Tips to open 3GP file
Can't open the 3GP file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open 3GP files as well as a list of programs that support 3GP files.
3GP file extension
| File Name |
3GPP Multimedia Format |
| File Developer |
Third Generation Partnership Project |
| File Category |
Video Files |
The 3GP file is supported on 5 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the 3GP files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the 3GP file on each system platform.
What is 3GP file?
The .3GP file is a video file. It was created by 3GPP organizations and was prepared for third generation devices. .3GP files were generally of a low resolution, and hence size, and were therefore suitable for phones with a limited memory. The compact size also allowed for sending content over the network. With the introduction of smartphones on the market, the format lost its use and is seen rather sporadically. After all, there are no problems with its playback.
How to open 3GP file?
The main problem with 3GPP Multimedia Format is that the 3GP file is incorrectly associated with programs. Thus, when you open 3GP, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the 3GP file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install QuickTime Player
The first step is to check if the computer has the QuickTime Player program installed. This can be achieved by typing QuickTime Player into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open 3GP files.
Programs to open 3GP file
Remember to download programs supporting 3GP files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of QuickTime Player with 3GP files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the 3GP file still does not use the QuickTime Player program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the QuickTime Player application as the default for handling the 3GP file.
Step 3. Update QuickTime Player to the latest version
If, despite the association of the QuickTime Player program with the 3GPP Multimedia Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Apple, Inc. website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the 3GP file
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. File problems can be divided into the following:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the 3GP file. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file 3GP or the program directory. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover 3GP files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
Older version of 3GP file may not always be supported by the latest software version. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair 3GP file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use Third Generation Partnership Project help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted 3GP files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the 3GP file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the 3GP file again. However, some background programs may block the 3GP file while scanning. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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