What is a .3gp file?
A .3gp file is a 3GPP multimedia file. Its registered MIME type is video/3gpp, which places it in the video family of formats.
3GPP stands for 3rd Generation Partnership Project.
Technically it is a specialised form of video/mp4 (the .f4v format), so tools that understand that format can often read at least part of it.
3GP is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.
The same format is also saved with the extensions .3ga, .3gpp.
3GP file format details
| Extension | .3gp |
|---|---|
| Format | 3GPP multimedia file |
| MIME type | video/3gpp, video/3gp, audio/3gpp |
| Category | Video |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| Based on | video/mp4 |
| File signature | None fixed |
| Registered with IANA | Yes |
| Other extensions | .3ga, .3gpp |
How to open 3GP files
| Windows | VLC media player is free and plays almost every audio and video format, 3GP included in most cases. Media Player and Films and TV handle the common ones. |
|---|---|
| Mac | QuickTime Player plays formats Apple supports. VLC or IINA play most others. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app plays formats Apple supports. VLC for iOS plays most others. |
| Android | Most gallery and music apps play common formats; VLC for Android plays almost everything. |
Convert 3GP files
TapToConvert converts 3GP files in your browser, without uploading them. Open the 3GP converter, or go straight to a conversion:
3GP file FAQ
What is a .3gp file?
A .3gp file is a 3GPP multimedia file, with the MIME type video/3gpp.
How do I open a .3gp file?
VLC media player plays most audio and video formats on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android.
Is a .3gp file safe to open?
3GP files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.
What is the MIME type of .3gp?
video/3gpp, and it is also seen as video/3gp or audio/3gpp. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is 3GP a text or binary format?
Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.
File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.