Best 8 MOV Players in 2024 to Watch MOV Videos with Smooth Playback

MOV files are more and more popular for storing high-quality video content. If you are not satisfied with the current media player, or you encounter MOV not playing on Windows and Mac issues, you just come to the right place.

Here you can get 8 excellent MOV video players on Windows 11/10/8/7 and Mac computers. Moreover, you can get workable solutions to fix the MOV not playing or opening issues. Just continue reading and get seamless MOV playback experience here.

Part 1: Top 8 Best MOV Players for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Mac

A forum on the internet has numerous complaints about errors in playing MOV on Windows. Some users experienced perfect MOV audio but no visual, while others could not play their DLSR-captured footage on the computer. But since Apple initially developed MOV, it is natural that other operating systems do not support it. Fortunately, MOV Players exist for this purpose.

1. AnyRec Blu-ray Player

This MOV Player software is your all-in-one solution for watching movies. It supports various video formats, such as MOV, MP4, RM, ASF, and more. Although the primary function of the desktop tool is to play commercial and homemade DVDs, you can also use it to watch files on your computer without trouble. The best part of AnyRec Blu-ray Player is its support for 4K UHD and 1080p, creating a home theater for your entertainment.

2. VLC Media Player

A popular MOV Player with a reputation as an excellent media player for unique formats like MKV, AVI, WebM, etc. The QuickTime format is also supported in this tool, and you can also configure the file extension with its extensive output settings. You can download VLC on its official website for free!

Features:

• Advanced control for video synchronization and video filters.
• Offer basic features like a recorder, cut, and edit.
• Enable to download videos from YouTube.
• Stream videos from other sources like Chromecast.

3. QuickTime

This free MOV Player is the default media player for Mac, but it is also available to download on Windows. Its onscreen controls allow you to play, stop, pause, or fast-forward the playback. The only problem with QuickTime Player is it does not receive updates when downloaded on Windows.

Features:

• Can be used as an image viewer, audio player, etc.
• Built-in recorder and essential editing features.
• Enable users to upload videos on YouTube directly.
• Excellent compression method for large files.

4. Windows Media Player

Originally made by Microsoft, this Windows MOV Player supports MOV files for movie watching. However, only the latest Windows 12 can play the QuickTime format. The default media player for Windows can be your MP3 player and even enable you to rip DVDs without hassle. You can update Windows Media Player on the Microsoft Store.

Features:

• Recognize video details like artist, album, year, etc.
• Access Media Guide to browse online streaming services.
• Versatile interface with effective onscreen controls.
• Create playlists for different videos and audio.

5. KMPlayer

A free MOV Playing software which also handles formats like AVI, MP4, WMV, MPEG1, and MOV. You can increase the video resolution as it supports 4K and 8K at 60FPS. It guarantees no damage to your file but will play even a corrupted MOV video.

Features:

• Codec presets for effective use on various media files.
• Enable different subtitle formats to be inputted into videos.
• Noise reduction, bookmark, and audio-video synchronization.
• Support over 24 languages for users all around the world.

6. RealPlayer

RealPlayer, also known as RealOne Player, has plug-ins like a browser plugin to download videos on the internet. One of its advantages is that you can turn videos into MP3s and access files from your phone to your computer. You need to install QuickTime when you use this MOV media Player.

Features:

• Suitable for playing local and online videos in different formats.
• Enable to cast content to bigger screens such as TV.
• Customize the settings for organizing, searching, and removing videos.
• Users can post videos on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

7. 5KPlayer

5KPlayers has been renowned as one of the best MOV playback Players for Windows and Mac in the past. It is multifunctional because you can use it for DVDs, ISO Images, and 360-degree videos. It allows you to open and play MOV files with 4K UHD encoded with HEVC/H.264. 5KPlayer is also excellent for live streaming.

Features:

• Support codecs that are essential for encoding MOV files.
• Users can apply effects on video, like speed up or slow down.
• Stream content through AirPlay without issues.
• Support video resolution from 360p to 4K.

8. PotPlayer

This MOV file Player is free to download on Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista. It is lightweight and has an enhanced Hardware Acceleration mode for outstanding streaming performance at 4K Ultra HD. With its supported formats, playing MOV is easier with PotPlayer.

Features:

• Fast and smooth playback for 8K MOV videos.
• Support subtitle formats like SRT, ASS, and SSA.
• OpenCodec allows to add the needed codec.
• Preview the scene and change the screen playback.

