Video metadata not showing in Finder's preview pane

Question

Video metadata not showing in Finder's preview pane

One of the key features that was mentioned at the keynote was that macOS Mojave would show more extended metadata for images and videos in the Finder's preview pane... finally!!!

However, after installing macOS Mojave, I'm really disappointed to see that no extended metadata appears when selecting any of my MP4 video files other than created date, modified date, dimensions, duration and audio channels. But my video files also contains extended metadata for performers (cast member), director, producer, genre, release date, movie information, etc... which is not showing in the Finder's preview pane - even though these metadata labels are selected in the Show Preview Options (right-clicking on an MP4 video file and selecting Show Previous Options). So I'm really confused why it's not showing the extra information.

Any ideas?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Mojave (10.14), null

Posted on Oct 13, 2018 1:37 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

CdjMac

Level 1

4 points

Nov 21, 2018 2:18 PM in response to CdjMac

Hi, I solved.

The metadata is depended on Spotlight.

From the Terminal I disabled and re-enabled Spotlight and Erase and rebuild index with these commands:

sudo mdutil -a -i off

sudo mdutil -a -i on

sudo mdutil -a -E

When Spotlight rebuilt the index all the metadata in the Finder appeared:

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2018 2:55 AM in response to thiskiwicanfly

No idea why that is.

For me, the changes are reflected immediately, information appears or disappears in the preview area as I check and uncheck the respective boxes.

Can you try this in a new user account, and see if it works there?

There may be something like a corrupt plist file, or some third party software that is interfering.

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Answer 3

Oct 15, 2018 5:27 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I actually went back and I think I can see the problem now... it appears that the metadata only appears if you open the Preview Options window... that does not look right.

With Show Preview Options window open, all the selected metadata fields appear:

Now I click to close the Preview Options window and they vanish:

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Answer 4

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,422 points

Oct 13, 2018 3:43 AM in response to thiskiwicanfly

Finder : View menu : Show Preview Options. Select the boxes for the information that you need. It is extensive.

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Answer 5

Oct 13, 2018 3:28 PM in response to VikingOSX

I have ALL of the boxes for the metadata selected in the Show Preview Options dialog, including performers, director, producer, genre, movie information... (and I can also confirm the information for this metadata does exist in my videos) but the Finder preview pane is only showing the video's created date, modified date, last opened date, dimensions, duration and audio channels. Even clicking on Show More in the preview pane makes no difference.

Oddly enough my images (pictures) are correctly showing all of the extended metadata as expected, just not for my videos.

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Answer 6

Oct 13, 2018 3:28 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I've done that, and have selected ALL of the metadata options in the Show Preview Options dialog. The only info showing in the Finder's preview pane is created date, modified data, last opened data, dimensions, duration and audio channels. But my videos also contain metadata for performers, director, producer, genre, movie information, etc... but this doesn't show in the preview pane (even when I click on the Show More link).

What's even more confusing is that my images (pictures) are correctly showing all of the extended metadata as expected, it's just not doing it for my videos.

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Answer 7

Oct 15, 2018 5:09 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I've just tried using a new user account, but there's no difference.

Can I just ask you - are you actually able to see extended metadata (in the Finder's preview pane) with your video files? What I mean by extended metadata is not created/modified/last opened dates, dimensions, duration, and audio channels... but the metadata for... title, performers, director, genre, etc.

I have these extra tags checked in the Preview Options window, and I can confirm my video files definitely contains metadata for those tags...

But as you can see in the screenshot below, the extended metadata (title, performers, director, genre, producer...) is not showing in my Finder's preview window pane...

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Answer 8

Oct 15, 2018 6:05 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Exactly! But I should also be seeing valid data for my additional metadata "performers", "director", "producer", "genre"... not just labels that appear as "--" in the Finder's preview pane (while the Preview Options window is open).

I can confirm my videos do contain metadata for performers, director, producer, genre, etc... so why is it not showing this information in the Finder's preview pane?

This has to be a bug, surely!?!

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Answer 9

CdjMac

Level 1

4 points

Nov 20, 2018 7:57 AM in response to thiskiwicanfly

Hi I have the same problem, but also with the Audio files (it does not show the audio tags) and the Photos (it does not show the EXIF).

The problem can not be solved either by creating a new user.

Nobody who has solved?

Thank you

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Answer 10

Nov 22, 2018 5:22 PM in response to CdjMac

Hi,

Thanks for the terminal commands and helpful screenshots.

Just to clarify, I've always been able to see the metadata for music and picture files (JPG and MP3 etc) as per your screenshots... but my problem is not being able to see the "extended metadata" for MP4 videos. It's the video files that's the problem. If you refer to your screenshot showing the MAH03217.MP4 video - you can see the created and modified date, dimensions, color profile, duration and audio channels. I also see the exact same type of information on my Mac for my MP4 videos as well, but what I don't see is the extended metadata for cast members (performers), director, producer, genre, etc... even though the MP4 file contains all of this metadata, and I have the tags selected in the Show Preview Options screen.

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