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3GP Converter – Transform Mobile Video Files

Convert legacy 3GP mobile videos to modern formats

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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What is 3GP?

3GP (3GPP) is a multimedia container format developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project for 3G mobile phones. It was designed to efficiently store and transmit video over cellular networks with limited bandwidth.

The format became widely used on early smartphones and feature phones, particularly on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile. 3GP files use efficient compression to keep file sizes small for the limited storage of early mobile devices.

While 3GP served its purpose well in the early mobile era, modern smartphones use MP4 instead. Converting old 3GP files ensures they remain accessible on current devices.

Why Convert 3GP Files?

3GP is a legacy format with significant limitations on modern devices:

  • Poor compatibility – Modern phones, computers, and TVs don't natively play 3GP
  • No platform support – YouTube, social media, and streaming services reject 3GP
  • Limited quality – 3GP was optimized for tiny screens and slow networks
  • Editing issues – Most video editors can't open 3GP files
  • Sharing problems – Recipients need special software to play 3GP
  • Archival concerns – Old memories trapped in obsolete format need conversion

Convert 3GP to Other Formats

Transform your legacy 3GP videos to universally compatible formats:

3GP to MP4

The essential conversion. MP4 plays on every device, browser, and platform. This is the best way to preserve and share old mobile videos.

3GP to AVI

Convert for Windows-based video editing and older media players.

3GP to MOV

Transform for Apple ecosystem compatibility and editing in Final Cut Pro or iMovie.

3GP to MKV

Convert to MKV for archival with metadata, chapters, and multiple audio tracks.

3GP to WebM

Create web-optimized video for HTML5 playback without plugins.

3GP to MP3

Extract audio from 3GP videos as universally playable MP3 files.

Convert Other Formats to 3GP

Create 3GP files for legacy device compatibility (rarely needed today):

MP4 to 3GP

Convert modern videos for playback on older GSM mobile phones.

AVI to 3GP

Transform AVI for legacy mobile device compatibility.

MOV to 3GP

Convert Apple videos for older mobile phones.

3GP Technical Specifications

  • Full name: 3GPP Multimedia File
  • Developer: 3rd Generation Partnership Project
  • File extension: .3gp
  • MIME type: video/3gpp
  • Video codecs: H.263, MPEG-4 Part 2, H.264/AVC
  • Audio codecs: AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AAC, HE-AAC
  • Container: Based on MPEG-4 Part 12
  • Typical resolution: 176x144 (QCIF) to 320x240

3GP Compatibility

Devices That Support 3GP

  • Legacy GSM mobile phones (pre-2012)
  • VLC Media Player (all platforms)
  • Some Android phones (limited support)
  • Windows Media Player (with codecs)

Devices That Don't Support 3GP

  • Modern iPhones and most Android phones
  • Smart TVs and streaming devices
  • Web browsers (no native playback)
  • Most video editing applications
  • Video platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

How to Convert 3GP Files

  1. Upload your 3GP file – Drag and drop your legacy mobile video or click to browse.
  2. Choose your output format – Select MP4 for maximum compatibility, or other formats as needed.
  3. Download converted file – Get your updated video file ready to play anywhere.

Pro Tip

Many 3GP files from old phones contain irreplaceable memories. Convert them to MP4 and upload to cloud storage immediately. Old phone storage can fail without warning.

Common Mistake

Assuming 3GP files are corrupted when they won't play. They're not corrupted—the format is just obsolete. Convert to MP4 and they'll work perfectly on modern devices.

Best For

3GP was designed for early 3G GSM mobile phones. Today it's only useful for accessing archived videos from that era.

Not Recommended

Never create new 3GP files. The format offers no benefits over MP4 and causes compatibility problems. Always use MP4 for new video projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

3GP is a video format created for 3G mobile phones on GSM networks. It uses efficient compression for small file sizes, but the quality is limited. 3GP files are commonly found on older feature phones and early smartphones.

Download VLC Media Player, which plays 3GP files for free on any computer. For easier long-term access, convert 3GP to MP4, which plays natively on all computers without special software.

MP4 is the best choice. It offers universal compatibility across all devices, good compression, and is accepted by all video platforms and social media sites.

3GP was designed for GSM networks (AT&T, T-Mobile), while 3G2 was for CDMA networks (Verizon, Sprint). Both are similar legacy mobile video formats that should be converted to MP4 for modern use.

3GP files are already low quality due to mobile optimization. Conversion to MP4 preserves the existing quality. The quality won't improve, but it won't degrade either with proper settings.

iPhones don't support 3GP format. Convert your 3GP files to MP4 or MOV, which are fully supported by iOS, and you can play them on any Apple device.

No, 3GP is obsolete. It was designed for early 3G phones with limited processing power. All modern smartphones use MP4 format. 3GP is only found in old video archives.

YouTube doesn't accept 3GP format for upload. Convert your 3GP files to MP4 first, then upload. MP4 is the recommended format for all video platforms.

Select MP3, AAC, or WAV as your output format to extract just the audio track from your 3GP video file.

Yes, ChangeMyFile supports batch conversion. Upload multiple 3GP files at once and convert them all to MP4 or other formats simultaneously.

3GP Conversions & Related Converters

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