Part 2: Why You Can’t Play MOV Files on Windows and Mac

Many possibilities can be why you receive an error on your MOV files when you open them on a MOV video playback tool. Even with QuickTime, which sometimes QuickTime cannot open MP4 either, supporting the format, there are times when it cannot access your files. A MOV file has complex internal information, so only speculations are the way to break down why you can’t play MOV files on your device.

Reason 1: Invalid Media File

When you constantly receive errors opening the MOV file, check the details via Finder or MediaInfo to see the video length and file size. Once you see that the file size is 0KB and the video length has 0:00, there is a possibility that your file is corrupted and no MOV Players can access it.

Reason 2: Incompatible Format

Check the video and audio codecs on the MOV file. The encoded format may have the legacy Apple proprietary compression format, which Mac does not support. This compression format was discontinued when Mac OS X Mavericks was released; however, you can still open the MOV files with the old version of QuickTime Player. Alternatively, use the QuickTime X’s converter to change the legacy codecs to H.264/AAC.

Part 3: 2 Ways to Fix MOV Players Not Playing MOV Videos

If the MOV files are not working even with a MOV Player on your device, there is a chance that you have a corrupted file. This is a usual issue, but the good part is that there are solutions to fix it! Try the best solutions for corrupted MOV files.

Solution 1: Convert MOV to MP4 (Or Other Popular Formats)

The most common solution is to convert MOV to another popular format, such as the MP4 format. However, there is no guarantee that the video quality is good. To have a high-quality output, AnyRec Video Converter is an excellent desktop tool that converts files in a few clicks. It has advanced settings for the output, where you can choose the video codec, bitrate, resolution, quality, and audio settings and save the selected options to apply to other videos. Moreover, the converter supports various file formats, including MP4, MOV, MKV, WMV, etc. AnyRec Video Converter is available on Windows and Mac.

Step 1.Download and install the software on your device. Launch AnyRec Video Converter and click the "Add" button to upload the MOV file. You can also import a whole folder with multiple videos for bulk conversion.

Step 2.After uploading, click the "Format" button to open the list. Select the desired output format for your file. If you uploaded multiple videos to convert in the same format, go to the "Convert All" To menu at the top right of the window. Choose the output format from the "Video" section.

Step 3.To configure the output, click the "Custom Profile" button with the gear icon. A smaller window reveals settings for the encoder, quality, and other information. Click the "Create New Profile" button to save the changes.

Step 4.Choose the designated folder for the converted file by heading to the "Save To" menu at the bottom part of the main interface. Then, click the "Convert All" button to process the videos. Watch and enjoy your favorite movies!

Solution 2: Repair MOV Files with VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a cross-platform tool that is free to download. It has many editing tools to help you edit videos like converting, adjusting, and trimming videos on VLC. It provides functions that you can freely convert and fix MOV anytime. Let’s see how to use VLC as an alternative solution for corrupted MOV videos.

Step 1.If your device does not have a media player, visit the official website for VLC and click the "Download" button. Once installed, open VLC Media Player and head to the Media menu. Select the "Convert/Save" option from the drop-down list, then import the MOV file by clicking the "Add" button.

Step 2.From the "Convert" window, click the "Wrench" button from the "Profile" menu. Select the "MP4/MOV" option, and configure other settings as you wish; click the "Create" button to save. Once everything is set, click the "Browse" button on the "Destination File" menu to choose a folder. Click the "Start" button to convert the MOV file.

Part 4: FAQs of MOV Playback

• Can I transfer MOV files on a Windows device?

  Yes. You can transfer videos on Windows; however, Windows does not fully support MOV. So, it would help if you had professional MOV Players to open and play the QuickTime format. Or you can convert MOV to standard formats like MP4.

• How to convert MOV on Mac?

  Launch the app on your device and select the File menu. Click the "New Movie" button from the drop-down list. Once the file is imported, click the video and go to the File menu again. This time, click the "Share" and the "File" buttons. Browse for the desired folder and finalize by clicking the Save button.

• Can I Play MOV files on my phone?

  Yes. As for iPhone users, you can play MOV encoded with H.264, MPEG-4, or HEVC codecs directly. If not, you need to convert MOV to iPhone formats. Or you can use a MOV player app, just like Android users do.

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• How to Convert MOV to MP3 Audio with High Quality on Any Device
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