Why MP4 Files Won’t Play on Mac and How to Fix It

Category: Repair Files

August 23, 2024 4 mins read

MP4 file is not playing on your Mac? You're not the only one. This is a common issue that can be really frustrating. Many Mac users face this issue, and it can be frustrating.

Whether it's a compatibility problem, a missing codec, or just a glitch in the system, there are simple solutions that can get your videos playing smoothly again.

In this article, I'll walk you through 6 easy fixes to help you get your MP4 files working on your Mac without any hassle. Let’s dive in and solve this problem together.

Many users will encounter this problem: MP4 file is not playing on Mac. Do you know why this is happening? And how can we deal with it? This article will answer your questions one by one. Next, let's take a look at the reasons why this happens.

MP4 videos might not play on your Mac for a few reasons. It could be due to missing codecs that your Mac needs to decode the video properly.

Sometimes, the MP4 file could be corrupted or in a format that’s not fully supported by your Mac's media player. Another common issue is software glitches or outdated media players. But you don’t need to worry, let’s take a look at how to fix the MP4 not playing on Mac issue.

Next, I will introduce you to six ways to solve the problem of MP4 files not playing properly on Mac.

01 Use MP4 Repair Tool

One method that most people choose is to use a professional video repair tool - UltraRepair to repair MP4 file. Using this tool to repair files is a great way to save time and effort, and it is simply a wise move.

Professional MP4 Repair Tool - UltraRepair

• Supports nearly all major formats: Compatible with key video formats like FLV, MOV, WMV, and more.
• High success rate in batch repair: Efficiently repairs multiple corrupted MP4 files on Mac at once.
• Comprehensive problem-solving: Quickly fixes issues like MP4 no sound or black screen playback.
• Top-notch video enhancement: Sharpen blurry videos with the best video enhancer available.
• Free and easy video conversion: Convert videos to different formats, such as MP4 to WMV, without any fees.

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Video Guide：How to fix MP4 videos not playing on Mac

Step 1: Download and launch the software, then click File Repair and click Add files and start repairing to choose the MP4 file that won’t open.

Tips

“You can try to repair multiple files at once, just keep clicking Add to continue uploading.”

Step 2: After adding the file, you’ll see its name, size, length, and resolution. Click Repair to begin fixing the MP4 video.

Step 3: Step 3: After the videos are fixed, click Yes to preview them quickly or save them as copies.

As you can see it only takes three steps to easily repair your video, so why not give it a try and download one today?

Repair MP4 Now

If your MP4 will not play on Mac, you can also use the free video format conversion function of this software to convert MP4 to a compatible format that can be played for free! Try it now.

02 Restart Mac or QuickTime

If your MP4 won’t play on your Mac, close all applications and restart your MacBook. After the restart, check if you can open and play the MP4 video.

Step 1: Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Restart from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Your Mac will shut down and restart after a brief delay. During this process, you can also change the startup disk if needed.

Tips

If restarting doesn’t help, try closing and reopening QuickTime Player. After relaunching the app, attempt to open and play your MP4 movie again. If it works, you’re all set; if not, explore additional solutions for QuickTime Player issues with MP4 files on Mac.

03 Use Another Player

If the previous method doesn’t work, try using a different media player on your Mac, such as VLC or MPlayer, if QuickTime is having playback issues.

Here’s how to play your video with VLC:

Step 1: Download and install VLC Player on your Mac. Right-click the video file you want to play.

Step 2: Select Open With from the menu, then choose VLC Player from the list. Your video should now be ready to play in VLC Media Player.

04 Download MP4 Supported Codes

When digital videos are compressed, a codec algorithm links different multimedia streams, like audio and video, and converts digital data into a readable format.

If your video doesn’t open in QuickTime, it might be due to an unsupported codec. To check the codec used by your file, follow these steps:

Step 1: In the video file window, choose Show Movie Inspector.

Step 2: A dialog box will appear showing details like the video's source, format, frame rate, size, data size, and data rate. Look for Format to see the codec information.

QuickTime supports the following codecs:

• Video Codecs: MPEG-4 (Part 2), H.264, MPEG-2 (OS X Lion or later), H.263, H.261
• Audio Codecs: HE-AAC, AAC (MPEG-4 Audio), Apple Lossless, MP3

Check if your video uses any of these codecs. If not, you may need to enable codec support or download third-party applications to help QuickTime recognize all audio and video formats.

05 Clear Mac Recent and Temp Files

Whether you're using Windows or macOS, constant computer use generates temporary and cached files, which can lead to issues like MP4 files not playing on a Mac. Simply deleting these temporary or recent files can often fix the problem.

Here's how to find and delete the temp folder on a Mac:

Step 1: Close any open applications before searching for the temp folder.

Step 2: In Finder, right-click on Go and select Go to Folder.

Step 3: Enter ~/Library/Caches/ into the search box and press Go to execute the command.

Step 4: The window that opens will show all the temporary files stored on your Mac.

Step 5: Select the temporary files of specific apps, then delete them to move them to the Trash.

Here's how to clear Recents on a Mac:

Step 1: Open System Preferences and select Spotlight.

Step 2: Go to the Privacy tab and click the "+" button in the lower-left corner.

Step 3: Select Macintosh HD to add it to the list.

Step 4: Click OK to confirm. Your recent items should now be cleared.

Note

“This action disables Spotlight search on your Mac, so you won’t be able to search for files and folders until reindexing is complete.”

06 Convert MP4 File

If your video doesn't play in QuickTime, try converting it to a format that QuickTime supports. You can also change the file extension by renaming the file—for example, switch from .mp4 to .avi.

Additionally, you can use third-party applications like UltraRepair to convert videos to a QuickTime-compatible format for free.

Yes, you can use free video converters or tools like VLC Media Player or UltraRepair to convert MP4 files to formats supported by QuickTime.

Ensure your macOS is up-to-date, as QuickTime updates are included with system updates. Check for updates in the Apple menu under "System Preferences" > "Software Update."

Yes, you can use video repair tools like iMyFone UltraRepair to fix damaged MP4 files.

We’ve covered why MP4 files are not playing on your Mac and how to fix the issue. Since file corruption is a common cause, we recommend using video repair software - UltraRepair to restore your files.

With a user-friendly interface designed for beginners, you can fix your files in just three easy steps. Download it now and give it a try!

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Heather Marston

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