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Choose formats that will still play in 20 years

Common, open formats keep playing on whatever device survives. Rare formats can strand your library.

How

1. The Library of Congress advises open formats where possible and keeping the highest-quality version when you have duplicates.
2. Keep a master copy and, where needed, a smaller copy for phones and tablets. The same Emby formula (bitrate x time) tells you the saving.
3. Store subtitles and cover art with the file so the catalogue is complete offline.
4. Keep the installers for at least one free media player for each operating system you use, on every backup drive.

Sources

1. Personal Archiving: Digital Audio. Library of Congress, Digital Preservation, accessed 2026-11
2. Personal Archiving: Digital Video. Library of Congress, Digital Preservation, accessed 2026-11
3. Media file size and duration. Emby Learn, accessed 2026-11

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