What is a VOB file?
VOB stands for DVD Video Object. It was created by the DVD Forum and first released in 1996. VOB files are the video chunks inside a DVD's VIDEO_TS folder, each capped at 1 GB, so one film is split across several. Commercial DVDs are encrypted and will not convert; home-burned discs will.
| Type | video |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | MPEG-2 video with AC3, MP2 or PCM audio |
| In a browser | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software |
| Common uses | the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD |
| MIME type | video/dvd |
Which format should you convert VOB to?
- VOB to MP4 to play on any phone, computer or TV, or to upload to YouTube and social media.
- VOB to MOV to edit in iMovie or Final Cut Pro on a Mac.
- VOB to MP3 to keep only the soundtrack, for music or a podcast.
VOB 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 a VOB file
Whether a VOB 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, VOB 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 | VOB does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software. |
Want the technical details? See what a .vob file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
VOB compared with other video formats
How VOB stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOB | Lossy | MPEG-2 video with AC3, MP2 or PCM audio | 1996 | the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD |
| 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 VOB converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your VOB files on the box, or press Choose VOB 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 VOB files without losing quality
VOB 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 VOB files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common VOB conversion, to MP4, looks like this with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.vob -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.
VOB converter FAQ
What is a VOB file?
VOB stands for DVD Video Object, a video format created by the DVD Forum in 1996. VOB files are the video chunks inside a DVD's VIDEO_TS folder, each capped at 1 GB, so one film is split across several. Commercial DVDs are encrypted and will not convert; home-burned discs will.
How do I open a VOB file?
VOB does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common VOB conversion?
VOB to MP4 is the conversion people search for most. The video is re-encoded to H.264 video with AAC audio.
Does converting VOB files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your VOB files never leave your device.
Is the VOB converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many VOB files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert VOB files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your VOB files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several VOB files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.