What is an MPG file?
MPG stands for MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video. It was created by the Moving Picture Experts Group and first released in 1993. MPG is the three-letter extension for MPEG program streams. Sony and Panasonic camcorders from the 2000s often recorded straight to MPG.
MPEG is the same format under another extension.
| Type | video |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video with MP2 audio |
| In a browser | does not play in most browsers; plays in VLC and desktop players |
| Common uses | camcorder footage, Video CDs and DVD extracts |
| MIME type | video/mpeg |
Which format should you convert MPG to?
- MPG to MP4 to play on any phone, computer or TV, or to upload to YouTube and social media.
- MPG to MOV to edit in iMovie or Final Cut Pro on a Mac.
- MPG to MP3 to keep only the soundtrack, for music or a podcast.
- MPG to GIF to share a short silent clip that loops anywhere.
MPG 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 an MPG file
Whether an MPG 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, MPG 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 | MPG does not play in most browsers; plays in VLC and desktop players. |
Want the technical details? See what a .mpg file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
MPG compared with other video formats
How MPG stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPG | Lossy | MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video with MP2 audio | 1993 | camcorder footage, Video CDs and DVD extracts |
| 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 MPG converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your MPG files on the box, or press Choose MPG 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 MPG files without losing quality
MPG 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 MPG files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common MPG conversion, to MP4, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.mpg -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.
MPG converter FAQ
What is an MPG file?
MPG stands for MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video, an alternative extension for a video format created by the Moving Picture Experts Group in 1993. MPG is the three-letter extension for MPEG program streams. Sony and Panasonic camcorders from the 2000s often recorded straight to MPG.
How do I open an MPG file?
MPG does not play in most browsers; plays in VLC and desktop players. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common MPG conversion?
MPG to MP4 is the conversion people search for most. The video is re-encoded to H.264 video with AAC audio.
Does converting MPG files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your MPG files never leave your device.
Is the MPG converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many MPG files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert MPG files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your MPG files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several MPG files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.