Learn How to Play MP4 on Mac - Quick and Easy Steps

MP4 is known as one of the most popular video formats used today because it provides high-quality videos in a small file size. Most videos you download or share online are in MP4 format. It’s widely supported across different devices, making it easy to play on smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Macs. For Mac users, playing MP4 files is essential since it’s a common format for movies, video clips, and even some apps. Luckily, macOS has built-in tools like QuickTime Player, which can handle MP4 playback without requiring extra downloads. However, you may sometimes encounter compatibility issues, such as missing codecs and needing third-party apps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the easiest ways to play MP4 on Mac, whether using native software or alternative solutions.

Why QuickTime Player Cannot Open MP4 on Mac

QuickTime Player can open MP4 on Mac, but sometimes, it might not work. MP4 is a common video format that combines video, audio, and subtitles into a single file. It's widely used because of its high-quality video and small file sizes, which make it perfect for online streaming and sharing.

However, QuickTime Player may not always be able to open MP4 files. This usually happens because MP4 files can use different types of codecs or additional metadata. That can lead to an error, and you can see a message like "QuickTime Player can't open MP4" or “MP4 doesn't play on Mac.” Additionally, QuickTime Player supports some codecs but not all. If your MP4 file uses a codec that QuickTime doesn't support, it won't open.

To fix this issue, you can:

Convert the MP4 file: Use a file converter (like HandBrake) to convert MOV or MP4 with compatible codecs that QuickTime supports.
Use a third-party media player: Some available media players can open almost any video file, including those that QuickTime can't. These include VLC Media Player, Elmedia Player, and more.
Install additional codecs: Sometimes, installing extra codec packs like Perian can help QuickTime open more MP4 files.

These solutions help you play your MP4 file smoothly on your Mac.

If a media file doesn't open or play on your Apple device

Older or specialized audio, video, or image formats might not be supported on your device, or might require different software.

Apple Support

Can’t Open Media Files on Apple Devices

Different Methods to Watch MP4 on Mac

2.1 Three Video Players as an Alternative to QuickTime

1. VLC Media Player

Effectiveness	Very effective
Disadvantage	Can consume a lot of system resources, potentially slowing down your Mac during playback.

One of the most popular video players available not only on Mac but also on Windows and mobile devices is VLC Media Player, which can play mp4 file on Mac. It is known for its wide support of almost all the codecs, such as MKV, WebM, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MP3, MP4, etc. In fact, VLC comes with built-in codecs, so you don't need extra codec packs to play different file types, which makes it more reliable and popular for everyone. Furthermore, all files, such as local files, discs, webcams, and streams, can be played on this player. Moreover, it provides advanced playback controls such as speed control (slow/fast playback), subtitles, audio syncing, and playlist management that make it highly versatile. Aside from that, VLC can help you to play MKV on Mac without any issues.

When playing MP4 files on Mac using VLC, you can utilize VLC's keyboard shortcuts to enhance your viewing experience. For example, use the spacebar to pause/play and the arrow keys to skip forward or backward.

2. Elmedia Player

Effectiveness	Very effective
Disadvantage	Some users report occasional lag or crashes, especially with large files.

Elmedia Player is a powerful media player designed specifically for macOS that can open an mp4 file on a Mac without issues. Because it can play a variety of video and audio formats, including AVI, MOV, MKV, MP3, MP4, FLAC, and more. Additionally, it can stream local files to smart TVs, Apple TV, Chromecast, and other devices via AirPlay, DLNA, or Chromecast. Furthermore, it offers tools to fix audio and video syncing issues during playback, which has advantages for different players. Moreover, Elmedia Player also comes with advanced playback controls like playback speed and frame-by-frame playback, as well as adjustment of video brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. On top of that, this player supports HD and 4K videos with smooth playback, making it one of the best 4k video players on the internet.

Elmedia Player has a bookmarking feature that saves your MP4 files to a specific folder. This is also helpful for long files or if you want to revisit a specific section later.

3. Movist Pro

Effectiveness	Very effective
Disadvantage	Some users have experienced bugs or crashes during playback, which can disrupt the viewing experience.

