VC1 File

What are VC1 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a VC1 file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your VC1 files.

What is a VC1 file?

A .VC1 file is a SMPTE 421 (VC-1) Video file.

A VC1 file contains video compressed using the VC-1 standard defined by SMPTE ST 421. It stores a raw VC-1 video bitstream (also called an "elementary stream") created when video is encoded with VC-1 (also known as Windows Media Video 9). The file holds only video data, not a container with audio or playback controls.

VC-1 supports three profiles - Simple, Main, Advanced - and allows both progressive and interlaced video, using a 4:2:0 color sampling grid with 8 bits per component. The Advanced profile adds features like non-square pixel aspect ratios, entry points for random access, and support for interlaced frames. Decoding requires parsing the bitstream syntax and semantics defined in SMPTE ST 421; the compression algorithm itself is not in the standard.

A .vc1 file is typically produced by a VC-1 encoder (such as Microsoft's WMV9 codec in Advanced profile) and later decoded by any player or tool that implements the SMPTE VC-1 standard to render the video. The data begins with VC-1 bitstream structures such as sequence and picture headers; in Annex E of SMPTE 421, start code prefixes (SCP) mark bitstream data units (BDUs).

How to open VC1 files

We have identified one VC1 opener that is compatible with this specific type of VC1 file.

Programs that open SMPTE 421 (VC-1) Video files

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of VC1 files. Remember, different programs may use VC1 files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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