VOB (Video Object) is the container format that is used in DVD-Video media. A VOB file can contain digital audio, digital video, subtitles, DVD menus and even navigation contents. In VOB files, all of the contents are multiplexed together into a stream form. While the VOB video format is based on the MPEG file format, another file format designed specifically for video and audio files, it is different to its predecessor in a wide variety of different ways. Since VOB files are not your average video files, users often wonder exactly how they can play VOB files. The simplest way to play a VOB file would be to burn it back onto a DVD and then play the DVD in any regular DVD player, but most people would prefer playing whatever VOB files they want to play on a computer.
Fortunately, it is entirely possible to play VOB files on Windows computers, and there are a number of different ways one might go about doing so. It should be noted, however, that VOB files can be encrypted, and you cannot play a VOB file that has been encrypted. The following are the two most effective methods that can be used to play VOB files on Windows computers:
Method 1: Play VOB files using VLC Media Player
The VLC Media Player is a free, open-source third-party media player for the Windows Operating System that is capable of successfully playing media files of almost any format imaginable, and this happens to include VOB files. To play VOB files on a computer using VLC Media Player, you need to:
- On an internet browser of your choice, make your way to videolan.org.
- Click on Download VLC.
- Wait for the installer for the application to be downloaded.
- Once the installer has been successfully downloaded, navigate to where it was downloaded to and double-click on it to run it.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to go through the installer and install VLC Media Player on your computer.
- Once VLC Media Player has been successfully installed, launch it. You can do so from your computer’s Start Menu.
- Click on Media in the toolbar at the top of the window.
- Click on Open Folder… in the resulting context menu.
- Navigate to and open the folder that contains the VOB file(s) you want to play.
- Once you have opened the folder in question, click on Select Folder.
As soon as you do so, VLC Media Player will begin playing the VOB file(s) located inside the selected folder, and you’ll be able to access any and all DVD menus, special features, chapters, and other bonuses programmed into the VOB file(s).
Method 2: Play VOB files using MPC-HC
MPC-HC is another completely free and open-source third-party media player designed for the Windows Operating System. MPC-HC is capable of playing almost every single media file format out there, and that includes files that are in the VOB file format. If you would like to play VOB files on a Windows computer using MPC-HC, here’s what you need to do:
- Navigate to https://mpc-hc.org/downloads/ on an internet browser of your choosing.
- Under the Binaries section, click on Installer under For 32-bit (x86) Windows (if you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows) or For 64-bit (x64) Windows (if you’re using a 64-bit version of Windows) to begin downloading an installer for MPC-HC designed specifically for the iteration of Windows you have.
- Wait for the installer to be successfully downloaded.
- Once the installer for MPC-HC has been downloaded, navigate to where the installer was downloaded to, locate the installer and double-click on it to run it.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to go through the installer and install MPC-HC on your computer.
- As soon as MPC-HC has been installed on your computer, run the application.
- Click on File > Quick Open File….
- Navigate to and open the folder on your computer that contains the VOB file you want to play.
- Click on the VOB file you want to play in order to select it, and click on Open. As soon as you do so, MPC-HC will begin playing the selected VOB file, complete with all of the menus, extras and special features that were programmed into the DVD the selected VOB file was ripped from.
