---
title: ".ogg file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .ogg file is an Ogg Vorbis Audio. The open, patent-free audio format used by Spotify, Wikipedia and countless games. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/ogg/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .ogg files

**.ogg file: Ogg Vorbis Audio**

The open, patent-free audio format used by Spotify, Wikipedia and countless games.

## What opens a .ogg file

- **Windows:** VLC, Media Player (built in), foobar2000
- **macOS:** VLC, IINA, Audacity
- **Linux:** Rhythmbox / Music (built in), VLC, Audacious
- **In a browser:** Any web browser

## What a .ogg file is

Ogg is Xiph.Org's free container; a .ogg file almost always holds Vorbis audio, the royalty-free rival to MP3. It is standard in open-source software, browser audio and game engines, and Spotify streams Vorbis internally. Support is universal on Linux and Android and good in browsers, but Apple's built-in apps ignore it, so on a Mac you want VLC.

## Converting it

A .ogg file is commonly converted to .mp3, .wav, .flac, .m4a or .opus. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .ogg
- **Full name:** Ogg Vorbis Audio
- **Category:** Audio
- **MIME type:** audio/ogg
- **Created by:** Xiph.Org Foundation
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .ogg file?

On Windows use VLC; on macOS use VLC; on Linux use Rhythmbox / Music (built in). The open, patent-free audio format used by Spotify, Wikipedia and countless games.

### What is a .ogg file?

Ogg Vorbis Audio. Ogg is Xiph.Org's free container; a .ogg file almost always holds Vorbis audio, the royalty-free rival to MP3. It is standard in open-source software, browser audio and game engines, and Spotify streams Vorbis internally.

### Can I convert a .ogg file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .mp3, .wav, .flac, .m4a or .opus, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.mp3 — MPEG-1 Audio Layer III](https://atoneplace.net/file/mp3/)
- [.wav — Waveform Audio File](https://atoneplace.net/file/wav/)
- [.m4a — MPEG-4 Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4a/)
- [.flac — Free Lossless Audio Codec](https://atoneplace.net/file/flac/)
- [.aac — Advanced Audio Coding](https://atoneplace.net/file/aac/)
- [.opus — Opus Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/opus/)
- [.mid — MIDI Sequence](https://atoneplace.net/file/mid/)
- [.m3u — Media Playlist](https://atoneplace.net/file/m3u/)
- [.wma — Windows Media Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/wma/)
- [.aiff — Audio Interchange File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/aiff/)
- [.m4b — MPEG-4 Audiobook](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4b/)
- [.amr — Adaptive Multi-Rate Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/amr/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)