4 Quick Ways to Play MOV Files on Windows 11 Media Player

If you are trying to play MOV files on Windows 11, you are at the right place. Windows 11 now comes with three different media players to choose from.

It includes Movies & TV, Windows Media Player (latest version), and what's new - Media Player.

However, Windows Media Player may not recognize MOV files in HEVC format (H.265) and can only play MOV H.264/MPEG-4 file formats.

So, can Windows play all types of MOV files? Yes, but you need to install certain codecs or convert them to WMV format to play.

Before we guide you on how to play .mov files on Windows 11, let us tell you more about .mov files.

What is the MOV file format?

MOV is an MPEG-4 video file format developed by Apple, similar to the MP4, MKV or WMV formats. These files include video, audio, subtitles, and timecode.

This format is designed specifically for their native QuickTime multimedia framework and Quicktime player. However, Windows and Linux systems can also play MOV files.

While MOV videos play automatically on Apple devices, you need to install the appropriate codecs to run them on Windows.

So, to answer the question, will MOV files play on Windows, yes it will, follow the methods below.

How to play MOV files on Windows 11?

1. Download the K-Lite codec to play MOV files

1. Open the browser and visit the K-lite official download page.
2. Next, go to the Downloads section and select "Server1", "Server2" or "Server3" to Download the codec pack.
3. Now, click on the downloaded file to open the setup wizard.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the codec installation.

Once completed, you can now play the MOV file on Windows Media Player.

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You can also refer to our tutorial on how to install codecs on Windows 11 to play all types of video formats on all built-in players.

2. Use a third-party video converter to change the output format

1. You can choose a video file converter and use it.
2. Now proceed to set up the software and run the converter.
3. Next, add the MOV files you want to convert into the interface.
4. For this tutorial, we chose Wondershare UniConverter because it is very easy to use, but the conversion process is also very similar to other products.
5. Click to select the format. Select WMV on the left and right, then select the video quality.
6. Return to the interface and click Convert.

Once completed, go to the file location and you can now play the .mov file in Windows Media Player.

3. Play MOV (H.264/MPEG-4) on Windows Media Player

1. Click the Start button and type Windows Media Player, then Click to open the player.
2. Navigate to the Organize tab in the upper left corner, click to expand, select Manage library, and click Videos.
3. It will open the video library location window. Click to add .
4. Select the folder containing the MOV file, not the file itself, and click Including Folder.
5. Return to the video library location and press OK to save changes.
6. Now, click on the video on the left, then find and open the .mov file you want to play on the right.

You have now successfully converted your MOV file to Windows Media Player format and you will be able to play it without any issues.

4. Play MOV files on another media player

1. Enter the VLC media player official download page, click Download VLC and select the software package to download for Video player for Windows 11.
2. After downloading, install it on your Windows 11 PC.
3. Now, press the Win I keys simultaneously to open the Settings application.
4. Next, click Apps on the left, then click Default Applications on the right.
5. On the right side of the next screen, enter the extension in the search bar, in this case it will be in the format .mov.
6. You will now see Movies & TV by default.
7. Click it to open the prompt How you can open .mov files from now on. Select VLC media player and press OK.
8. The default video player now appears as VLC media player under the Set defaults for file type or link type section.

You can now go to the video file and when you run it it will open in VLC media player and run smoothly.

It is completely free and one of the most popular media players that can run almost all formats, including MOV files, in most cases without the need to install additional codecs.

Alternatively, you can go to Apple Support and download the default MOV player – Quick Time Player for Windows. Install the player and now open MOV video files with QuickTime.

You can also refer to our tutorial on 5+ Best Universal Video Players for Windows 10 and 11 to play almost all video formats and avoid encountering missing codecs in the first place mistake.

This will not only solve your problem, why are MOV files not playing on my computer? But will also help you play MOV files on Windows Media Player and other media players.

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