Tips to open MOV file

Can't open the MOV file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MOV files as well as a list of programs that support MOV files.

MOV file extension

File Name Apple QuickTime Movie
File Developer Apple
File Category Video Files

The MOV file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MOV files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MOV file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 8
  • 5
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0

What is MOV file?

A .MOV file is a video file closely related to the Apple brand and the Macintosh platform. The format is of course supported by other operating systems. .MOV files can have multiple tracks with different content: video, audio or subtitles. An interesting solution is the ability to encode different paths with different codecs in one file. Most, however, the video is in MPEG-4 format. Due to the little support for physical players, .MOV files are often converted to the .MP4 format.

How to open MOV file?

The main problem with Apple QuickTime Movie is that the MOV file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that MOV files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MOV file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install QuickTime Player

In this case, you should first verify that the QuickTime Player application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name QuickTime Player in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support MOV files.

Programs to open MOV file

Remember to download programs supporting MOV files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of QuickTime Player with MOV files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the MOV file still does not use the QuickTime Player program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the MOV file with the QuickTime Player application.

Step 3. Update QuickTime Player to the latest version

If, despite the association of the QuickTime Player program with the Apple QuickTime Movie file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Apple, Inc. website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MOV file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The MOV file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the MOV file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file MOV or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected MOV files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the MOV file. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for this. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular MOV file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Apple, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted MOV files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. It is best to move MOV to a different directory.
This problem usually affects more complex files. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file MOV to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the MOV file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.