VOB file (Video Object)
DVD video object. MPEG-2 in a program stream.
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Convert VOB to MP4, free and without uploading it.
What is a VOB file?
In short: A VOB file (.vob) is a video file in the VOB format. VOB files are what sits in the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD: MPEG-2 program streams carrying video, several audio tracks and subtitles, split into chunks of just under a gigabyte because of filesystem limits. It can be converted to MP4, MOV or GIF for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
The DVD Video Object format, part of the DVD-Video specification finalised in 1995.
VOB files are what sits in the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD: MPEG-2 program streams carrying video, several audio tracks and subtitles, split into chunks of just under a gigabyte because of filesystem limits. A single film is usually several VOB files in sequence.
What VOB is good at
- Exactly what was on the disc, untouched
- Holds multiple audio and subtitle tracks
- Plays in most desktop software
Where VOB falls short
- Split arbitrarily across files
- MPEG-2 is large by modern standards
- Commercial discs are usually encrypted
When to use VOB
Convert VOB to MP4 to get a single watchable file off a disc you own.
How to open a VOB file
VLC and most desktop players.
| Windows | VLC, which is also the only easy way to play a whole VIDEO_TS folder in order. |
|---|---|
| macOS | VLC. Neither QuickTime nor DVD Player will open a bare VOB file outside its folder structure. |
| Linux | VLC or mpv. Both will play the folder as a disc if you point them at VIDEO_TS. |
| Phone | VLC, though a full DVD rip is usually too large to be worth moving to a phone. |
| In a browser | No browser plays VOB. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
A film is spread across several VOB files that need joining in order, and commercial DVDs are encrypted, which is a separate problem from the format.
Not sure the file really is a VOB? Identify it by its contents, whatever its extension says.
Questions
What is a VOB file?
VOB stands for Video Object. DVD video object. MPEG-2 in a program stream. Files use the .vob extension.
What does VOB stand for?
VOB stands for Video Object. VOB files are the video files on a DVD, inside its VIDEO_TS folder.
How do I open a VOB file?
On Windows: VLC, which is also the only easy way to play a whole VIDEO_TS folder in order. On a Mac: VLC. Neither QuickTime nor DVD Player will open a bare VOB file outside its folder structure. On a phone: VLC, though a full DVD rip is usually too large to be worth moving to a phone. Or convert a VOB here to a format that opens everywhere, free and without uploading it.
Can I convert VOB 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 VOB 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.