Here you will find an overview of most video formats. Many of these formats are very rare and can only be played with certain codecs or players.
The probably most common formats worldwide are .MPG, .AVI and .MP4.
MPEG (.mpg) is probably the most common video format standardized by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 compression is the most popular, the MPEG-2 compression is also used for DVDs.
AVI has become known for all because of DivX and Xvid, which are based on the MPEG4 standard. DivX was a high quality video codec with high compression for the distribution of digital videos, so the files are only a fraction of the original size with minimal loss of quality. Video resolutions up to 1080 HD are supported. The DivX format is recognized by several software video playback programs as well as some DVD players and other consumer electronics. However, there are now better video codecs such as h.264 or h.265.
An MP4 file is a multimedia file that is commonly used to store movies or video clips, but can also contain subtitles or images. MP4 is an abbreviation for MPEG-4 Part 14, a container format based on the QuickTime (QTFF) file format of .MOV and .QT files. Current versions also include h.264 or h.265 videos.
Which Video File Extensions are available?
Now it’s getting long. Here comes the ultimate list of Video File Extensions:
.264 Ripped Video Data File
.3G2 3GPP2 Multimedia File
.3GP 3GPP Multimedia File
.3GP2 3GPP Multimedia File
.3GPP 3GPP Media File
.3GPP2 3GPP2 Multimedia File
.3MM 3D Movie Maker Movie Project
.3P2 3GPP Multimedia File
.60D CCTV Video Clip
.787 AVTECH CCTV Video File
.890 Cavena Subtitles File
.AAF Advanced Authoring Format File
.AEC Cinema 4D After Effects Composition
.AECAP After Effects Text Template
.AEGRAPHIC Adobe After Effects Graphic
.AEP After Effects Project
.AEPX After Effects XML Project
.AET After Effects Project Template
.AETX After Effects XML Project Template
.AJP CCTV Video File
.ALE Avid Log Exchange File
.AM Anark Media File
.AMC AMC Video File
.AMV Anime Music Video File
.AMX Adobe Motion Exchange File
.ANIM Amiga Animation File
.ANX Annodex Exchange Format File
.AQT AQTitle Subtitles File
.ARCUT Prelude Rough Cut File
.ARF WebEx Advanced Recording File
.ASF Advanced Systems Format File
.ASX Microsoft ASF Redirector File
.AV Video Surveillance File
.AV3 Arbitrator Video Surveillance File
.AVB Avid Bin File
.AVC Avid Media Composer Script
.AVCHD High Definition Video File
.AVD Movie Edit Pro Video Information File
.AVE Avigilon Native Video Export File
.AVI Audio Video Interleave File
.AVM Anime Music Video
.AVP Avid Project File
.AVR EverFocus Recording File
.AVS AviSynth Script File
.AVS Application Visualization System File
.AVV Avid Volume Bin File
.AWLIVE Active Webcam Video File
.AXM AXMEDIS Object
.AXV Annodex Video File
.BDM AVCHD Information File
.BDMV Blu-ray Disc Movie Information File
.BDT2 BEEDOCS Timeline 3D 2 Document
.BDT3 BEEDOCS Timeline 3D 3 Document
.BIK Bink Video File
.BIN Binary Video File
.BIX Kodicom Video File
.BLZ TeamViewer Blizz Session File
.BMC Bolide Movie Creator Project File
.BMK PowerDVD MovieMark File
.BNP Sony Camcorder Video Data File
.BOX Kodicom Video
.BS4 Mikogo Session Video Recording
.BSF Blu-ray AVC Video File
.BU Samsung CCTV Video File
