M2V (MPEG-2 video)
Also known as: M2V file, MPEG-2 elementary stream, .m2v video, MPEG2 video only
M2V is an MPEG-2 video file that contains only the video stream — no audio. It is an "elementary stream" commonly used in DVD authoring, where video and audio are kept in separate files until they are multiplexed together.
- MPEG-2 video-only elementary stream (no audio)
- Common in DVD authoring workflows
- Mux with audio or convert to MP4 to use normally
Video without sound
An .m2v holds a raw MPEG-2 video elementary stream and nothing else. Because there is no audio track, playing one is silent — the sound lives in a separate file (often an AC-3 or MP2 audio stream).
This separation is standard in DVD and authoring workflows, where the video and audio are combined (multiplexed) only at the final step.
Working with M2V
VLC, FFmpeg, and authoring tools open M2V files. To get a normal, shareable clip you usually mux the M2V with its audio into a container like MP4, or convert it directly.