MPG file format (.mpg)
MPEG-1/2 program stream, as used on DVD and VCD.
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What is an MPG file?
In short: An MPG file (.mpg) is a video file in the MPG format. An MPG file is an MPEG program stream, the format that carried video on Video CD, DVD and broadcast television for two decades. It can be converted to MP4, MOV or GIF for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
MPEG-1 arrived in 1993 and MPEG-2 in 1995; MPEG-2 became the format of DVD and digital television.
An MPG file is an MPEG program stream, the format that carried video on Video CD, DVD and broadcast television for two decades. It is designed to be decoded by cheap fixed-function hardware, which means the compression is simple and the files are large.
What MPG is good at
- Plays on very old hardware, including DVD players
- Simple and robust; damage affects only part of the file
- The basis of DVD and digital broadcast
Where MPG falls short
- Far less efficient than H.264, so files are several times larger
- Standard definition in practice
- No modern features
When to use MPG
Convert MPG to MP4 unless you are authoring a DVD.
How to open a MPG file
DVD players, VLC and most desktop software.
| Windows | Films & TV and VLC both play MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. Older Windows versions needed a paid MPEG-2 decoder. |
|---|---|
| macOS | VLC. QuickTime handles MPEG-1 but not reliably MPEG-2. |
| Linux | VLC and mpv, with libmpeg2 or FFmpeg doing the work. |
| Phone | VLC. |
| In a browser | No browser plays MPG. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
An MPG from a DVD is interlaced, so it shows comb-like horizontal tearing on movement when played on a computer. Deinterlacing during conversion fixes it.
Questions
What is a MPG file?
MPEG-1/2 program stream, as used on DVD and VCD. Files use the .mpg extension.
How do I open a MPG file?
Most video software opens MPG directly. If yours does not, convert it here to something more common. It takes a few seconds and nothing is uploaded.
Can I convert MPG for free?
Yes. Every conversion here is free and unlimited, because your own device does the work rather than a server we have to pay for.
Is MPG lossless?
That depends on the codec inside the container rather than the container itself. Everything written here is re-encoded, so expect one generation of loss.