.BVR Blue Iris Video
.BYU Brigham Young University Movie File
.CAMPROJ Camtasia Studio Project
.CAMREC Camtasia Studio Screen Recording
.CAMV Camtasia Video File
.CED JVC Camera Video Data File
.CEL FLIC Animation
.CINE Phantom Digital Video File
.CIP Cavena Subtitles File
.CLK ClickView Video File
.CLPI Blu-ray Clip Information File
.CME Command Multimedia Evidence File
.CMMP Camtasia MenuMaker Project
.CMMTPL Camtasia MenuMaker Template
.CMPROJ Camtasia Project File
.CMREC Camtasia Recording
.CMV CorelMOVE Animation
.CPI AVCHD Video Clip Information File
.CPVC Adobe Captivate Video Composition
.CREC Lync Video File
.CST Director External Cast File
.CVC cVideo
.CX3 CMS Recorded Video File
.D2V DVD2AVI File
.D3V Datel Video File
.DAD IMS200 Video Record File
.DASH MPEG-DASH Video File
.DAT VCD Video File
.DAV DVR365 Video File
.DB2 Samsung CCTV Video Information File
.DCE DriveCam Video File
.DCK Resolume Deck File
.DCR Digital Court Recorder Video File
.DCR Liberty Video Recording File
.DDAT DivX Temporary Video File
.DIF Digital Interface Format
.DIR Adobe Director Movie
.DIVX DivX-Encoded Movie File
.DLX Sony VDU Video File
.DMB Digital Multimedia Broadcasting File
.DMSD Roxio MyDVD Project
.DMSD3D Roxio MyDVD 3D Project
.DMSM VideoWave Movie Project File
.DMSM3D VideoWave 3D Movie Project File
.DMSS VideoWave SlideShow Project File
.DMX Source Filmmaker Project File
.DNC Windows Dancer File
.DPA DrawPlus Animation File
.DPG Nintendo DS Movie File
.DREAM Dream Animated Wallpaper File
.DSY Besta Video File
.DV Digital Video File
.DV-AVI Microsoft DV-AVI Video File
.DV4 Bosch Security Systems CCTV Video File
.DVDMEDIA RipIt DVD Package
.DVR Microsoft Recorded TV Show
.DVR-MS Microsoft Digital Video Recording
.DVX DivX Video File
.DXR Protected Macromedia Director Movie
.DZM DirectorZone Menu Template
.DZP DirectorZone Particle Effect File
.DZT DirectorZone Title File
.EDL Edit Decision List File
.EVO HD DVD Video File
.EVO SeeVogh Player Video Recording
.EXO YouTube Video Chunk File
.EXP DX Series Exported Video File
.EYE Eyemail Video Recording File
.EYETV EyeTV Recording File
.EZT EZTitles Subtitles File
.F4F Flash Video Fragment
.F4M Adobe Flash Media Manifest File
.F4P Adobe Flash Protected Media File
.F4V Flash MP4 Video File
.FBR FlashBack Screen Recording
.FBR Mercury Screen Recording
.FBZ FlashBack Screen Recorder Movie
.FCARCH Final Cut Pro Archive
.FCP Final Cut Project
.FCPROJECT Final Cut Pro X Project File
.FFD ffDiaporama Project File
.FFM FFmpeg Stream File
.FLC FLIC Animation
.FLH FLIC Animation File
.FLI FLIC Animation
.FLIC FLIC Animation
.FLV Animate Video File
.FLX FLIC Animation
.FPDX Utilius Fairplay Project
.FTC FluxTime Clip File
.FVT FAST Search & Transfer Video File
.G2M GoToMeeting Recording File
.G64 Genetec Video File
.G64X Genetec Video File
.GCS Cineform Studio Video Project
.GFP GreenForce-Player Protected Media File
.GIFV GIF Video File
.GL GRASP Animation
.GOM GOM Media File
.GRASP GRASP Animation
.GTS CaptiveWorks PVR Video File
.GVI Google Video File
.GVP Google Video Pointer
.GXF General eXchange Format File
.H264 H.264 Encoded Video File
.HDMOV QuickTime HD Movie File
.HDV High Definition Video Format
.HEVC High Efficiency Video Coding File
.HKM Havok Movie File
