Video
What is a .mov file?
A .mov file is a Quicktime. This is a video format. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 2 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
2 different formats have claimed .mov over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .mov file
- VLC is the answer for the vast majority of video files.
- mpv is a lightweight alternative.
The registry records this extension against Quicktime, Apple ProRes, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .mov file
- HandBrake converts to .mp4, which plays on effectively everything.
MIME type
When a .mov file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
video/quicktimeThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .mov.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quicktime | — | video/quicktime | x-fmt/384 |
| Apple ProRes | — | — | fmt/797 |