Requirements: macOS 10.12+
, 89.23MB of free space
Version 8.15(3307) (22 Mar, 2023) Release notes
Category: Video
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Olga Weis
Mar 20, 2023
Mac users always rely on QuickTime when playing media files. Even though sometimes the default video player for macOS may not function properly for any number of reasons. In the following article, we will highlight how to play MOV files on Mac using both Elmedia Player and alternative solutions.
Elmedia Player offers a dependable way to play a MOV file. This video player for Mac works seamlessly without the need for codecs or additional add-ons. With its user-friendly interface, it’s straightforward to navigate for both beginners and experienced users. Elmedia also serves as an all-around media player as it supports a wide range of audio and video formats, including MKV, WMV, AVI, MP3, FLAC, and more.
Its advanced features cover streaming via DLNA, AirPlay 2, and Chromecast for 4K video, as well as an automatic subtitle search and advanced audio and visual effects.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free (PRO version is available for $19.99)
User review:
"This app solved me a lot of problem specially with films multilingual on my Mac. The native Mac app does not do this in the right way. Thanks, Elmedia Player Pro."— Alloweb, uptodown
Playing a MOV video with Elmedia is a matter of a few clicks. There are several ways to load your favorite files depending on your preferences.
Open your MOV file in one of three ways:
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Top features
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Elmedia Player
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VLC Media Player
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Cisdem Player
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MPlayerX
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QuickTime
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Supports various video formats
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Supports various video formats
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Yes (MOV, WebM, AVI, FLV, SWF, MP4, WMV, DAT, M4V, MPG, DivX, MKV)
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Yes (MOV, WebM, MKV, MP4, VOB, WMV, MPG AVI, etc)
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Yes (MOV, WebM, MKV, AVI, FLV, AVCHD, WMV, etc.)
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Yes (MOV, WebM, AVI, MKV, MP4, MPG, OGM, etc.)
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Yes (MOV, MP4, M4V, MPEG-2, AVI, M4A, MP3, etc.) Unable to play MKV files
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Ability to play various audio formats
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Ability to play various audio formats
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Yes (WebM, MP3, WMA, AC2, MKA, OGG, FLAC, AAC)
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Yes (WebM, AAC, AC-3, FLAC, MP3, ALAC, etc.)
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Yes (WebM, MP3, OGG, AAC, WMA, AIFF)
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Yes (WebM, MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA, ASF, MP4, CD audio, XMMS)
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Yes (AAC, AC3, MP3, etc.)
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Supports file streaming to TVs and other devices
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Supports file streaming to TVs and other devices
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Create, share, and edit playlists
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Create, share, and edit playlists
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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No
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Yes
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Built-in video tuner
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Built-in video tuner
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
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Audio equalizer
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Audio equalizer
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
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Subtitles support
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Subtitles support
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Picture-in-picture mode supported
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Picture-in-picture mode supported
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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No
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Yes
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Screen recording
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Screen recording
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No
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Yes
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No
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No
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Yes
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Free version
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Free version
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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VLC is a well-established free MOV player for Mac. It’s a popular choice due to its wide support of operating systems and file formats. Its appearance can be customized by adding skins (not available for Mac OS X) or creating your own. The app’s basic features are easily accessible for novice users, although more advanced settings require some getting used to.
Still, those comfortable with installing extensions to enrich VLC’s capabilities can benefit from a large library. If and when you need to download additional codec packs, however, beware of untrusted sources that may introduce spyware into your computer system.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Unix, iOS, Android
Price: free, donations accepted
If you’d rather go for a different VLC alternative for Mac, read below for further suggestions.
User review:
"This is the only video player that doesn't turn the whole screen into green pixels. And, it's free !!!"— Septic Monkey, macupdate.com
Another perfect answer to all those who wonder how to open AVI on Mac is Cisdem Video Player is a versatile MOV video player with high-quality video playback. It supports 1080p/4k/5k/8k resolutions. The app comes with various features with regard to video playback and playlists.
For example, using loop, shuffle, and repeat, or remembering playlist position. It also lets you switch between different audio streams and load embedded or external subtitles. In addition, you can customize its appearance by using full or mini screen, Incognito mode, or separating the playback window, controller, and playlist menu.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Price: free or $9.99 for Pro
User review:
"It is the main video player I've been used now. It is simple to open and manage the media files, supports a various number of video/audio formats, even the HD videos. It is much better than the built-in player on Mac. The most important is it's completely free."— tracidgordon, macupdate.com
MPlayerX is another MOV file player for mac with an interesting set of features. Apart from being able to play MOV on Mac, it can open virtually any file type without codecs or plug-ins. MPlayerX allows you to use gestures such as pinch, tap, or swipe instead of shortcuts to control video playback. It also automatically detects and converts the encoding for your subtitle file to properly handle different languages. You can even plug in your home theater system, automatically directing the audio stream.
Note: however, that there are reports of malware and adware which cause unwanted pop-ups on web pages, causes crashes, redirects, etc.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free, donations accepted
User review:
"MplayerX is lame. Because it allows malware on it without warning you about it."— Steve, mac.informer
QuickTime Player is the default player Mac users have on their computers. Being built into macOS, it’s widely available and commonly used by people in the Apple ecosystem. It has a simple interface. While it lacks advanced features, it does cover all the basic functionalities such as HD and Full-HD support, floating on top of other windows, etc. A lot of users value its screen recording and video editing capabilities more than anything else.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac, Windows (2016 version)
Price: free with macOS
User review:
"A full-featured player and it saves you time on uploading videos. I find it quite handy."— Jess, mac.informer
Although QuickTime can handle the majority of MOV files, there may be occasional compatibility issues. You can find more reasons why QuickTime can't play .mov in one of our corresponding articles.
MOV format (sometimes referred to as QuickTime format) is a video file format developed by Apple Inc. It was first released in 1991 as a part of the QuickTime media framework. MOV files are commonly used for storing multimedia content such as video, audio, and images.
The MOV format is still widely used today due to its versatility and compatibility with both Mac and Windows operating systems. It supports a wide range of codecs, including H.264, MPEG-4, and ProRes, which allows high-quality video and audio playback. MOV files also support various metadata types, making it easy to organize and search for specific files.
The MOV format is particularly popular in the film and video production industry, where it is used for editing, post-production, and distribution. Another interesting fact about this format is that it was developed to replace the AVI format, which was the dominant video file format at the time.
MOV was designed to be more efficient and offer better quality than AVI, and it quickly became popular among Mac users. Today, however, many other video file formats have emerged, such as MP4, which is now the most commonly used video format on the Internet.
As you can see, there are various MOV players out there. If you’re struggling with how to open a MOV file on Mac, however, we recommend choosing a reliable app that offers flawless playback every time. A solution like Elmedia Player, for example, will open your MOV videos quickly and easily, while letting you keep the settings and customization as simple or as advanced as you wish.
Frequently Asked Questions: