VP5 File

What are VP5 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a VP5 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 VP5 files.

What is a VP5 file?

A .VP5 file is an On2 TrueMotion VP5 Video file.

On2 TrueMotion VP5 Video is a lossy digital video format developed by On2 Technologies in the early 2000s for encoding moving pictures. It uses compression to reduce file size while preserving perceivable image quality, and was mainly intended for streaming video over networks like the Internet or wireless data channels. Files in this format typically carry both video frames and audio data, compressed using the VP5 codec, and are designed for use in video-on-demand, broadcast, or low-bandwidth streaming environments.

The VP5 codec produces files that are written by encoders using the VP5 algorithm, usually in media containers such as AVI or similar wrappers. Playback requires a decoder that understands VP5 compression. After encoding, the typical workflow involves distributing the file for playback using compatible media players or conversion to more common formats if needed. VP5 improves compression efficiency over its predecessor VP4, offering comparable visual quality to MPEG-2 at significantly lower bit rates. Aron-on2 preview stated VP5 delivered MPEG-2 quality at 500 - 600 kbps, about 50 % better efficiency than VP4.

Internally, VP5 video streams use the FourCC code VP50 to identify the codec in media containers. The format encodes frames using a mix of intra-frames and inter-frames (with motion vectors and reference frames), leverages 8×8 integer discrete cosine transforms, and performs entropy coding using range coding. A signature at the file start includes the ASCII string "ON2" and sections such as "vidsVP50" and "strf" help identify it as VP5.

How to open VP5 files

We have identified one VP5 opener that is compatible with this specific type of VP5 file.

Programs that open On2 TrueMotion VP5 Video files

Last updated: August 14, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of VP5 files. Remember, different programs may use VP5 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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