.IFO DVD-Video Disc Information File
.IMOVIELIBRARY iMovie Library File
.IMOVIEMOBILE iOS iMovie Project File
.IMOVIEPROJ iMovie Project File
.IMOVIEPROJECT iMovie Project
.INP Sony Camcorder Image Management File
.INT Sony Camcorder Image Management File
.IRCP SpeedGrade IRIDAS Composite File
.IRF CCTV DVR H.264 Video File
.ISM IIS Smooth Streaming Manifest File
.ISMC Smooth Streaming Client Manifest File
.ISMCLIP iStopMotion Animation Clip
.ISMV IIS Smooth Streaming Video File
.IVA Surveillance Video File
.IVF Indeo Video Format File
.IVR Internet Video Recording
.IVS Internet Streaming Video
.IZZ Isadora Media Control Project
.IZZY Isadora Project
.JDR IROAD Dash Cam Video File
.JMV Jnes Movie File
.JNR JoinNet Recording File
.JSS JACOsub Subtitle File
.JTS Cyberlink AVCHD Video File
.JTV JRiver TV File
.K3G 3GP Mobile Phone Video File
.KDENLIVE Kdenlive Project File
.KMV Mobile DJ Video File
.KTN KTooN Animation Project File
.LREC Inter-Tel Web Conference Recording
.LRV Low Resolution Video File
.LSF Streaming Media Format
.LSX Streaming Media Shortcut
.LVIX Lightworks Video Index File
.M15 MPEG Video
.M1PG iFinish Video Clip
.M1V MPEG-1 Video File
.M21 MPEG-21 File
.M21 AXMEDIS MPEG-21 File
.M2A MPEG-1 Layer 2 Audio File
.M2P MPEG-2 Program Stream File
.M2T HDV Video File
.M2TS Blu-ray BDAV Video File
.M2V MPEG-2 Video
.M4E MPEG-4 Video File
.M4U MPEG-4 Playlist
.M4V iTunes Video File
.M75 MPEG Video
.MANI Mine-imator Project File
.META RealPlayer Metafile
.MGV PSP Video File
.MJ2 Motion JPEG 2000 Video Clip
.MJP MJPEG Video File
.MJPEG Motion JPEG Video File
.MJPG Motion JPEG Video File
.MK3D Matroska 3D Video File
.MKV Matroska Video File
.MMV MicroMV Video File
.MNV PlayStation Movie File
.MOB MOBTV Video File
.MOD Camcorder Recorded Video File
.MODD Sony Video Analysis File
.MOFF Sony Video Data File
.MOI MOI Video File
.MOOV Apple QuickTime Movie
.MOV Apple QuickTime Movie
.MOVIE QuickTime Movie File
.MOVIE Payday Movie File
.MP21 MPEG-21 Multimedia File
.MP21 AXMEDIS MPEG-21 Object
.MP2V MPEG-2 Video File
.MP4 MPEG-4 Video File
.MP4.INFOVID Parrot AR Drone and Gyro Flyer Video
.MP4V MPEG-4 Video
.MPE MPEG Movie File
.MPEG MPEG Movie
.MPEG1 MPEG-1 Video File
.MPEG2 MPEG-2 Video File
.MPEG4 MPEG-4 File
.MPF MainActor Project File
.MPG MPEG Video File
.MPG2 MPEG-2 Video File
.MPG4 MPEG-4 Video File
.MPGINDEX Adobe MPEG Index File
.MPL AVCHD Playlist File
.MPL MPL2 Subtitles File
.MPLS Blu-ray Movie Playlist File
.MPROJ Mine-imator Project
.MPSUB MPlayer Subtitles File
.MPV MPEG Elementary Stream Video File
.MPV2 MPEG-2 Video Stream
.MQV Sony Movie Format File
.MSDVD Windows DVD Maker Project File
.MSE MediaShow Slideshow Project File
.MSH Visual Communicator Project File
.MSWMM Windows Movie Maker Project
.MT2S MPEG-2 Transport Stream File
.MTS AVCHD Video File
.MTV MTV Video Format File
.MVB Multimedia Viewer Book Source File
.MVC Movie Collector Catalog
.MVD Movie Edit Pro Movie File
.MVE Infinity Engine Movie File
.MVEX Muvee autoProducer 6 Project File
.MVP MAGIX Video Project File
.MVP MoviePlus Project File
.MVY Video easy Project File
.MXF Material Exchange Format File
.MXV MAGIX Video File
.MYS Vineyard Captured Video File
.N3R Panasonic Security System Video File
.NCOR Adobe Encore Project File
.NFV Netflix Video File
