Can Yosemite play MP4s?

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Level 1

0 points

Can Yosemite play MP4s?

Hi.

I find I cannot play MP4s since upgrading to Yosemite. I have to convert them to .Mov using downloaded software, which takes a long time to convert and then I have two of the same movies taking up space, one MP4 and one .mov.

But I wonder -

When I make a movie in the new 10.0.9 iMovie, it downloads the finished product to my desktop as an MP4.

Why would Yosemite software download MP4s when MP4s can't be played?

So - question is - can MP4s be played on Yosemite, and if so, how and with what?

Thanks.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Aug 14, 2015 9:11 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

741,773 points

Aug 14, 2015 9:16 PM in response to MacLikeMe

Click here and download the QuickTime 7 player, or use a product such as VLC or MPEG Streamclip.

(131778)

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Answer 2

benwiggy

Level 4

1,491 points

Aug 15, 2015 12:50 AM in response to MacLikeMe

There should be no difference from previous versions of OS X. QuickTime has remained unchanged since Snow Leopard. Are you saying that iMovie makes .mp4 files that you cannot play? That sounds like something has gone wrong somewhere.

I have hundreds of mp4 files, which all play fine.

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,222 points

Aug 15, 2015 7:20 AM in response to MacLikeMe

First, MP4 is just a wrapper. It isn't a specific video format. The real "format" is the codec used to encode the video. That encoded video is wrapped up into a file with an mp4 extension.

So, anyone could create an mp4 that will not play on Yosemite by choosing and encoding format (codec) that is not installed on Yosemite.

Many people have found that their old iMovie's wouldn't play because they used the Apple Intermediate Codec as a final codec. It was designed for editing, but not final production. That codec was dropped with Yosemite.

As far as I know, iMovie doesn't use that codec anymore, but I suppose it is possible it is still an option if you upgraded from older versions. I'm not sure.

However, I don't know how you would select it in the current version of iMovie. When I export (Share) a movie, I get an mp4 that plays fine.

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Answer 4

MacLikeMe Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 15, 2015 1:29 PM in response to MacLikeMe

Problem solved, thank you all.

Here's how I solved it:

When I saw you guys have no problem playing MP4s with Yosemite, I did some research on my iMac.

I discovered that I had installed a converter for an MTS video on my hard drive that I needed to watch, and that the converter had elected itself the default video displayer. So when I clicked an MP4, the converter launched and did what its job was. I thought that meant my iMac couldn't play MP4s.

Threw the converter in the trash because I don't need it anymore, whereupon Quicktime became the default launcher of MP4, .Mov, all the rest. Just not MTS.

Carry on, and thank you for your help.

MLM

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