How to Play MOV Files on Windows 10 (6 Easy Methods)

MOV is a popular video format for sharing videos and movies on the internet. It was created by Apple, and it's used as the default video format for Mac and iOS devices, so you can easily view MOV videos on Apple devices. However, it seems to be a challenge when it comes to opening MOV files on Windows 10, as the MOV format is not compatible with the Windows system.

So, if you want to play MOV files on Windows 10 successfully, you might need to use some best MOV players for Windows 10. And that's what we are going to talk about in the following. Just continue reading to find out the easiest way to play MOV files on Windows.

Available Methods to Play MOV on Windows 10:

• EaseUS RecExperts: A versatile player with full MOV support
• Photos App: Built-in solution, works for simple MOV files
• Windows Media Player: May work with limited codecs
• VLC Media Player: Powerful open-source player with full compatibility
• QuickTime Player: Discontinued; not recommended
• Convert to MP4: Use HandBrake, FFmpeg, or other free tools for full compatibility

Read on to learn which method works best for your file type and system setup.

How to Play MOV Movies on Windows 10^[Hot]

The easiest way to open .mov files on Windows 10 is to use a professional video player, and EaseUS RecExperts is such a program. 

This tool supports a wide range of media formats, like MOV, MP4, WMV, and more, aiming to help you open video and audio files hassle-free. Aside from that, it lets you adjust the playback speed from 0.5X to 2X according to your needs! You can even manage your media files with one simple click, if needed. To improve your viewing experience, just download the tool now.

Here's how to open a .mov file on your Windows 10 computer:

Step 1. Open EaseUS RecExperts, then go to My Library > Import and select the video or audio file you want to play.

Step 2. Once imported, the file will appear in the media list. Double-click it to open.

Step 3. The media will start playing. You can adjust the playback speed as needed.

If this article helped you play MOV files successfully, consider sharing it to help others facing the same issue.

Play MOV Files on Windows 10 using Photos

If you're using Windows 10 or later, you might be able to play MOV files without installing any third-party software, thanks to the built-in Photos app. This pre-installed media tool supports common MOV files, especially those encoded with H.264 and AAC, which are typically recorded on iPhones or consumer-grade cameras. However, the Photos app has limited codec support. It may fail to open MOV videos encoded in HEVC (H.265) or Apple ProRes, unless you've installed the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Even then, compatibility can be hit or miss.

If your MOV file uses standard encoding and you only need basic playback, the Photos app can be a quick and convenient solution, requiring no downloads.

Well, now let's return to the steps to play MOV files on Windows using Photos:

Step 1. Find the MOV video on your Windows PC, then right-click on it.

Step 2. Click "Open with" > "Photos". Once done, your MOV files will open via Photos.

⚠️ Note: To play MOV files encoded in HEVC or ProRes using the Photos app, you may need to install the HEVC Video Extension from the Microsoft Store. Otherwise, playback may fail or result in errors.

Play MOV on Windows 10 with Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player (WMP) is another built-in tool on Windows 10 that might help you open MOV files, but with some limitations.

By default, WMP doesn't support all MOV file types. While it may handle simple MOV files encoded with H.264 and AAC, it usually fails to open MOV videos encoded in HEVC (H.265), ProRes, or other advanced codecs. In many cases, users encounter errors like "Windows Media Player cannot play the file."

To improve compatibility, ensure you're using WMP version 12 or later, which comes preinstalled on most Windows 10 systems. However, even with the correct version, WMP still lacks built-in support for many codecs unless you install third-party codec packs like K-Lite Codec Pack.

Here's how to open .mov on Windows 10 with WMP:

Step 1. Search "Windows Media Player" on your computer, then open it.

Step 2. Click "Help" on the top toolbar, and select the "About Windows Media Player" option to check the version. (If it is below 12, you can move to the next solution)

Step 3. Next, go to folders to find the MOV video that you want to play, then right-click on it. And choose "Open with" > "Windows Media Player" to open the MOV video.

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Play .mov File on Windows using VLC Media Player

If you're looking for a reliable way to play .MOV files on Windows 10, VLC Media Player is one of the best choices available. It's a free, open-source media player that supports virtually all video and audio formats, including MOV files encoded with H.264, HEVC (H.265), AAC, and even Apple ProRes. Unlike Windows Media Player or Photos, VLC doesn't require extra codec packs or extensions. You can simply install it and start playing your MOV videos immediately, with no compatibility issues.

In addition to smooth playback, VLC also offers advanced features like subtitle support, video/audio filters, playback speed control, and even format conversion and screen recording, though these are optional for basic users. Whether you're a beginner or advanced user, VLC provides a powerful, no-hassle solution for handling MOV files on Windows.

Here's how to play .mov files on Windows 10 using VLC Media Player:

Step 1. Download and launch VLC Media Player on your Windows PC.

 Step 2. Click Media > Open File... to import your target MOV file on your PC.

Or, you can directly find the MOV video, right-click, and choose "Open with VLC Media Player", once the freeware is installed.

Open MOV Files on Windows with QuickTime Player

⚠️Notice: For security and compatibility reasons, using QuickTime Player on Windows is no longer recommended. 

QuickTime Player is Apple's native media player, and it plays MOV files smoothly on macOS since the format was developed by Apple. While there is an older version of QuickTime Player for Windows (version 7.7.9), it's important to note that Apple officially discontinued support for it in 2016. This version is no longer maintained, is not optimized for Windows 10, and poses known security vulnerabilities according to the US-CERT advisory.

Although it may still open some MOV files encoded with H.264 and AAC, performance is inconsistent, and modern MOV files (especially those using HEVC or ProRes) often fail to play properly.

Check out how to play mov on Windows:

Step 1. Go to the official Apple support website to download it, and then install QuickTime Player on your Windows PC.

Step 2. Open QuickTime Player for Windows, then click "File" to select the MOV files.

Convert MOV Files to MP4 for Easier Playback on Windows

If your MOV file still won't play properly, converting it to a more compatible format, such as MP4, is a simple and effective solution. This helps ensure smooth playback across nearly all Windows media players.

Several free and open-source video converters are available for this task, including HandBrake, FFmpeg, Shutter Encoder, VLC Media Player, etc. Here we take Handbrake as an example:

Step 1. Download and install HandBrake on your PC.

Step 2. Launch it and import your .mov file. Then, under "Preset," choose "Fast 1080p30" or another profile.

Step 3. Set the format to MP4 and video codec to H.264.

Step 4. Click Start Encode to begin conversion.

Once converted, you can easily open the MP4 file in Windows Media Player, Photos, or any other player.

Final Words

How to play MOV files on Windows 10? This post provides 4 Windows 10 MOV players to help you choose from. If you prefer the default programs, you can opt for Microsoft Photos or Windows Media Player. If you want to use open-source software, then VLC Media Player is your choice.

Suppose you want a video player with some recording feature; you cannot miss EaseUS RecExperts! Whatever you choose, we hope you can get a satisfactory solution from this guide.

How to Play MOV Files on Windows 10 FAQs

1. Can you play MOV files on Windows Media Player?

Yes, you can play MOV files on Windows Media Player. But keep in mind that it only works when the version of Windows Media Player is 12 or higher.

2. What program plays MOV files on Windows?

Actually, there are lots of MOV players for Windows that will play MOV files, including but not limited to:

• QuickTime Player
• Windows Photos
• Windows Media Player
• VLC Media Player
• ...

3. Can Windows play MOV?

In fact, Windows does not support MOV format. But if you use some professional MOV players like Windows Photos, QuickTime, and VLC, you can easily play MOV files on Windows PC.