Open MOV files

Full name

Apple QuickTime Digital Movie Format
Developer

Apple
Popularity

Have you encountered a problem with a MOV file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a MOV file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your MOV file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is MOV file?

With the extension mov, files are marked in Quicktime format.

More info

These files usually contain video and audio streams. You can, however, in principle contain any file formats, as the Quicktime format is expandable.

Like AVI, Quicktime is a container format. Therefore, the extension makes no statement about the actual content of the file. It supports a large number of audio, image and video formats, all of which can be contained in various combinations in the file. In addition MOV files can also contain interactive content, panorama pictures, subtitles and chapters.

Some of this content can not be displayed if Quicktime is not installed. Most players only support normal videos in the MOV container.

The file contents can also be protected by DRM. Then you need the appropriate, possibly paid license to view the content. MOV files can also be streamed and are therefore often used on the internet.

Quicktime is developed by Apple as a proprietary solution and is therefore part of the operating system on the Apple Macintosh. The Quicktime software is also available for Windows for free.

For the Linux platform, there are several projects that develop a free open source software that will make Quicktime files usable under Linux.

However, many players can play MOV files as long as they can decode the format of the video and audio streams.

Quicktime is much more than a file format. It is intended as a complete platform for the production of videos and multimedia content. From the reception to the finished product. Therefore, the generation, editing and processing is usually reserved for paid programs and often found only in the professional market.

Programs which can open a MOV file

Windows

Linux

Mac OS

Android

VLC media player for Android

How to open file with MOV extension?

In order to open a file with MOV extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening MOV file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with MOV files, follow the instructions below.

Install QuickTime Player or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening MOV files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support MOV files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of MOV files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set QuickTime Player as the default program for opening MOV files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate MOV files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the QuickTime Player applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where QuickTime Player has been installed.

Check the section that lists most common problems with MOV files

Sometimes problems with opening MOV files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

File data is corrupted
MOV files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open MOV files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
MOV file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)