MPEG4 Player for Mac – Best Apps in 2024

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Updated on: November 18, 2024
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MPEG-4 is natively compatible with QuickTime. However, you may experience problems while playing these file types since they can be encoded in different ways. In this article, we’re going to list some of the top MPEG-4 players for Mac that are reliable and also come with added bonus features for a more wholesome viewing experience.

Quick Summary:

Users situation:

I have a dozen mp4 - MPEG -4 movie files of which some play and some don't. They all have the exact same extension in the 'kind' column, but some won't play at all and just come up with '...not in a format that QuickTime understands'. etc.
— MacRumors

What is an MPEG-4 file?

MPEG-4 stands for Moving Picture Experts Group – an alliance of groups that are responsible for setting standards in media coding, audio compression, the transmission of formats in various applications, and more. MPEG-4 was created and designed to play high-quality video at lower data rates in a compact size. Unlike previous iterations of this compression method, MPEG-4 is a combination of layers and profiles.

An MPEG-4 file can contain both audio and video data and is commonly used to distribute and stream video content over the Internet. MPEG4 files use the MPEG-4 encoding standards. Almost all MPEG-4 video files are typically saved with the .mp4 extension.

Elmedia Player – the Best MPEG4 Player for Mac

Elmedia Player is an optimal choice for anyone when it comes to playing MPEG4 on Mac. This free video player for Mac comes with all the bells and whistles, like a robust subtitle integration feature, multiple playback controls and features, the ability to fine-tune audio and video settings to the dot, and many more. It plays a plenty of audio and video fromats not supported by QuickTime. It’s compatible with MP3, M4A, AVi, MOV, and many others.

The player features an eye-catching user interface, easy navigation, and responsive controls. And not to mention a whole slew of more desirable features in its PRO version – if you haven’t already, this MPEG video player for Mac is one you have to try.

Play MPEG4 files on Mac with Elmedia Player.

Supported OS: macOS

Price: free (PRO upgrade is for $19.99)

User rating: 4.5/5 on Mac App Store

Pros

  • Multiple file formats supported (MPEG-4 included)
  • HD 4K and 8K video playback for the most life-like visuals
  • 10-band audio equalizer for the sharpest and most-refined audio experience
  • Robust playback and video controls to set settings exactly how you like

Cons

  • The free version can be limited to heavy users, and advanced features are unlocked behind the PRO version of the app
  • Available only for macOS, no Windows support

MPlayerX

MPlayerX is another great option to play MPEG4 files on your Mac and one worth checking out. With this multimedia player, Mac users get some of the same widely-popular features as other players like Elmedia Player. You get to enjoy having full control over playback controls and setting your own customizable hotkeys for the most personalized experience.

This MPEG4 player for Mac also plays virtually any audio and video file format you can think of – so MPEG4 is going to be a breeze. Editing videos, adjusting speed, and subtitles are all part of the MPlayerX ecosystem. By far, this player is a strong contender most users would find very useful.

Elmedia Player checked on macOS Sequoia.

MPlayerX is one of the popular MPEG4 players for Mac

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

Price: free

User rating: 3.7/5 on MacUpdate

Pros

  • Support for all kinds of file formats
  • Minimal design and user experience for a clean aesthetic feel
  • Solid settings and player control options for users

Cons

  • Lacks playlist support (which can be a deal-breaker for many as this is a highly sought after feature)

5KPlayer

If you’re looking for a complete video player that will easily play MPEG4 on Mac, you need to check out 5KPlayer. This app is a popular one and for good reason. It’s easy to use and runs HD 4K and 8K MPEG4 videos without any troubles, slowdowns, or lags. It has tremendous video downloading capabilities and similar to other players like Elmedia Player, this app also supports AirPlay so you can stream content between your Apple devices seamlessly.

5KPlayer is a free Mac MPEG4 player with AirPlay support.

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

Price: free

User rating: 2.7/5 on Trustpilot

Pros

  • HD 4K and 8K uninterrupted support
  • Video downloading capabilities support popular sites like YouTube and Vimeo
  • AirPlay support for wireless mirroring between Apple devices

Cons

  • The odd crash while interacting with the app from time to time

Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac

For those wondering how to open MPEG4 file on Mac, Leawo Blu-ray Player is another player Mac users can rely on. It supports video and audio formats and can play any type of files easily. It also lets you play Blu-ray discs, DVDs and folders, ISO image files. On top of that, Leawo Blu-ray Player provides a Blu-ray menu to give you full control over your media playback, as well as features many audio and video settings that you can adjust during playback.

Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

Price: free, upgrade to premium costs $44.95 per year

User rating: 4.2/5 on CNET

Pros

  • Free
  • High-quality 4K video playback
  • Can play various surround sounds such as Dolby, DTS, AAC, TrueHD, DTS-HD
  • Serves as a Mac DVD disc player

Cons

  • Does not allow you to save playlists for later
  • May crash when start playing Blu-ray/DVD discs

How to Open MPEG4 Files on Mac

1. Download Elmedia Player.

How to play mpeg4 on Mac

2. Find an MPEG4 file you want to open. You can either drag and drop the file into the Elmedia Player open window or icon in the Dock, right-click the file on your Mac and “Open with” Elmedia Player, or navigate to the file from within the Elmedia Player menu itself.

Add media file to Elmedia

3. Just like that, your file gets added to Elmedia Player and is ready to enjoy!

Comparison table of the top MPEG players for Mac

Top features Elmedia Player 5KPlayer MPlayerX Leawo Blu-ray Player
Playback video quality HD   Normal Normal Normal  
The speed of playback Fast  Fast  Fast  Normal
Supported formats AVI, FLV, SWF, MP4, WMV, MOV, DAT, M4V, MPG, DivX, MKV and many others MKV, M2TS, MP4, AVI, WMV, FLV, etc. AVI, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPG, OGM, etc. VideoCD, MPEG, MKV, MOV, AVI, FLV, WMV, MP4, RMVB
Support for subtitles
Create and edit playlists
Streaming option (Pro)
Free option

How to Convert MPEG-4 on Mac

You can also use a converter and convert the unplayable MPEG-4 file to another popular format. However, the best and easiest option is to use a full-featured third-party player like Elmedia. You don’t need to convert anything in Elmedia, it will play all your MPEG-4 files, regardless of the codecs used. So if you have a file and need to quickly play it on your Mac, Elmedia is the way to go.

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Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you find the right media player for Mac and you won’t face the “cant play MPEG4 on Mac” issue anymore. All the solutions above will let you play MPEG4 files. Although each one has its own benefits, our top choice is Elmedia Player. Not only does it offer wide support for media formats and codecs, but it also guarantees smooth playback, has many features and lets you stream local files to other devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

If QuickTime Player won’t open MPEG4, it may not have the right codecs to recognize and play these types of files. The easiest way to play MPEG4 on Mac is to use a third-party player like Elmedia.

Actually, there is no difference between MPG and MPEG. MPEG was shortened to MPG because a three-letter file extension was required in the early versions of Windows.