QuickTime Player
support.apple.com
What it is
QuickTime Player is Apple’s free player for video and audio files on macOS. It supports MOV, H.264, HEVC, MPEG-4 audio, and AAC, along with network playback, subtitles, hardware acceleration, and 4K playback. Controls include play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and speed settings from 2x through 60x, with smaller steps between 1.1x and 2x. Files can play through AirPlay or in a picture-in-picture window. QuickTime Player trims, rearranges, rotates, and splits movies, records the whole Mac screen or a selected area, and captures connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screens. Camera recording can use built-in or external hardware. Movie exports are.mov using H.264 or HEVC; audio-only exports use MPEG4 audio, and MP4 video export is not available. Export resolutions include 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, and Audio Only, subject to the source. It is included with macOS at free.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- QuickTime Player plays video and audio files on Mac.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Supported platforms
- macOSRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
- Free plan
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
- 4K playback
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
- AirPlay and picture-in-picture
- Users can play a file on an AirPlay-enabled device or view video in a picture-in-picture window.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Camera and audio recording
- Movie recording can use a Mac’s built-in or external camera and offers camera, microphone, and quality options.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Device recording
- Users can capture a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen and save it as a movie file on Mac.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Dolby audio requirement
- Dolby passthrough requires a Dolby-capable audio receiver connected by HDMI to a Mac with Apple silicon.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Export formats
- QuickTime Player exports movies as .mov using H.264 or HEVC and exports audio-only files as MPEG4 audio; it does not export MP4 videos.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Export resolutions
- Export options include 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, and Audio Only, subject to the source movie and available options.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Format support
- MOV,H.264,HEVC,MPEG-4 audio,AACRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
- Hardware acceleration
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
- Legacy version
- QuickTime Player 7 is unsupported, is provided for legacy media workflows on macOS Sierra and earlier, and is not compatible with macOS versions released after Mojave.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- License model
- freeRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
- Movie editing
- QuickTime Player can trim, rearrange, and rotate movies, and split them into clips.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Network playback
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
- Playback controls
- Playback controls support play, pause, fast-forward, rewind, and changing playback speed.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Playback speeds
- Listed playback speeds include 2x, 5x, 10x, 30x, and 60x, with small increments from 1.1x to 2x.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Screen recording
- Users can record the entire Mac screen or select just a portion of it.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
- Subtitle support
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · support.apple.com
Plans and prices
QuickTime Player Free Included with macOS Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- 4K playback with hardware acceleration
- Subtitle and network playback support
- Screen and connected-device recording
- Basic trimming, rotation, and clip splitting
- AirPlay and picture-in-picture viewing
Limits
- Runs on macOS
- Does not export MP4 videos
- Dolby passthrough requires specific hardware
- Legacy QuickTime Player 7 is unsupported
Who it suits
QuickTime Player suits Mac users who need playback, basic movie editing, screen or device recording, and common export options. It is a macOS application included at no charge.
Verdict
QuickTime Player covers playback, recording, and simple movie edits in one macOS application. Its export workflow centers on .mov and MPEG4 audio, so MP4 video output is not available.
Where Specifiction places it
- Media Player Software#42 of 767.9
- Screen Recorder Software#13 of 197.9
