Tips to open MXF file

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

MXF file extension

File Name Material Exchange Format
File Developer SMPTE
File Category Video Files

The MXF file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MXF files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MXF file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 4
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is MXF file?

The .MXF file is a video file. It is a container with audio and video tracks with a description of the material in the form of metadata. The container was designed by the SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) organization as a universal multimedia file. It can be played by most players and is free to convert. The purpose of the file was to standardize the way data is saved by various recording equipment manufacturers, but it was not widely recognized.

How to open MXF file?

The most common problem when using Material Exchange Format is that a specific MXF is not associated with the program. This causes the file MXF to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MXF 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

The first step is to check if the computer has the QuickTime Player program installed. This can be achieved by typing QuickTime Player into the operating system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open MXF files.

Programs to open MXF file

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

Step 2. Create association of QuickTime Player with MXF files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the MXF 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 window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the QuickTime Player application as the default for handling the MXF file.

Step 3. Update QuickTime Player to the latest version

If, despite the association of the QuickTime Player program with the Material Exchange Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. In this case, use the Apple, Inc. website or update the program from the application.

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

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The MXF file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the MXF file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file MXF or the program directory. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover MXF files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the MXF files changes over time. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged MXF files. You can restore the file from a backup or use SMPTE help.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted MXF 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. Copying the MXF file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file MXF to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the MXF file for a certain period of time. If nothing helps, please reset the device.