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ADTS file: what it is and how to open it

AAC audio. Here is what a .adts file contains, how to open one on any device, and a viewer that opens it right in your browser.

Open a .adts file hereChoose fileRead in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

What the viewer shows

  • Whether the file matches the .adts signature
  • The first bytes as hex
  • A preview when your browser can display it

What is a .adts file?

A .adts file is an AAC audio. Its registered MIME type is audio/aac, which places it in the audio family of formats.

AAC stands for Advanced Audio Coding.

ADTS is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.

Files of this type usually begin with the bytes 41 44 49 46. That signature is how programs recognise the format even when the extension is wrong or missing.

The same format is also saved with the extensions .aac, .ass.

ADTS file format details

Extension.adts
FormatAAC audio
MIME typeaudio/aac, audio/x-aac
CategoryAudio
Text or binaryBinary
File signature41 44 49 46
Registered with IANAYes
Other extensions.aac, .ass

How to open ADTS files

WindowsVLC media player is free and plays almost every audio and video format, ADTS included in most cases. Media Player and Films and TV handle the common ones.
MacQuickTime Player plays formats Apple supports. VLC or IINA play most others.
iPhone and iPadThe Files app plays formats Apple supports. VLC for iOS plays most others.
AndroidMost gallery and music apps play common formats; VLC for Android plays almost everything.

Can you convert a .adts file?

TapToConvert does not convert ADTS files yet. If you can export the file from its program as a common audio format, the audio converter can turn it into anything else.

ADTS file FAQ

What is a .adts file?

A .adts file is an AAC audio, with the MIME type audio/aac.

How do I open a .adts file?

VLC media player plays most audio and video formats on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android.

Is a .adts file safe to open?

ADTS 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 .adts?

audio/aac, and it is also seen as audio/x-aac. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.

Is ADTS 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.

Similar file types

Try MP4 to MP3, HEIC, merge PDF or compress video.