.OBB File Extension

Android Opaque Binary Blob File

Developer Google
Popularity
4.0  |  1920 Votes
 

What is an OBB file?

An OBB file is an expansion file used by some Android apps distributed via the Google Play online store. It contains data not stored in the application's main package (.APK file), such as graphics, media files, and other large program assets, due to size constraints (typically stored in a device's shared storage folder). Google replaced OBB expansion files with the Android App Bundle (.AAB) format in August 2021.

More Information

Before moving to the AAB format, Google Play allowed APK files to be only 100MB or smaller in file size, which led to app developers using expansion files to store additional app assets. Developers could create expansion files using any format they chose, such as .ZIP or .MP4. They could also use the JOBB tool provided with the Android SDK to bundle and encrypt assets together within an OBB file (maximum size of 2GB).

Developers then uploaded these expansion files alongside their application's APK file using the Google Play Developer Console. Users who downloaded the app received the app's APK and related expansion files.

NOTE: Any additional asset provided beyond an app's APK file is called an APK Expansion File. Developers can include up to two APK Expansion Files within their Android apps.

Since August 2021, new apps submitted to Google Play are required to be published in the AAB format, which does not support OBB files. Consult Android Developers for more information.

How to open an OBB file

Typically, users should not open OBB files since they often store data in an encrypted format meant to be referenced by the app for which they store data.

However, you may be able to extract the contents of an OBB archive with the ZDevs ZArchiver app for Android devices. You should not modify OBB files unless you know the correct changes since altering them may make an app unusable.

Open over 400 file formats with File Viewer Plus.Free Download

Programs that open or reference OBB files

Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Android Opaque Binary Blob file format and Android apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

If you would like to suggest any additions or updates to this page, please let us know.