Most VOB files can be played with VLC media player which supports all major operating systems. Alternatively, you can use the MPC-HC player (Windows only), which functions in the same way. If you have Plex Media Server, it is possible to convert VOB files to MKV format and play streaming video without any quality loss. You can also burn VOB files to DVDs and play them in regular DVD players. Please note that encrypted VOB files cannot be played.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Using VLC Media Player
Step 1. Launch your web browser and open the videolan.org website
VLC is a free media player that plays almost all video formats, including VOB files.
Step 2. Click "Download VLC"
The installation file corresponding to your operating system will be downloaded. If you downloaded the wrong installer (for example, an EXE file for Mac OS X), click on the logo of the corresponding operating system under the Download button.
Step 3. Open the VLC installer file
The process of installing the player will start. The installation file is located in the downloads folder (usually the Downloads folder) or in the Downloads section of your browser.
Step 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to install VLC
The installation process depends on the operating system (Windows or Mac OS X), but it is best not to touch the defaults.
Step 5. Launch VLC player
Do this from the Start menu (Windows) or from the Applications folder (Mac OS X).
Step 6. Click Media (Windows) or File (Mac OS X)
Options are displayed that allow you to open the media file.
Step 7. Click "Open Folder" (Windows) or "Open File" (Mac OS X)
This will open the VIDEO_TS folder where the VOB files are stored.
Step 8. Find the folder with VOB files
Typically, this folder is named “VIDEO_TS” (if VOB files were copied directly from DVD).
Step 9. Open the selected folder to play VOB files
When the folder opens, VLC will start playing the video files (as if a DVD was inserted into the drive). You will have access to DVD menus, special functions, chapters and more.
Method 2 of 4: Using the MPC-HC Player (Windows Only)
Step 1. Determine the bitness (32-bit or 64-bit) Windows
This is required in order to download the correct version of MPC-HC.
- Press ⊞ Win + Pause, or from the Start menu, right-click Computer and select Properties.
- In the window that opens, find the line "System type". It indicates whether the system is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Step 2. Open the MPC-HC website
MPC-HC is a free media player that plays VOB files and many other video formats. The player can be downloaded from mpc-hc.org/downloads/.
MPC-HC only supports Windows
Step 3. Click “Installer” under the corresponding Windows version
This will download the MPC-HC installation file.
Step 4. Run the installation file and follow the instructions on the screen
The installer is small, so it only takes a few minutes to download. After downloading the installation file, launch it and follow the instructions on the screen to install MPC-HC. You can leave the default parameters unchanged.
Step 5. Start MPC-HC
This can be done through the installer or using a shortcut on the desktop.
Step 6. Click "File" - "Open File"
The Explorer window will open.
Step 7. Find the folder with VOB files
If video files were copied from a DVD, they are most likely stored in the “VIDEO_TS” folder. In File Explorer, find and open that folder.
Step 8. Select the VIDEO_TS.ifo file
This file will download the entire contents of the DVD, i.e. play the DVD menu and access special functions.
Individual VOB files can be selected, but this will play specific DVD content
Step 9. Open the specified file
Playback will start from the beginning of the DVD, and VOB files will open as needed.
Method 3 of 4: Using Plex Media Server
Step 1. Download MakeMKV
Plex has a hard time playing VOB files, so it's best to use MakeMKV to convert them to MKV files. The picture and sound quality will not change, as will the chapters, but access to the DVD menu will be blocked.
Go to makemkv.com/ and click “Download MakeMKV for Windows” to download the installer for the program
Step 2. Run the installer and follow the instructions on the screen
You can leave the default parameters unchanged. MakeMKV is free of adware related software.
Step 3. Run MakeMKV
Do this through the installation wizard or using a shortcut on your desktop.
Step 4. Click “Open files”
It's in the upper left corner of the MakeMKV window. The button icon looks like a video camera.
Step 5. Find the folder where the VOB files are stored
If you copied VOB files from a DVD, they are most likely stored in the “VIDEO_TS” folder. Find and open this folder to view its contents.
Step 6. Select the Video_ts.ifo file
This is the main file that contains information about the playback order of VOB files. The specified file will convert all VOB files to MKV format.
Step 7. Enter the appropriate name
In the case of a movie, enter its title. If there are multiple TV episodes recorded on the DVD, you need to create an MKV file for each episode (this will actually make it easier to select episodes in Plex).
You can also include additional audio tracks and subtitles in the MKV file (this format supports multiple tracks)
Step 8. Start the conversion process
MakeMKV will create an MKV file with the specified parameters and name. The process time depends on the size of the VOB files.
Step 9. Add MKV file to your Plex library
Plex supports MKV format, so it will play the generated MKV file without any problem. In most cases, Plex will automatically find the appropriate information to play the video file. Look online for specific instructions on how to add a video file to your Plex library.
Method 4 of 4: Burn VOB Files to DVD Disc
Step 1. Download ImgBurn
This is a free program with which VOB files stored in the "VIDEO_TS" folder can be burned to a DVD disc. Such a disc will be playable with any DVD player that supports burned discs. Open the site {{{1}}} to download the program.
- When choosing a mirror server, make sure that you do not need a special download manager to download files from it. It is recommended to download the program from one of the mirror servers numbered 5 and 6.
- Do not download ImgBurn from mirror 7, because in this case the installation file will include unwanted (adware) software that nobody needs.
Step 2. Run the installer
When the installation file has finished downloading, run it from the Download folder. You can leave the default parameters unchanged.
Carefully read the information in each window, as the installer may include additional (adware) software (this depends on the server from which the installation file was downloaded)
Step 3. Launch ImgBurn
To do this, click on the program shortcut on the desktop. The main ImgBurn menu will open.
Step 4. From the menu select "Burn files / folders to disk"
In the window that opens, you can collect the necessary VOB files, create an image from them and write it to disk. This will retain the original DVD menu and additional functions.
Step 5. Click the "Open folder" button
File Explorer will open. This button is to the right of the Source field.
Step 6. Select the "VIDEO_TS" folder
It stores the required VOB files. If you open this folder, all VOB files will be added to the ImgBurn window.
Step 7. Click "Calculate"
The icon of this button looks like a calculator and is located in the lower right corner of the window. The size of the image will be calculated and the program will advise you to insert a single or dual layer disc.
Step 8. Insert the disc recommended by the program
After the calculation, the screen will display the line "Minimum Media Capacity". Use this information to select the type of blank disc. Most video files are recorded on DVD ± R / RW discs.
Step 9. Go to the "Options" tab
The disk options will open.
Step 10. From the File System menu select ISO9660 + UDF
In this case, the disc will be playable on most DVD players.
Step 11. Go to the "Tags" tab
Here you can add a cue to help the player play the disc.
Step 12. In the line "ISO9660" enter a label
The label can contain any characters except spaces.
Step 13. Next to the "ISO9660" field, click "Copy"
The label you entered will be automatically copied to other fields, the information in which must match.
Step 14. Click "Create"
This will start the process of burning the image to DVD. The process time depends on the speed of the DVD drive and the size of the video files.
Step 15. Play the burned DVD disc
Once the DVD has finished burning, it can be played in most DVD players. Please note that some players do not support burned discs.