Cannot play a .mov file on quicktime

Someone sent me a .mov file created with Final Cut Pro, but my Quicktime 7 told me I don't have a plug in to open it, and redirected me to an online website where I could donwnload the plug in. However, it never specified to me which plug in I was supposed to download (in a page with 10 different types), so obviously, I downloaded something that didn't work.


The sent file probably uses one of Final Cut Pro's editing compression formats included in the editing software package and is probably not available separately. Being directed to the download page is a default action which does not know which audio and/or video format is unsupported on the user's platform. Basically, it is the responsibility of the user to determine what component is missing. To do this, open the application in the QT Player (or other multimedia player like MPEG Streamclip, VLC, etc.) and check the inspector/info window. This window should list the audio and video compression formats used in the movie file. Once known, it is merely a question of locating, downloading, and installing the proper component(s) if available. In the case of FCP components, you may have to request the sender to retransmit the files using one of the standard compression formats supported by the standard QT installation.

I was having the same problem with QT X, QT 7.6.3 with both QT Pro and MPEG2 installed. I solved my problem by updating my copy of Perian to v 1.2. You can download it here for free: http://perian.org/
YMMV. Good luck.

As Jon posted, above, you should ask the Final Cut user to send you a new file. Tell them to use H.264 video codec and AAC audio unless you have to edit the file further.

Now looking at the file in Quick Time's inspector it says it's a "DVCPRO HD" file. So my question now is: Does anyone knows which is the plug in that allows me to view this file on Quicktime 7?


Just so you will know, the DVCPRO HD component is a codec installed by Final Cut Pro software. So unless you are willing to spend quite a bit of money for the Studio Pro package, it is easier to simply have the sender compress the files to a different format. As suggested by QTKirk, H.264/AAC is a good general viewing format for relatively high quality viewing with relatively small storage space. If re-editing the content, then tell the sender to try forwarding the content as AIC/AIFF which should be compatible with just about any player and/or editing software.




with such files on my PB Pro.

I am having the same problem wherein QT will not play a quicktime movie (.mov). In reviewing the string, it appears that the compression format dictates the plugin. The movies I have, which I imported from my digital camcorder, are of the 'm2v1' format. Which plugin do I need? Note: I have read several other message & responses and then downloaded every plugin suggested without luck. Do I need a different type of movie software to watch the movies? iMovie does not recognize these files.

The movies I have, which I imported from my digital camcorder, are of the 'm2v1' format. Which plugin do I need?

Is this a file imported via iMovie '08/'09? If so, I believe this is an MOV file containing an AIFF track and an M2V1 track which is really an all I-Frame M2V (MPEG-2) video track that requires the MPEG-2 codec automatically installed by iMovie '08/'09 (iLife '08/'09) which should normally be available to the QT Player on the same system. If, however, the MOV file is transferred to another system on which iMovie '08/'09 is not installed, then the file would not play in any QT based application. If the component has been accidentally removed/deleted, I would normally recommend reinstalling the iMovie application as I don't remember this component's specific name or location at this time.

Thanks. You are correct that I used iMovie '08 to import the movies from my JVC camcorder. I did reinstall iMovie '08; unfortunately it did not resolve my problem. Quicktime directed me back to the the components page on Apple's web site. I did not see any components for MPEG-2; however, I did see an MPEG-2 Playback link along the left side. This is an add-on for Quicktime 7. I will research this a bit more before purchasing. Thanks for your time.

I am having the same problem. Quicktime will not play ANY .mov files. I tried playing a few that used to play just fine, and now they will not play at all.

I too was directed to the page with lots of plugins, and no indication of which is required.

Seems like the problem is with the latest version of Quicktime, seeing as it used to play all my .mov files just fine... and now it doesn't.

I downloaded both VLC and MPlayer OS X 2, but neither program would show the video. All programs play the audio portion of the movies, but not the video.

I downloaded both VLC and MPlayer OS X 2, but neither program would show the video. All programs play the audio portion of the movies, but not the video.

No, but it should re-confirm the M2V1 compression format and the absence of a built-in VLC codec. Not sure what to say here. On my system the M2V1 (aka MPEG-2 SD Camcorder) video track plays fine in OS 10.5.8/QT 7 v7.6.4 and, like yours, will not play in the VLC player. Am currently waiting for files to finish conversion on my 17" MacBook Pro to test a file with QT X and QT 7 (v7.6.3) to see if it also plays there. At present it would appear that either your access to the QT component is still broken or it is no longer compatible older OS/QT Player combination.

FOLLOW-UP:
Okay, I finally managed to get a look at the 17" PowerBook Pro and compare it with my old PPC G5. Here is what I've learned regarding the M2V1 camcorder imported files.

1) When I initially tried to play the file, it would not play in either QT 7 or QT X players.
2) When I tried to import it to iMovie '09, I was told some of the required codec components were missing and that I had to re-install the iLife suite.
3) Performed the re-installation but not changes.
4) Checked for updates and found an iLife update but it still did not help.
5) Opened the "~/Library/QuickTime" folder to check codecs available and discovered a previously unnoticed "Hidden codecs" folder containing a second set of iMovie import codecs. The AC3 import and AIC codecs where the same in both the QT and the "Hidden codecs" folder but the "AppleMPEG2Codec.component" was different.
6) Checked the desktop computer which has no trouble playing these files and learned it was using the version 1.0.1 (V220) codec.
7) Went back to the PowerBook Pro and moved the same codec to "QuickTime" folder and the movie began playing in both QT 7.6.3 and QT X players.

CONCLUSION: It would seem that the "Hidden codecs" folder was likely created during the Snow Leopard upgrade process to temporarily hold the then working iMovie codecs but never re-installed them following the upgrade. Unfortunately, I am not sure which "Apple MPEG2Codec.component" is the later one. Since reinstalling and updating iLife did not result in a working component being placed in the proper folder, I am, as yet unsure if the component update was somehow skipped or if the the older, working component is no longer supposed to be used. In any case, I've left the working codec component installed on both platforms until or unless some sort of a problem develops.