H261 Video — A .h261 file is a H261 Video. It is a video format used to store movies and animation, typically with video and audio tracks.
Quick facts
What is .h261
A .h261 file is a H261 Video. It is a video format used to store movies and animation, typically with video and audio tracks.
In the mime-db registry it maps to video/h261. When serving .h261 over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to video/h261 — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .h261 files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: video/h261
Common software that reads/writes .h261:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .h261 files
How to create .h261 files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include VLC, MPV, HandBrake. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .h261 extension.
video/h261 is the media type identifier used for .h261 files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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