What is an MPV file?
MPV stands for MPEG video elementary stream. It was created by the Moving Picture Experts Group and first released in 1995. An MPV file is a bare MPEG-2 or MPEG-1 video stream with no container and no sound, the kind of file DVD demuxing and authoring tools read and write. The sound of the same recording is usually a separate AC3, MP2 or WAV file. It has nothing to do with the mpv media player.
| Type | video |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video only, with no sound |
| In a browser | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and MPC-HC |
| Common uses | video tracks split out of DVDs and TV recordings, and the output of MPEG encoders |
| MIME type | video/mpv |
Which format should you convert MPV to?
- MPV to MP4 to play on any phone, computer or TV, or to upload to YouTube and social media.
- MPV to GIF to share a short silent clip that loops anywhere.
- MPV to WebM to embed on a web page with a small file size.
MPV 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 MPV file
Whether an MPV 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, MPV 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 | MPV does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and MPC-HC. |
MPV compared with other video formats
How MPV stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPV | Lossy | MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video only, with no sound | 1995 | video tracks split out of DVDs and TV recordings, and the output of MPEG encoders |
| 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 MPV converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your MPV files on the box, or press Choose MPV 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 MPV files without losing quality
MPV 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 MPV files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common MPV conversion, to MP4, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.mpv -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.
MPV converter FAQ
What is an MPV file?
MPV stands for MPEG video elementary stream, a video format created by the Moving Picture Experts Group in 1995. An MPV file is a bare MPEG-2 or MPEG-1 video stream with no container and no sound, the kind of file DVD demuxing and authoring tools read and write. The sound of the same recording is usually a separate AC3, MP2 or WAV file. It has nothing to do with the mpv media player.
How do I open an MPV file?
MPV does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and MPC-HC. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common MPV conversion?
MPV to MP4 is the conversion people search for most. MPV holds video only, so the MP4 has no sound.
Does converting MPV files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your MPV files never leave your device.
Is the MPV converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many MPV files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert MPV files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your MPV files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several MPV files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.