MOV file format (.mov)
QuickTime container used across Apple software.
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What is a MOV file?
In short: A MOV file (.mov) is a video file in the MOV format. MOV and MP4 are structurally almost the same format, which is why converting between them is usually a matter of relabelling rather than re-encoding. It can be converted to MP4 or GIF for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
Apple's QuickTime format from 1991, and the direct ancestor of MP4.
MOV and MP4 are structurally almost the same format, which is why converting between them is usually a matter of relabelling rather than re-encoding. MOV allows Apple-specific codecs such as ProRes and Animation that MP4 does not, which is why editing workflows stay in it.
What MOV is good at
- Handles professional codecs such as ProRes cleanly
- The native format of Apple cameras and editing tools
- Supports alpha channels for compositing
Where MOV falls short
- A ProRes MOV is enormous compared to H.264
- Non-Apple software may not read the professional codecs
- Browsers only play it when the contents happen to be H.264
When to use MOV
Use MOV while editing on Apple hardware, and export MP4 for delivery.
How to open a MOV file
macOS and iOS natively, and most desktop editors. Browser support depends entirely on the codec inside.
| Windows | Films & TV plays MOV holding H.264. Anything using Apple ProRes needs VLC or the free ProRes decoder from Apple. |
|---|---|
| macOS | Opens natively in QuickTime and Preview — it is Apple’s own container. |
| Linux | VLC or mpv. ProRes decodes fine; ProRes encoding is another matter. |
| Phone | Plays natively on iPhone and iPad. Android needs VLC unless the codec inside is H.264. |
| In a browser | Chrome and Safari will play a MOV holding H.264 and AAC. Anything else fails silently. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
A MOV recorded on an iPhone is usually H.264 or HEVC and plays anywhere. A MOV exported from an editor may be ProRes, ten times larger, and rejected by the same places.
Questions
What is a MOV file?
QuickTime container used across Apple software. Files use the .mov extension.
How do I open a MOV file?
Most video software opens MOV directly. If yours does not, convert it here to something more common. It takes a few seconds and nothing is uploaded.
Can I convert MOV for free?
Yes. Every conversion here is free and unlimited, because your own device does the work rather than a server we have to pay for.
Is MOV lossless?
That depends on the codec inside the container rather than the container itself. Everything written here is re-encoded, so expect one generation of loss.