Movist Pro is a premium media player for MacOS that offers advanced features that allow users to open MP4 video on Mac with no hassle. It utilizes both QuickTime and FFmpeg decoding engines, which can handle almost any media file or codec. Likewise, this player can play various video and audio formats, including MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, MP3, etc., in high resolution up to 8K. In addition, it provides tools to adjust playback speed, sync audio and video, loop, and frame-by-frame playback. Furthermore, it optimizes your CPU usage by cutting it in half so it cannot consume more energy. Moreover, Movist Pro supports HDR for vibrant and clear video output, and it allows video effects to be fine-tuned, such as brightness, contrast, saturation, and more.

When watching MP4 videos on Movist Pro, use its robust subtitle support. You can customize subtitle appearance and sync them with the video if they’re out of alignment.

2.2 Convert MP4 to Mac Supported Format - Handbrake

Effectiveness	Moderate Effective
Disadvantage	The interface and options can be confusing for users unfamiliar with video conversion.

HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder that lets you convert video files from almost any format. It’s a powerful tool for beginners and advanced users looking to optimize video quality, file size, and format compatibility. It also helps you transform MP4 to Mac supported formats like MKV, AVI, MOV, MKV, and more. Likewise, it supports modern video codecs like H.264 (x264), H.265 (x265), VP8, VP9, and more. Furthermore, it allows you to adjust video quality, bit rate, and frame rate depending on your choice. Moreover, Handbrake supports hardware encoding via Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC, and AMD VCE, which can significantly speed up the encoding process. By converting MP4 to Mac-supported format using Handbrake, you can ensure seamless playback on your Apple device without any compatibility issues.

User Guide:

To begin with, download and install the Handbrake software on your Mac. Once installed, click the Open Source tab and upload the MP4 video file you wish to convert. Next, click the Browse button on the Destination section and select your desired output folder to save the converted file.
After that, go to the Output Settings section, click the Container drop-down menu, and choose MOV or any other format well-supported by QuickTime Player. Then, you can modify the video and audio settings to your liking. Once done, simply click the OK button to save changes.
The next step is to click the Start Encode on the top menu to start the converting process. After conversion, you can locate the converted file in the output folder. Finally, try opening the converted file in QuickTime Player and see if there is nothing wrong.

If you have multiple MP4 files to convert, use HandBrake’s batch conversion feature. However, if the process confuses you, you can use AceThinker VidElement, a versatile and easy-to-use converter.

2.3 Install Perian Plugin to Open MP4 File Mac

Effectiveness	Moderate Effective
Disadvantage	Since it is no longer actively developed, it may not work with the latest macOS updates.

Perian is a free, open-source plugin that enhances QuickTime Player on Mac by supporting various video and audio codecs that QuickTime doesn't natively handle. With Perian, you can play formats like AVI, FLV, MKV, and more directly in QuickTime. Although it's no longer updated, it's still useful for older macOS versions.

User Guide:

Visit the official Perian website to download the Perian plugin. After downloading, open the downloaded file to initiate the installation process. Then, follow the on-screen wizard prompts to install it.
After installation, Perian will automatically integrate with QuickTime. You can also restart your Mac to ensure QuickTime recognizes the new codecs.
After restarting, open QuickTime Player and play the MP4 video file that previously didn’t work. It will play a little longer because QuickTime will take a few seconds to recognize the codecs.

To use Perian effectively, ensure it's properly installed and integrated with QuickTime. This lets you play a wider range of formats directly within QuickTime without switching to another application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why MP4 could not be opened on Mac?

MP4 files use different codecs to compress video and audio, and QuickTime Player may not all support them. If an MP4 file uses a codec that QuickTime can't read, the file won't open.

How to fix file that isn't compatible with QuickTime Player?

You can convert the file to a QuickTime-compatible format (like MOV) using a video converter like HandBrake. Alternatively, you can utilize a different media player like VLC, which supports more video formats.

What video file is compatible with Mac?

Mac natively support formats like MOV, MP4, 3GP, MXF, and M4V, especially when using H.264 or H.265 codecs. These formats can be easily played in QuickTime Player without additional software.

Conclusion

viewing experience. While QuickTime Player is the built-in choice, it may not support all MP4 files due to codec issues. However, third-party software like VLC Media Player, Elmedia Player, and Movist Pro offer excellent alternatives with broader format support and additional features. If you still face compatibility problems, converting your files with HandBrake or installing the Perian plugin can help. We encourage you to explore these third-party software for enhanced functionality and improved playback options, making your media experience on Mac even better.