OGV Files Not Playing?
You have an OGV video file but your media player shows an error or no video at all. OGV is an open-source video format that uses Theora compression, and while it works great in browsers, most devices and video players do not support it natively.
Converting to MP4 solves this immediately. MP4 is the universal video standard that plays on every smartphone, tablet, computer, smart TV, and media player without requiring special codecs or software. In our testing, MP4 files played successfully on every device we tried, while OGV required specific codec installations on most systems.
How to Convert OGV to MP4
- Upload your OGV file - Drag and drop or click to select your video
- Confirm MP4 output - MP4 is selected as the most compatible format
- Download your video - Your MP4 is ready to play anywhere
The entire process happens in your browser. No software to install, no account required, no waiting for server processing.
What is OGV?
OGV (Ogg Video) is an open-source video container format developed by the Xiph.org Foundation. It typically contains video encoded with the Theora codec, though it can also use Dirac or Daala codecs. The format was designed as a royalty-free alternative to proprietary formats like MP4.
OGV files are commonly found in:
- Wikipedia and Wikimedia - Many educational videos use OGV
- Open-source projects - Software tutorials and documentation
- Linux recordings - Screen captures from Linux desktop tools
- Web archives - Older HTML5 video implementations
While OGV is technically sound, MP4 with H.264 encoding has become the practical standard for video sharing and playback.
OGV vs MP4 Comparison
Both formats are video containers, but they differ significantly in real-world compatibility:
- Device support - MP4 works on virtually every device. OGV requires codec installation on most systems outside of web browsers
- File size - MP4 with H.264 typically achieves 20-30% smaller file sizes at equivalent quality compared to Theora-encoded OGV
- Video editing - Most editing software imports MP4 directly. OGV often requires conversion first
- Social media - YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok all accept MP4. None accept OGV uploads
- Streaming - MP4 is the standard for streaming services. OGV is rarely used for streaming
If you need to keep your video in an open format, consider converting OGV to WebM instead, which offers better compression while remaining royalty-free.
Common Use Cases
Playing Wikipedia Videos
Downloaded an educational video from Wikipedia or Wikimedia Commons? These are often in OGV format. Convert to MP4 to watch on your phone or TV without browser limitations.
Sharing Screen Recordings
Created a screen recording on Linux using tools like SimpleScreenRecorder or Kazam? These often default to OGV output. Convert to MP4 before sharing with colleagues or uploading to video platforms.
Archiving Open-Source Content
Have a collection of OGV files from open-source projects or old web videos? Converting to MP4 ensures they remain playable as software evolves and older codec support diminishes.
Quality and Settings
Our converter preserves the original video quality during conversion. The MP4 output uses H.264 video encoding and AAC audio, which provides excellent quality at efficient file sizes.
What to expect:
- Resolution - Maintained exactly as the original
- Frame rate - Preserved from source file
- Audio - Converted to AAC, the standard for MP4 files
- File size - Often smaller than the original due to more efficient compression
Works on All Platforms
Convert OGV to MP4 directly in your web browser:
- Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
- iPhone, iPad, Android devices
No downloads required. No plugins needed. Your video files stay on your device throughout the conversion process.