What is a 3GP file?
3GP stands for 3GPP multimedia file. It was created by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and first released in 2003. 3GP was built for 3G phones with small screens and slow connections, so most files are 176 by 144 or 320 by 240 pixels. Converting to a modern format will not add detail that was never recorded.
3GPP is the same format under another extension.
| Type | video |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | H.263 or H.264 video with AMR or AAC audio |
| In a browser | plays in some browsers and most phones |
| Common uses | videos from older feature phones and early smartphones |
| MIME type | video/3gpp |
Which format should you convert 3GP to?
- 3GP to MP4 to play on any phone, computer or TV, or to upload to YouTube and social media.
- 3GP to MOV to edit in iMovie or Final Cut Pro on a Mac.
- 3GP to MP3 to keep only the soundtrack, for music or a podcast.
- 3GP to GIF to share a short silent clip that loops anywhere.
3GP is already lossy, so converting it to a lossless format makes the file bigger without improving it; pick a lossless target only if a program requires one.
How to open a 3GP file
Whether a 3GP file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | Films and TV and Media Player open the common formats; VLC opens almost any video file, 3GP included. |
|---|---|
| Mac | QuickTime Player opens formats Apple supports; VLC or IINA open the rest. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app plays formats Apple supports. For others, a player such as VLC for iOS, or converting the file here, is the easiest route. |
| Android | Most gallery and music apps play the common formats; VLC for Android plays almost everything. |
| Web browser | 3GP plays in some browsers and most phones. |
Want the technical details? See what a .3gp file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
3GP compared with other video formats
How 3GP stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3GP | Lossy | H.263 or H.264 video with AMR or AAC audio | 2003 | videos from older feature phones and early smartphones |
| MP4 | Lossy | H.264 or H.265 video with AAC audio | 2001 | phone videos, YouTube uploads, social media and streaming |
| MOV | Lossy | H.264, HEVC or ProRes video with AAC audio | 1991 | iPhone recordings, Final Cut Pro and screen recordings on Mac |
| MKV | Lossy | almost any codec, often H.264 or H.265 with several audio and subtitle tracks | 2002 | films and TV rips, OBS recordings and anime releases |
| WebM | Lossy | VP8, VP9 or AV1 video with Vorbis or Opus audio | 2010 | web video, screen recorders and browser-based recordings |
How to use the 3GP converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your 3GP files on the box, or press Choose 3GP files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Nothing is uploaded at any point.
Tips for converting 3GP files without losing quality
3GP is lossy, so some detail was already discarded when the file was made. Converting it cannot bring that back. Converting to a lossless format preserves what is left exactly but makes the file larger; converting to another lossy format adds a small extra loss, which is invisible at sensible settings.
- Keep the original recording. Every re-encode costs a little detail, so convert from the best copy you have, not from a file that was already converted.
- Know whether you need a new container or a new codec. MOV, MKV and MP4 can all hold H.264 video, and switching between them is fast and lossless; changing the codec means re-encoding, which is slower.
- For sharing, MP4 with H.264 at 1080p or 720p is the safe choice: every phone, browser and social network plays it.
- Phones record at very high bitrates. If a file is too big to send, lowering the resolution to 720p usually shrinks it far more than any quality setting.
Convert 3GP files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common 3GP conversion, to MP4, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.3gp -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset veryfast -c:a aac -b:a 128k -movflags +faststart output.mp4Change the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same ffmpeg engine inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
3GP converter FAQ
What is a 3GP file?
3GP stands for 3GPP multimedia file, a video format created by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project in 2003. 3GP was built for 3G phones with small screens and slow connections, so most files are 176 by 144 or 320 by 240 pixels. Converting to a modern format will not add detail that was never recorded.
How do I open a 3GP file?
3GP plays in some browsers and most phones. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common 3GP conversion?
3GP to MP4 is the conversion people search for most. If the video inside the 3GP is already H.264, the tool first copies the streams straight into the MP4. That takes seconds and loses nothing.
Does converting 3GP files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your 3GP files never leave your device.
Is the 3GP converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many 3GP files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert 3GP files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your 3GP files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several 3GP files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.