YUV4MPEG2 video
File type: Digital video and movie file
The y4m file extension identifies a YUV4MPEG2 video file containing uncompressed YCbCr video frames.
It is a raw video stream format used for exchanging or processing video data.
File type category:
Digital video and movie file
Date updated: October 16, 2026
YUV4MPEG2 is a simple video stream format for storing uncompressed YCbCr frames. A .y4m file contains a stream header followed by video frames and frame information such as the image dimensions, frame rate and chroma format.
FFmpeg can read and write YUV4MPEG2 files as part of its multimedia processing tools. FFmpeg is available on multiple platforms and can use y4m files as input or output during video processing.
The format is still useful as an intermediate format because its frames are uncompressed, although the files are much larger than compressed video files. Y4M video can be converted to common formats and containers such as AVI and Matroska.
Use FFmpeg to read or decode a y4m file. FFmpeg is a multiplatform command-line tool that can process the video or send its decoded frames to another supported output.
Because YUV4MPEG2 files contain raw video rather than a finished compressed movie, a general-purpose video player may not open them directly.
FFmpeg can convert a y4m file to other video formats and containers, including AVI and Matroska. The conversion can also encode the uncompressed frames with a video codec to reduce the file size.
YUV4MPEG2 carries video frames and does not provide a general audio track, so audio must be added separately when creating a multimedia file that includes sound.
Apps designed for playing y4m files:
Multiplatform
Language
