.ogg

What is a .ogg file?

Ogg Vorbis is a free, open-source lossy audio format — patent-free, technically superior to MP3, but never achieved mainstream adoption.

Safe format
Type Audio
By Xiph.Org Foundation
MIME audio/ogg

Drop any file to identify it

No upload. No signup. No sending your file halfway across the internet.
We tell you what it is, right here in your browser.

What is it

You encountered an .ogg file in a game directory, a Linux distribution, or a Spotify cache folder. Ogg Vorbis was built to be everything MP3 was but without the patents and licensing fees. Technically, it succeeded — Vorbis sounds better than MP3 at equivalent bitrates and costs nothing to use.

Spotify uses Vorbis internally for streaming on desktop. Video games rely on it because the licence is free and the quality is excellent. Firefox and Chrome play it natively in the browser. But Ogg Vorbis never reached mainstream consumer adoption — iPhones don't play it, most portable devices ignore it, and the name "Ogg Vorbis" sounds like a villain from a fantasy novel rather than a sensible technology choice.

VLC plays OGG on every platform. Foobar2000 (Windows) handles it natively. For converting to MP3 (for compatibility) or FLAC (for lossless archiving), fwip does it in the browser. If you care about open standards and your player supports it, OGG is genuinely the better format. If you need to send audio to someone's iPhone, convert to MP3 first.

Technical details
Full Name
Ogg Vorbis Audio
MIME Type
audio/ogg
Developer
Xiph.Org Foundation
Magic Bytes
4F 67 67 53
Safety
.ogg is a known, safe format.
What opens it
VLC
FREE All
Firefox / Chrome
FREE All
Foobar2000
FREE Windows
Convert with fwip

Convert .ogg files instantly in your browser. No upload, no signup, no subscription. Your files never leave your device.

Free in your browser. Batch processing & offline mode in the desktop bundle.

FAQ
What's the difference between OGG and MP3?
OGG Vorbis sounds better at the same bitrate and is royalty-free. MP3 plays on more devices. For sharing audio widely, MP3 wins on compatibility. You can convert with fwip.
How do I play OGG files?
VLC, Firefox, and Chrome play OGG natively. On mobile, VLC is your best bet. If you need the file to play everywhere, convert to MP3.
Is OGG better than FLAC?
They serve different purposes. OGG Vorbis is lossy (smaller files, some quality loss). FLAC is lossless (larger files, perfect quality). Use FLAC for archival and OGG for streaming or gaming.
Related formats