Updated: March 07, 2025

.MOV File Extension

There is only one filetype that uses .MOV file extension and it is Apple QuickTime Movie File.

Apple QuickTime Movie File

File category:	Video Files
Developer:	Apple
Open with:	Google Drive (+9 more)
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, In-browser (Online), Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, iPadOS

An MOV file is a common video file format that typically stores movies, TV shows, short video clips, and home recordings. These files use the QuickTime File Format (QTFF), a multimedia container specification developed by Apple. MOV files are known for supporting high-quality video content, particularly HD resolution videos.

Apple introduced the QuickTime File Format (QTFF) in 1991. It was designed to support different media types and facilitate multimedia transfer between devices, operating systems, and applications. Later, in 2001, the MPEG-4 file format evolved from the QTFF specification, with the International Organization of Standardization approving the format. The MP4 format, which is based on MOV, was revised in 2003 as MPEG-4 Part 14.

MOV files serve various purposes in both professional and personal contexts:

Storage: MOV files store videos ranging from short clips to full-length movies.
Video editing: Many video editors prefer MOV format due to its support for high-quality video content.
Multimedia container: MOV files can contain multiple tracks of different media types including video, audio, text (subtitles), images, 3D models, virtual reality panoramas, and timecode data.
Cross-platform sharing: While originally designed for Apple systems, MOV files now work across different platforms including Windows.

MOV files use a hierarchical data structure with objects called "atoms" to organize content. Each atom has a header and data section, with the header containing size and type information. The structure is object-oriented and flexible, making it ideal for exchanging digital media.

Media tracks within MOV files are typically encoded using the MPEG-4 codec, though the format supports various codecs.