Free Ways to Convert Video to 3G2 Files? Complete Overview
Summary: These days, there are multiple versions of the video made for devices and platforms that tend to fulfill specific purposes. One of these formats is 3G2 file format. While its usage has come down, many users need to convert video to 3G2 to work with older phones, video editing tools, or for archiving files.
If you own a video in MP4, AVI, MKV, or any other format and you need it in 3G2 format, this article covers many ways to do that. Also, why individuals still use 3G2 video files, the manual methods, and a reliable solution to help ensure your video is played without any issues.
What is a 3G2 Video File?
It is a multimedia container that was developed by 3GPP2 (Third Generation Partnership Project 2). This format comes as the sub part of 3GP video format and is meant to be used with CDMA-based mobile networks. They are typically used for video streams encoded with H.263/MPEG-4 AVC and audio streams with AAC or AMR-NB stream types. While 3G2 may seem out of date compared to other popular ones such as MP4 or MKV. But, still the format remains relevant for:
- Older mobile phones.
- Low bandwidth video transfers.
- Archiving lightweight videos.
Also Read: How to convert Video to ASF Easily?
Reasons to Export Video to 3G2?
You may be asking yourself what possible causes anyone would have to convert video to 3G2 format. Here are some typical reasons:
- Older CDMA-based mobile phones only support 3G2. If you want to play your favorite clips on such devices, then conversion is necessary.
- They are significantly smaller in size compared to MP4 or AVI. It is useful if you want to save storage space or send files across limited networks.
- Some users still want to keep backward compatibility by creating a 3G2 file when they archive their old mobile video.
- Some video editors require files to be imported in a 3G2 format.
- Developers who are working on apps or retro mobile emulators sometimes need media files in 3G2 format for testing.
How to Convert Video to 3G2? Manual Methods
There are various free methods available to export video to 3G2 file format. Let’s follow these steps to ensure a smooth video conversion process.
#1. VLC Media Player
VLC is a well known open source media player that can also convert video to 3G2 . Here, are the steps to do it:
- Download or Install VLC Media Player into your system.
- After opening, go to Media > Convert/Save.
- Next, click on Add and select the video you want to convert.
- Now, go ahead and hit on the Convert or Save button .
- Under the Profile section, select a video format that is closely related to 3G2 such as MP4 with H.263 or H.264 codec.
- Under the Encapsulation tab, select 3G2 if it is available, or set up the codec for compatibility.
- Choose a destination folder, and give filename with .3g2 extension, then click on Start.
- Further, VLC will convert your video and save it in the 3G2 format.
#2. Using FFMPEG – Command Line Method
FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework that can convert nearly any video format including 3G2.
- Download & install FFmpeg available for both Windows and Mac.
- Open Command Prompt for Windows or Terminal for Mac users.
- Run the following command:
ffmpeg -i inputvideo.mp4 -c:v h263 -c:a aac outputvideo.3g2
- Simply, replace inputvideo.mp4 with your input video file.
- outputvideo.3g2 is your output converted file.
- In no time you will have a converted .3g2 video file saved to your working directory.
FFmpeg is very efficient but can only be used if you have command line experience before.
Limitations of Using Manual Solutions
As mentioned above, these methods work, but there are some disadvantages.
- Converting lengthy videos can take a long time for the conversion to complete.
- Some manual conversion methods may impact the quality of video files.
- Methods using tools like FFmpeg require knowledge of the command line, which many users will not have.
- There may be a risk to data privacy, if you are uploading your files to online converters.
- Free tools may not effectively convert multiple videos in batches simultaneously.
Batch Convert Video to 3G2 Without Losing Quality
Manual techniques do work, but often have drawbacks like file size limits, technical steps, or reduced quality. If you want a quick, error-free and bulk conversion solution, opt for SysTools Video Converter Offline Software. This not only exports to 3G2 format, but it also has output options with all sorts of formats and allows maximum compatibility across devices.
Key Features:
- Batch converts videos into the 3G2 format.
- Keep the original quality of video and audio.
- Supports popular formats such as MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, FLV, WMV, and more.
- No technical knowledge needed.
- Preview videos before conversion.
- It runs smoothly on all versions of Windows.
Tool Steps to Export Video to 3G2 Video Files
1. Download & Install Video to 3G2 converter software in your system.
2.Now, click on the Select Files button to upload your video files.
3. You can select multiple video files to convert in one click.
4. Then, set the destination format as 3G2.
5. Next, click the Browse button to set the destination path.
6. Now you can see your previously uploaded video file.
7. Simply, click on the Convert button to convert video to 3G2.
8. So, let the computer process the video for a while.
9. At this stage, a pop up box will show on the screen implying that the conversion is complete. Then press the OK button.
10. Finally, look for your converted file at your target location.
Conclusion
It is crucial to convert video to 3G2 format for users who use or need compatibility with older mobile devices. Also, who want smaller file sizes without impacting too much quality. While manual methods may not be sufficient for basic conversion, they can often be slow, limiting, and may not produce the best output. A more reliable and efficient process is to use our professional tool. It makes the conversion fast, bulk, and maintains high quality. It works well for personal and professional purposes.