What is an MTS file?
MTS stands for AVCHD video. It was created by Sony and Panasonic and first released in 2006. MTS is the AVCHD recording format of HD camcorders from about 2006 to 2015, often interlaced at 1080i. The video inside is H.264, so it can usually move to MP4 without re-encoding.
M2TS is the same format under another extension.
| Type | video |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | H.264 video with Dolby Digital or PCM audio |
| In a browser | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and camera software |
| Common uses | Sony, Panasonic and Canon HD camcorders |
| MIME type | video/mp2t |
Which format should you convert MTS to?
- MTS to MP4 to play on any phone, computer or TV, or to upload to YouTube and social media.
- MTS to MOV to edit in iMovie or Final Cut Pro on a Mac.
- MTS to MP3 to keep only the soundtrack, for music or a podcast.
MTS 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 MTS file
Whether an MTS 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, MTS 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 | MTS does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and camera software. |
Want the technical details? See what a .mts file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
MTS compared with other video formats
How MTS stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTS | Lossy | H.264 video with Dolby Digital or PCM audio | 2006 | Sony, Panasonic and Canon HD camcorders |
| 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 MTS converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your MTS files on the box, or press Choose MTS 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 MTS files without losing quality
MTS 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 MTS files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common MTS conversion, to MP4, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.mts -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.
MTS converter FAQ
What is an MTS file?
MTS stands for AVCHD video, a video format created by Sony and Panasonic in 2006. MTS is the AVCHD recording format of HD camcorders from about 2006 to 2015, often interlaced at 1080i. The video inside is H.264, so it can usually move to MP4 without re-encoding.
How do I open an MTS file?
MTS does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and camera software. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common MTS conversion?
MTS to MP4 is the conversion people search for most. If the video inside the MTS is already H.264, the tool first copies the streams straight into the MP4. That takes seconds and loses nothing.
Does converting MTS files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your MTS files never leave your device.
Is the MTS converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many MTS files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert MTS files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your MTS files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several MTS files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.