File Extension Database

Open 3GPP File

3GPP files are a media-type format that primarily belongs to Apple's QuickTime.

More about QuickTime

QuickTime is an extensible multimedia application framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, image, sound, panoramic images and interactivity.

In this case, 3GPP file is a media container file format for storing audio, video, and text data.

What is a media container file?

Within the multimedia realm, a container is a specification of how different types of encoded multimedia content are arranged within a file.

These different contents are usually, mainly, video, audio and text.

Containers are interpreted (opened) through a media player application, such as Windows Media Player, Quicktime (application with the same name as a container), VLC, Plex, RealPlayer or Winamp.

A video or audio file created with the 3GPP format usually has the 3GP extension but some may have the MP4 extension, MP4 being a container as well.

The 3GPP format was developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, hence its acronym, as a standard to provide uniform playback and delivery of rich media content over 3G, 2G and 4G networks.

Audio streams in a 3GPP file are stored as AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AMR-WB+, AAC-LC, and HE-AAC, as specified in the MPEG-4 Part 12 standard format from which 3GPP derives.

The format uses video streams such as MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC/H.264), and H.263.

Many third generation mobile phones still use 3GPP as the default format for recording video clips.

These 3GPP videos can be played with the phone's media player or a computer's media player.

Despite being a format initially adopted by QuickTime, today it is extended as a standard by many popular, everyday applications.

Software to open and work with a 3GPP file

Typical 3GPP application file locations:

C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QuickTimePlayer.exe "%1"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe" /prefetch:6 /Play "%L"

Typical 3GPP mime types:

video/3gpp

Frequently used application names to open 3GPP files:

QuickTime
Windows Media Player

Frequently associated Windows objects:

QuickTime.3gpp
WMP11.AssocFile.3GP

How Can I Open 3GPP File on Windows

We researched and learned that the best way to open 3GPP file is to find a 3GPP file in question in Windows OS File Explorer and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a 3GPP file is not opened in an application and you instead get a "Windows can't open a file" error message you should try looking for an application which can open the file in question.
If you know the application which can open 3GPP file then run it and see if there is a File->Open main menu option in the application.
If you don't know the application which function as 3GPP file opener then try to search online for "3GPP viewer", "application to open 3GPP file" or "open 3GPP file" queries in the search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can open 3GPP file

How Can I Open 3GPP File on Mac OS

We recommend to find a 3GPP file in question in Mac OS Finder and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a 3GPP file is not opened in a Mac OS application and you instead get a "There is no application set to open the file" error message you can click on "Search App Store" in the error dialog and Mac OS will show you applications compatible with 3GPP file.
If you know the Mac OS application which can work as 3GPP file opener you can choose the "Choose Application..." option in the error box to associate the file extension and open 3GPP file in it.
If you don't know the application which can open 3GPP file then try to search for "3GPP viewer", "application to open 3GPP file" or "read 3GPP file" queries in the online search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can read 3GPP file

How Can I Open 3GPP File on Android

If you downloaded a 3GPP file on Android device you can open it by following steps below:

In the Android apps list on your Android device find "My Files" or "File manager" app and tap to start it.
Tap on "Downloads" folder inside the app.
You should see your downloaded 3GPP file in that folder.
Tap on the file. If Android device supports opening the file you downloaded it will open in the corresponding app.
If file does not open you can look for the corresponding app that can open the file by searching Android App Store for the "3GPP".
If you cannot open the file with the apps from Android App Store it is possible that the file could only be opened on desktop platforms such as Windows or Mac OS. Try searching for "3GPP viewer", "3GPP file reader" online and see if any desktop applications can open it.
It is also possible that the file you downloaded is outdated and is no longer supported.

How to Open 3GPP File on iPhone or iPad

To open 3GPP File on iOS device follow steps below:

We advies to open Files app on your iPhone or iPad device. You can find it by swiping down on the home screen and typing "Files" in the search bar.
Tap on the Downloads folder on the Files app home screen.
You will see all files that you recently downloaded. Tap on the 3GPP file to view it.
If you have the right app that can open it it will automatically launch and open your file.
If you don't have the app which can open it you need to serch Apple app store for "3GPP". This way you can find apps which can open 3GPP files.
If this doesn't help it is possible that your file could be opened only by the desktop application. To find an app which can open it on desktop look for "3GPP viewer" or "3GPP file" online in your favorite search engine.

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