What is a .mov file?
QuickTime Movie · Video · Apple · 1991
MOV is Apple's QuickTime video format and the default when you record on an iPhone or edit in Final Cut. It is closely related to MP4 and high in quality, but plays most smoothly on Apple devices and can need conversion elsewhere.
What is a .mov file used for?
MOV and MP4 share the same underlying structure, so they often hold identical H.264 video. The difference is heritage: MOV is Apple's QuickTime container and can carry Apple-specific features.
On Apple hardware MOV just works. On Windows and some web platforms you may need VLC or a conversion to MP4 for smooth playback.
It is a favourite of video editors because it can store high-quality, lightly compressed footage.
What opens a .mov file?
The .mov format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- VLC
- Media Player (with codecs)
- QuickTime for Windows
macOS
- QuickTime
- Final Cut
- VLC
- Safari
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
Web
- Safari, other browsers may need MP4
Open a .mov file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .mov. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or Media Player (with codecs).
- On Mac, use QuickTime or Final Cut.
- On Linux, try VLC or mpv.
- Still stuck? Convert the .mov to MP4, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .mov file?
Almost always because no installed app understands MOV. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .mov at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .mov file
You can convert a .mov file to MP4, WebM, GIF using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .mov file signature (magic bytes)?
A .mov file carries the hex bytes 66 74 79 70 71 74 20 20 at offset 4, which read as ftypqt in ASCII. Programs identify MOV by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for MOV. For a full breakdown, see the MOV file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66 74 79 70 71 74 20 20 | 4 | ftypqt | ftyp qt |
| 6D 6F 6F 76 | 4 | moov | moov atom |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .mov file?
MOV is Apple's QuickTime video format and the default when you record on an iPhone or edit in Final Cut. It is closely related to MP4 and high in quality, but plays most smoothly on Apple devices and can need conversion elsewhere.
How do I play a MOV on Windows?
Use VLC, which handles MOV out of the box. For the widest compatibility, convert it to MP4.