File Format Guide
What is a .MOV file?
The MOV format (short for QuickTime Movie) is a video format that uses lossy compression, trading some fine detail for much smaller files. It acts as a container that packages video and audio streams together for playback.
.MOV at a glance
| Category | Video |
|---|---|
| Type | Video |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Animation / motion | No |
| Open standard | No |
| Opens in web browsers | No |
| Typical file size | Medium |
How to open a .MOV file
You can open MOV files with QuickTime, Final Cut, and Premiere. If a program on your device cannot read one, the quickest fix is to convert it to a more common format — no software install required.
MOV pros and cons
Strengths
- high quality from Apple devices and QuickTime
- editing-friendly
Limitations
- larger than MP4
- best support is on Apple platforms
What .MOV files are used for
- iPhone and QuickTime recordings
- video editing source files
Need to convert a .MOV file?
Convert MOV to and from other formats free in your browser — no signup to start, no watermarks.
Open the MOV Converter