Do you know the .3GP file extension ? Have you heard about it, but you don’t know what kind of documents it represents or what its characteristics are? Do not worry, because in this post we will inform you of all this and solve all your doubts.
This container format was initially designed to convert and transmit audio and video through 3G type mobile phones creating what was expected to be a standard of global communication system . In addition, it corresponds to a format used so that camera phones can also capture videos and pass them between 3G devices in a simple way.
The creator of this third generation format was 3GPP, or what is the same, 3rd Generation Partnership, an association of major telecommunication groups across the globe.
Index:
What is it and what are files with extension used for? 3GP?
The .3GP is a container that is used to create a type of multimedia files in 3G mobile , although we currently see that it is also You can use in some 2G and 4G . In addition to audio and video, it can include simple text, capable of playing with a text editor.
The audio inside this container will be saved in formats such as AAC-LC or AMR-NB . The video, meanwhile, is stored in H.263 or MPEG-4 . For those who know it, this type of file is, in fact, a reduction or simplification of the mp4 . Even on some occasions there are devices and softwares that detect and call them mp4 in order to be read. The result, if you are an Apple user, is really similar to the one generated by Quicktime.
Videos in .3GP format have two different resolutions. On the one hand, 176 x 144 pixels , which is used in mobiles that only support 3G format and, on the other hand, 320 x 240 pixels , which is used in those devices with WideScreen capable of playing the MP4 format.
Among its specifications we find the use of GSM networks , especially W-CDMA, EDGE or GPRS, fully standardized capabilities of this global communication system. In addition, it is notable for storing interest values such as big-endian.
The benefits of using the .3GP format are several. The space occupied by these videos is less than is generated in other formats. The data packets needed to stream these videos are much smaller . This has given a tremendous gain in terms of the users that use it, being currently a very popular container for low weight content, so necessary , on the other hand, on mobile devices .
For against , among its disadvantages we have that the quality of its images is very low. Nor are there too many programs or softwares that are capable of playing this type of files (although with one it is enough and there are options). Finally, it is not as useful as .avi, the default transmission medium for desktop computers.
How to open and listen to .3GP files on my smartphone or computer ?
If you have a video mounted in a .3G container format and you can’t see it on your device, you need to download certain programs that have support for it.
Next, we indicate some of them depending on the system you are going to use to enjoy the content:
In Windows
Windows Media Player is the player that comes preinstalled in the Windows operating system, so to see the files in .3GP you don’t have any more to turn to him.
To be able to open a file with a .3GP file extension with any of the programs available in this operating system and from the file itself we must follow the following steps:
- With the right mouse button , click on the file.
- Next, click on the “Open with” .
- Windows presents you with software to open the file, in this case, you will surely have Windows Media Player itself predetermined. If you do not want to use any program from the list offered or you are looking to set one as default, click on “Choose another application” .
- Clicking on “More options” you can choose the player program you want and, of course, have previously installed.
- You will see an unmarked square just below the list of softwares. Mark it (“Always use this application to open .3GP files”).
- Finally, accept on the corresponding button.
- You will see that the file icon changes and that when you double-click on it, the program you have selected is executed and the file with extension .3GP is opened without needing to do anything else, playing automatically.
You can also do the opposite action, which is open the file once inside the software:
- At the top of the player, go to the taskbar and click on the file Archive
- Select the option “Open ”.
- Next, navigate between folders until find the file you want to read in the location where you have it saved.
- Do click on the “Accept” option in the box and it will play without problems (as long as we say that the player has support for this type of files).
On MacOS
Using any of the programs compatible with MacOS and with .3GP you can play files of the type on your MAC computer. Just follow the steps below:
- Open the file player .
- Click on the toolbar on the “File” option.
- Choose permittedAbrirrd.
- All locations on your device will be displayed. Browse through them until find the file you want.
- Choose it and click on the “Accept” button.
- You can check the option “Use this program as default when opening files with this extension” . This way all files of type .3GP will always be opened with this software.
