibility shims.
Format details
in a nutshell- Vodafone Product Document (VPD) - Unrelated use of .vpd in Vodafone device management/product documentation - rare.
- Various proprietary project/data formats - Several minor applications have used .vpd for project or data files unrelated to PhotoDVD.
Programs that open VPD files
Windows1 app
PhotoDVD
Paid Launch PhotoDVD, go to File > Open Project and select the .vpd file. All referenced media must be present at their original paths. WARNING: PhotoDVD has not been updated since 2011 and may have issues on Windows 10/11; test on a compatible system. Technical details
deep spec| Internal format | Proprietary; likely XML-based (undocumented); cannot be parsed outside PhotoDVD |
| Encoding | Likely UTF-8 text (if XML) or little-endian binary (Windows-native); internal structure is undocumented |
| Container | Single-file proprietary project container |
| Compression | None; source media is linked by path and not embedded in the .vpd |
| Encryption | None; the project file and all referenced media are unprotected |
| Typical file size | Under 1 MB (project metadata only; source images and audio are external files) |
| Media storage | References only - absolute or relative file paths to source images and audio; no embedded media |
| Stored project data | Slide sequence, transition types and durations, background audio, captions, DVD menu template, output format and bitrate settings |
| Platform | Windows only |
| Magic bytes | None publicly documented; format identified solely by the .vpd extension and application association |
| Last supported version | PhotoDVD 4.0.0.37 (September 2011) |
| Product status | Abandonware since 2011; compatibility with Windows 10/11 unconfirmed |
| Released | 2004 (VSO PhotoDVD first release) |
| Latest version | PhotoDVD 4.0.0.37 (released Sep 2011; last public build) |
| Specification | www.vso-software.fr |
VPD conversions
Community Q&A
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