Tips to open MPEG2 file

Can't open the MPEG2 file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MPEG2 files as well as a list of programs that support MPEG2 files.

MPEG2 file extension

File Name Multiplexed MPEG-1/2
File Category Video Files

The MPEG2 file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MPEG2 files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MPEG2 file on each system platform.

Operating systems
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What is MPEG2 file?

The .MPEG2 file is a video file. Compression is done using the MPEG or MPEG-2 algorithm. This is a type of lossy compression. It is often used in the case of video transmission over the network. It offers picture quality comparable to DVD quality for MPEG-2 or VCD quality for MPEG codec. This file is more often saved as .MPG or .MPG2, depending on the codec used. In the case of files without a video track, you can also meet .MP2 files. The technology has been expanded with .MP4 files that use the new codec.

How to open MPEG2 file?

An often recurring problem with Multiplexed MPEG-1/2 is that MPEG2 is not associated with the correct program file. This causes the file MPEG2 to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MPEG2 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 VLC media player

In this case, you should first verify that the VLC media player application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name VLC media player in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support MPEG2 files.

Programs to open MPEG2 file

Remember to download programs supporting MPEG2 files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of VLC media player with MPEG2 files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the MPEG2 file still does not use the VLC media player program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the MPEG2 file with the VLC media player application.

Step 3. Update VLC media player to the latest version

If, however, after binding VLC media player with Multiplexed MPEG-1/2 there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. In this case, use the VideoLAN Project Team website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MPEG2 file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to MPEG2 files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our MPEG2 file. Sometimes virus-infected MPEG2 files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the MPEG2 file. 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.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular MPEG2 file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact N/A
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted MPEG2 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.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. Copying the MPEG2 file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the MPEG2 file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file MPEG2 to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.