Video formatsince 1991

.mov — QuickTime Movie

Apple's QuickTime movie container, common in camera exports, editing apps, and macOS workflows.

Extensions
.mov, .qt
MIME
video/quicktime
Standard
Apple QuickTime File Format
Released
1991

About this format

MOV is a QuickTime container. Like MP4 and MKV, its actual compatibility depends on the codecs stored inside.

Use MOV for editing handoff and Apple-centric workflows. Export MP4 or WebM for easier web playback and uploads.

Real-world samples & file sizes

Four freshly sourced video clips converted into real QuickTime .mov files in common preview sizes. Each card shows an extracted poster frame so the page stays useful even when a browser does not preview MOV inline.

NASA We Are Going MOV sample preview for 1280 x 720
16:91280 x 720

NASA We Are Going MOV

A 720p NASA archival clip transcoded into MOV.

722 KB mov.mov ↓
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Train Window MOV sample preview for 1280 x 720
travel clip1280 x 720

Train Window MOV

A moving train-window view transcoded into MOV.

1.62 MB mov.mov ↓
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Park Buses MOV sample preview for 640 x 360
360p640 x 360

Park Buses MOV

A small park-and-traffic sample transcoded into MOV.

498 KB mov.mov ↓
SampleLib · No license restrictions
Exoplanets Vertical MOV sample preview for 720 x 1280
9:16720 x 1280

Exoplanets Vertical MOV

A NASA vertical science video transcoded into a QuickTime MOV sample.

220 KB mov.mov ↓
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Pros

  • +Strong support in Apple and editing workflows
  • +Can store high-quality mezzanine video
  • +Useful for camera and NLE exports

Cons

  • −Large files are common
  • −Upload support varies
  • −Codec compatibility can be confusing

MOV vs other formats

vsSizeQualityNote
MP4Similar with same codecContainer does not set qualityMP4 is the safer final-delivery choice.
M4VSimilarSimilar container familyM4V is more Apple media-library oriented.

Where it works

Operating systems
  • macOS native
  • Windows with compatible codecs
  • Linux via VLC/mpv
Browsers
  • Safari handles common MOV/QuickTime combinations
  • Chrome/Firefox support depends on codecs
Apps
  • QuickTime Player
  • Final Cut Pro
  • Premiere Pro
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • VLC

Related tools

Frequently asked questions

Is MOV better than MP4?
Not inherently. MOV is common for editing and Apple workflows; MP4 is usually better for sharing.
Why is my MOV so large?
Editing exports may use high bitrates or mezzanine codecs intended to preserve quality.

Sources

Other video formats