What is an OGG file?
OGG stands for Ogg Vorbis audio. It was created by the Xiph.Org Foundation and first released in 2000. OGG is a free, patent-unencumbered container, and most .ogg files hold Vorbis audio. Game engines use it heavily because it costs nothing to license.
OGA is the same format under another extension.
| Type | audio |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | Vorbis, sometimes Opus or FLAC |
| In a browser | plays in Chrome, Firefox and Edge; Safari support is recent and incomplete |
| Common uses | video games, desktop streaming apps and open-source software |
| MIME type | audio/ogg |
Which format should you convert OGG to?
- OGG to MP3 to play on any device, car stereo or website.
- OGG to M4A for iPhone, iTunes and Apple Music.
- OGG to WAV to edit in an audio editor or burn to CD.
- OGG to FLAC to archive without losing any quality.
- OGG to MP4 to upload somewhere that only accepts video.
OGG 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 OGG file
Whether an OGG 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 audio file, OGG 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 | OGG plays in Chrome, Firefox and Edge; Safari support is recent and incomplete. |
Want the technical details? See what a .ogg file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
OGG compared with other audio formats
How OGG stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGG | Lossy | Vorbis, sometimes Opus or FLAC | 2000 | video games, desktop streaming apps and open-source software |
| MP3 | Lossy | MP3 audio, typically 128 to 320 kbps | 1993 | music libraries, podcasts and anything that has to play everywhere |
| WAV | Lossless | uncompressed PCM, usually 16-bit at 44.1 or 48 kHz | 1991 | recording, editing, sound effects and CD audio |
| M4A | Either | AAC, or ALAC for lossless files | 2001 | iTunes purchases, iPhone voice memos and Apple Music downloads |
| FLAC | Lossless | FLAC lossless audio, up to 32-bit and 655 kHz | 2001 | CD rips, hi-res music stores and audio archives |
How to use the OGG converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your OGG files on the box, or press Choose OGG 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 OGG files without losing quality
OGG 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 a lossless master. If you have WAV, FLAC, AIFF or ALAC, keep it, and make lossy copies such as MP3 or AAC from it when you need them.
- Avoid converting one lossy format into another more than once. Each MP3, AAC or OGG encode throws away a little more, and the losses add up.
- Match the bitrate to the content: 192 kbps and up for music, 96 to 128 kbps for podcasts, 64 kbps for voice notes.
- Stick to 44.1 kHz for music and 48 kHz for audio that goes with video; resampling between them is harmless but pointless.
Convert OGG files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common OGG conversion, to MP3, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.ogg -vn -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 192k output.mp3Change 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.
OGG converter FAQ
What is an OGG file?
OGG stands for Ogg Vorbis audio, an audio format created by the Xiph.Org Foundation in 2000. OGG is a free, patent-unencumbered container, and most .ogg files hold Vorbis audio. Game engines use it heavily because it costs nothing to license.
How do I open an OGG file?
OGG plays in Chrome, Firefox and Edge; Safari support is recent and incomplete. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common OGG conversion?
OGG to MP3 is the conversion people search for most. The audio is decoded and written as MP3 at 192 kbps.
Does converting OGG files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your OGG files never leave your device.
Is the OGG converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many OGG files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert OGG files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your OGG files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several OGG files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.