On Android phones
Those mobile devices that watch Android where they want to play videos with the extension .3gp will only be able to use a program (for the moment).
In this case, it is the application known as VLC for Android , which only requires a simple installation and is nothing more than a video player that supports a large number of formats.
In order to use it we don’t have to follow too many steps:
- Once the application is downloaded, it is necessary to open it, by clicking on it (an access will have been created on the desktop of the mobile device).
- Next, search “Files” or “Folders” .
- Then, click on «Videos» .
- Click on it , the system folders that include video will be accessed and we only have to go to the one that includes the file to play.
- At the moment we have it located, click on the file and it will start playing without major inconvenience.
On iPhone devices with iOS
We also have special applications to download on Apple mobiles, so if you have an iPhone you can enjoy those videos in .3GP format without any problem. OPlayer HD is a really recommendable option because it has HD quality, which is not suitable for the case but it will allow you to enjoy other high resolution audiovisuals.
The operation of this application (as well as that of the vast majority of players) is same as that we have previously downloaded for an Android mobile device. Opening a file with this format is simple through any application; only requires its location and click on it to give it a shot .
What are the best programs and applications to play 3GP files in desktop and mobile?
In my view, there are several programs that can be used to play 3GP files, both desktop and mobile, considered top both for their ability to do so and for the compatibility they have with other file extensions or for their functionalities.
The logical thing would be to use better known players, since they support a very large number of formats and they will not make us have to download any extra codec, as it happens with basic players that, in the beginning, include support to reproduce very few formats and, to complete this support, we have to manually search for compatible codec packages.
On a computer with operating system Windows we have several programs that can be used to open files with extension .3GP. Some of these are 3GP Player , Adobe Flash Professional, ALLPlayer, Any Audio Converter, DRM Media Converter, DVD Ripper + Video Converter Ultimate, Final Media Player, Free 3GP Converter, Free Studio, KMPlayer, Microsoft Windows Video, Quicktime Player (although it is from Apple, can be used), Real Player, VLC Media Player and Video Converter Personal .
As you can see, most are not really known but, as we had advanced, we can always use a couple of basic ones that don’t fail.
For the operating system of the block we have some programs that, once installed, can be used without any problem. The applications most used by all people who have a Mac are Adapter, Adobe Flash Professional, Any Video Converter Pro, FVL Crunch, iVI – iTunes Video Importer, MPlayer, Prism, Quicktime Player, RealPlayer, Toast 11, VLC Media Player and Xilisoft iPhone Ringtone Maker.
For both platforms we can highlight :
- Quick Time Player . Free application very easy to use to interact with this type of files. In addition, it helps you to use it as an online video viewer in many other formats. Initially it is for Mac but it is also available to make it work on Windows operating systems.
- 3GP Player . This is another free program that works with a large number of video codecs although, as the name implies, it cannot be more ideal for the .3GP. In addition, it takes up very little space in our team.
- PowerDVD . It is a very powerful and complete video player, which serves a much more general use, including a large number of file formats to play. In addition, it offers you the possibility to convert 3GP files to another format or vice versa. It is a payment program, but if you are not convinced you can always use the trial version they offer so that you know the product.
- VLC Media Player . It is capable of decoding the container if it includes audio AAC , but for files that include AMR.
How to convert videos with 3GP extension in MP4 or .AVI format ?
Another of the most interesting options in the case of having a video in .3G format is to convert it to other more popular and easy to play formats such as, for example, the AVI . We can use desktop programs or web applications that can be done online in a few minutes. As for example:
- https://video.online-convert.com/en/convertir-a-mp4
- https://convertio.co/es/3gp-mp4/
The method of doing so is always the same:
Or we can do the opposite process, have a video and turn it into 3GP to enjoy its benefits in small devices. The procedure is the same, loading the file and choosing the target format we are talking about.
The indicated options may have another denomination, but the procedure for converting is always the same. Although it is very simple, it is important to follow the steps so that the conversion is correct.