.NSV Nullsoft Streaming Video File
.NTP Natron Project File
.NUT NUT Video File
.NUV NuppelVideo File
.NVC NeroVision Express Project File
.OGM Ogg Media File
.OGV Ogg Video File
.OGX Ogg Vorbis Multiplexed Media File
.ORV Oracom Video File
.OSP OpenShot Project File
.OTRKEY OnlineTvRecorder Encoded Video File
.PAC PAC Subtitles File
.PAR Dedicated Micros DVR Recording
.PDS PowerDirector Script File
.PGI Video Recording File
.PHOTOSHOW Roxio PhotoShow Project
.PIV Pivot Stickfigure Animation
.PJS Phoenix Subtitles File
.PLAYLIST CyberLink PowerDVD Playlist
.PLPROJ Adobe Prelude Project File
.PMF PSP Movie File
.PMV Return to Zork Video File
.PNS Pelco CCTV Video File
.PPJ Premiere 6 Project File
.PREL Premiere Elements Project File
.PRO ProPresenter Export File
.PRO4DVD ProPresenter DVD Clips Document
.PRO5DVD ProPresenter DVD Clips Document
.PROQC ProPresenter Quartz Composition
.PRPROJ Premiere Pro Project
.PRTL Premiere Pro Title File
.PSB PowerDivX Subtitles File
.PSH Photodex Slide Show
.PSSD PhotoSuite Slide Show File
.PSV Pluralsight Video File
.PVA PVA Video File
.PVR Wintal PVR Video File
.PXV Pixbend Media File
.PZ Panzoid Video Project
.QT Apple QuickTime Movie
.QTCH QuickTime Cache File
.QTINDEX Adobe QTIndex File
.QTL QuickTime Link File
.QTM Apple QuickTime Movie File
.QTZ Quartz Composer File
.R3D REDCODE Video File
.RCD pcAnywhere Recorded Session File
.RCPROJECT iMovie ’08 Project
.RCREC LogMeIn Remote Control Session Recording
.RCUT Webinaria Recording Cut
.RDB Wavelet Video Images File
.REC Topfield PVR Recording
.RM RealMedia File
.RMD RED Metadata File
.RMD RealPlayer Media File
.RMP RealPlayer Metadata Package File
.RMS Secure Real Media File
.RMV Radical Entertainment Video File
.RMVB RealMedia Variable Bit Rate File
.ROQ Id Software Game Video
.RP RealPix Clip
.RSX RED Metadata XML File
.RTS RealPlayer Streaming Media
.RTS QuickTime Real-Time Streaming Format
.RUM Bink Video Subtitle File
.RV Real Video File
.RVID Snapz Pro X Recorded Video File
.RVL muvee Reveal X Project File
.SAN Smush Animation File
.SBK SWiSH Project Backup File
.SBT SBT Subtitle File
.SBZ ShowBiz Project File
.SCC ScreenFlow Screen Recording
.SCM ScreenCam Screen Recording
.SCM Super Chain Media File
.SCN Pinnacle Studio Scene File
.SCREENFLOW ScreenFlow Document
.SDV Studio DV Project File
.SEC Samsung Security Video File
.SEC GuinXell Video File
.SEDPRJ Slideshow Studio Elements Project
.SEQ NorPix StreamPix Sequence
.SER Astronomical Capture Video File
.SFD Sofdec Dreamcast Movie
.SFERA Sfera 360° File
.SFVIDCAP Sonic Foundry Video Capture File
.SIV Silicon Imaging Video File
.SMI SMIL Presentation
.SMI SAMI Subtitles File
.SMIL SMIL Presentation File
.SMK Smacker Compressed Movie File
.SML SMIL Slideshow Presentation
.SMV VideoLink Mail Video File
.SNAGPROJ Snagit Project File
.SPL FutureSplash Animation
.SQZ Squeeze Project File
.SRT SubRip Subtitle File
.SSF Structured Subtitle Format File
.SSM Standard Streaming Metafile
.STL Spruce Technologies Subtitle File
.STR PlayStation Video Stream
.STX Pinnacle Studio Project File
.SVI Samsung Video File
.SWF Shockwave Flash Movie
.SWI SWiSH Project File
.SWT Flash Generator Template
.TDA3MT DivX Author Template File
.TDT AVCHD Thumbnail File
.TDX D-TEG CCTV Video Information File
