What Is An IFO File & 3 Ways to Open and Convert IFO Files

Emma Sanchez
Apr 30, 2024 / Updated by Emma Sanchez to DVD

While reading this, you may have an IFO file you found in the DVD VIDEO_TS folder, which makes you wonder what they are and how you could open it. Well, an IFO file is a kind of index file that contains DVD information, and you can’t open it directly. Luckily, this post features a brief background about the .ifo file and three efficient ways to open it! So, without further ado, start exploring it and gather new knowledge!

What Is an IFO File?

What is an IFO file? IFO files, which stands for Information Files, are typically stored inside the VIDEO_TS folder along with BUP and VOB files of the DVD’s root directory. Moreover, these files contain the DVD information. This information includes the disc’s chapter, playback controls, menu structure, subtitles, region code, and video stream locations.

Through the IFO file, the DVD player can quickly grab all the information about the disc, which enables you to navigate and play DVDs conveniently. Additionally, IFO files help the DVD player find the actual DVD video (which is stored on a separate file named VOB).

You can picture the IFO file as the blueprint of a house. The blueprint is not the house; it tells the builder where to put doors, walls, and windows to build the final product. Blueprint is the IFO files, builder is the DVD player, and the product is the DVD-watching experience. That’s it! That’s what IFO means.

IFO File

How to Open IFO Files on Windows/Mac

Now that you have explored "What is an IFO file", it's time to explore how you can open it! This post collected two efficient ways to open the IFO files on Windows/Mac. These two ways are through using VLC Media Player and Handbrake! Explore each of them and choose which one you prefer to use.

1. VLC Media Player (Windows/Mac)

The first tool you can use to open IFO files indirectly is the VLC. This free and open-source tool can open most of the newest formats/codecs and forgotten ones. Regarding the IFO file, specifically with Video_TS.IFO, VLC will open it, use it as a roadmap to access the video data, and play it for you.

Step 1.Access the VIDEO_TS.IFO file, right-click on it, click the "Open with" button, and select the "VLC media player" option.

Step 2.The VLC Media Player window will appear on your screen, and play the associated video from the VIDEO_TS.IFO file.

Open IFO VLC

2. Handbrake (Windows/Mac)

Besides VLC, you can also use Handbrake to open IFO files indirectly. Similar to VLC, Handbrake is also a free and open-source tool. The difference is that VLC is a dedicated media player, while Handbrake is a video transcoder tool that only supports limited formats. Now, the same goes with VLC; Handbrake also utilizes IFO files as a guide to access video data and play it.

You must drag the VIDEO_TS.IFO folder on the Handbrake’s drop file area. Then, wait until Handbrake opens it for you. And that’s it! That’s how quickly you can open IFO files on Handbrake.

Open IFO Handbrake

Can You Open IFO Files on Android/iPhone

You may ask if you can open IFO files on Android/iPhone, unfortunately, you can’t. There is no way you can directly open or play IFO files on your mobile phone. But you can use the AnyRec Video Converter tool to convert IFO files (VOB files) and make them accessible on your phone! This tool supports many video and device preset formats to convert IFO/MKV/WebM to MP4! It can convert IFO files at 50X faster without compromising the original quality. Moreover, this tool can also deal with multiple IFO files and delivers an excellent quality output.

AnyRec Video Converter Package
AnyRec Video Converter

Allow you to add audio tracks and subtitles to the IFO file before converting.

Support option to edit IFO files like video trimmer, cropper, add effects, etc.

Offer a preview that lets you play IFO files and check the editing you’ve made.

Let you improve IFO file quality, remove the noise, and more with AI technology.

Free Download

100% Secure

Free Download

100% Secure

Step 1.Install AnyRec Video Converter on your computer. Then, run the tool and click the "Add Files" button to import the IFO file you wish to convert.

Click Add Files Button

Step 2.After that, click the "Format" dropdown button, click the "Video" tab, and select the "MP4" format. You can also convert an IFO file directly to Android or iPhone device presets.

Select Format

Step 3.Then, click the associated "Custom Profile" button and tweak the output’s resolution, quality, bitrate, and more. Once you are done, click the "Create New" button.

Tweak Output

Step 4.Once you finish the above setups, click the "Convert All" button to initiate the conversion IFO process. And that’s it! That’s how you use this tool to convert IFO to MP4.

Convert All
Free Download

100% Secure

Free Download

100% Secure

FAQs

Conclusion

That’s it! That’s the brief introduction and answer to the question, "What is an IFO file?" and how you can play it. Through these guides about IFO files, you now have the knowledge and the idea of how you can open them. If you want to open an IFO file on your Android/iPhone, you can use AnyRec Video Converter to convert it into a digital format. With this tool’s powerful video converter and wide range of media and device preset formats, you can efficiently and quickly convert IFO files with high-quality output! Start using this tool today!

Free Download

100% Secure

Free Download

100% Secure

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