.THEATER iMovie Theater File
.THP Wii/GameCube Video File
.TID AVCHD Thumbnail File
.TIVO TiVo Video File
.TIX DivX Video Download Activation File
.TOD JVC Everio Video Capture File
.TP Beyond TV Transport Stream File
.TP0 Mascom PVR Video File
.TPD Cyberlink TOD Video File
.TPR TMPGEnc Project File
.TREC TechSmith Recording File
.TRP HD Video Transport Stream
.TS Video Transport Stream File
.TSP Digital TV DVR Recording
.TSV Digital Receiver Video Recording File
.TTXT MPEG-4 Timed Text Subtitles File
.TVLAYER mimoLive TV Layer
.TVRECORDING BoinxTV TV recording
.TVS TeamViewer Video Session File
.TVSHOW mimoLive Show
.USF Universal Subtitles Format File
.USM USM Game Video File
.V264 v264 IPROBOT3 Video File
.VBC VodBurner Crude Video File
.VC1 VC-1 Video File
.VCPF VideoConvert Project File
.VCR ATI Video Card Recording
.VCV ViewCave Video File
.VDO VDOLive Media File
.VDR VirtualDub Signpost File
.VDX The 7th Guest Video File
.VEG VEGAS Video Project
.VEM Meta Media Video E-Mail File
.VEP AVS Video Editor Project File
.VF VEGAS Movie Studio Project File
.VFT VideoStudio Filter File
.VFW Video for Windows
.VFZ Creative Webcam Video Effects File
.VGZ DigitalVDO Compressed Video File
.VID Generic Video File
.VIDEO aTube Catcher Video File
.VIEWLET Qarbon Viewlet
.VIV VivoActive Video File
.VIVO VivoActive Video File
.VIX Lightworks Video Index File
.VLAB VisionLab Studio Project File
.VMLF VAIO Video File
.VMLT VAIO Video File
.VOB DVD Video Object File
.VP3 On2 Streaming Video File
.VP6 TrueMotion VP6 Video File
.VP7 TrueMotion VP7 Video File
.VPJ VideoPad Video Editor Project File
.VR VR Studio Project File
.VRO DVD Video Recording Format
.VS4 AVTECH CCTV Video Surveillance File
.VSE AVTECH CCTV Video
.VSP VideoStudio Project File
.VTT Web Video Text Tracks File
.W32 WinCAPs Subtitle File
.WCP WinDVD Creator Project File
.WEBM WebM Video File
.WFSP Wondershare Fantashow Project
.WGI Wildgame Innovations Video File
.WLMP Windows Live Movie Maker Project File
.WM Windows Media File
.WMD Windows Media Download Package
.WMMP Windows Movie Maker Project File
.WMV Windows Media Video File
.WMX Windows Media Redirector File
.WOT WebEx Recording File
.WP3 Microsoft Photo Story Project File
.WPL Windows Media Player Playlist
.WSVE Wondershare Filmora for Mac Project File
.WTV Windows Recorded TV Show File
.WVE Wondershare Filmora Project File
.WVM Google Play Video File
.WVX Windows Media Video Redirector
.WXP Wax 2.0 Project
.XEJ Expression Encoder Job File
.XEL Expression Encoder Live Encoding File
.XESC Expression Encoder Screen Capture File
.XFL Animate Movie Archive
.XLMV Xunlei Movie File
.XML Cinelerra Video Project
.XMV Xbox Media Video File
.XVID Xvid-Encoded Video File
.Y4M YUV4MPEG2 Video File
.YOG Outerra Captured Video File
.YUV YUV Video File
.ZEG ZeroG Subtitles File
.ZM1 ZSNES Movie #1 File
.ZM2 ZSNES Movie #2 File
.ZM3 ZSNES Movie #3 File
.ZMV ZSNES Movie File
And how can all these video files be played and/or converted?
Some of the formats are played back by Windows. In addition, there are many players that can play an incredible number of formats. The best known player – which is also free – is probably the VLC Player.
By the way: If Windows can play your video, you can probably convert the file with our software MyFormatConverter!