Freedom251 › Media Player Software
QuickTime Player
What QuickTime Player is
QuickTime Player is Apple’s free media player for Mac, included with macOS. It plays video and audio files, with listed format support for MOV, H.264, HEVC, MPEG-4 audio, and AAC. Playback includes network playback, subtitles, hardware acceleration, and 4K video. Controls cover play, pause, fast-forward, rewind, and speed changes: listed options include 2x, 5x, 10x, 30x, and 60x, plus smaller increments from 1.1x to 2x. Videos can also be viewed in a picture-in-picture window or played on an AirPlay-enabled device.
The app can trim, rearrange, rotate, and split movies into clips. It records all or part of a Mac screen, and can capture a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen as a movie file on the Mac. Movie recording can use a built-in or external camera, with camera, microphone, and quality options. Exports include .mov movies encoded with H.264 or HEVC, and audio-only MPEG4 files; QuickTime Player does not export MP4 videos. Available resolution options include 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, and Audio Only, depending on the source movie and available options.
Who it suits
QuickTime Player suits Mac users who want a free player with network playback, subtitles, and 4K support, as well as basic movie editing and recording tools. Its screen recording and connected-device capture can also suit users who want to save Mac or iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen activity as a movie.
What it does well
- Included with macOS at no cost.
- Supports network playback, subtitles, and 4K playback.
- Can trim, rearrange, rotate, and split movies.
- Records all or part of a Mac screen.
- Can capture a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen.
- Offers AirPlay playback and picture-in-picture.
What to know first
- Available platform is macOS.
- Does not export MP4 videos.
- QuickTime Player 7 is unsupported and incompatible with macOS versions released after Mojave.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| QuickTime Player | Included with macOS | Free |
As support.apple.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open Apple’s QuickTime Player guide.
- Use QuickTime Player on a Mac with macOS; it is included with macOS.
- Open a media file to play it, or choose a movie, screen, or connected-device recording route.
Verdict
Choose QuickTime Player if you use a Mac and want a free way to play media, make basic movie edits, or record screens. Look elsewhere if exporting MP4 video is a requirement. Dolby passthrough also requires a compatible receiver and Mac setup.
Questions
How much does QuickTime Player cost?
It is free and included with macOS.
Which platforms does it support?
The supported platform is macOS.
What media formats does it play?
Listed formats include MOV, H.264, HEVC, MPEG-4 audio, and AAC.
Can QuickTime Player export MP4 videos?
No. Movie exports use .mov with H.264 or HEVC; audio-only exports use MPEG4 audio.
Can it record an iPhone or iPad screen?
It can capture a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen and save it as a movie file on a Mac.
Does it support Dolby passthrough?
Dolby passthrough requires a Dolby-capable audio receiver connected by HDMI to a Mac with Apple silicon.
Facts from QuickTime Player's own pages
- AirPlay and picture-in-picture
- Users can play a file on an AirPlay-enabled device or view video in a picture-in-picture window. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Camera and audio recording
- Movie recording can use a Mac’s built-in or external camera and offers camera, microphone, and quality options. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Device recording
- Users can capture a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen and save it as a movie file on Mac. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Dolby audio requirement
- Dolby passthrough requires a Dolby-capable audio receiver connected by HDMI to a Mac with Apple silicon. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- 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. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Export resolutions
- Export options include 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, and Audio Only, subject to the source movie and available options. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Format support
- MOV,H.264,HEVC,MPEG-4 audio,AAC · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
- 4K playback
- Yes · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Hardware acceleration
- Yes · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
- 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. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- License model
- free · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Movie editing
- QuickTime Player can trim, rearrange, and rotate movies, and split them into clips. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Network playback
- Yes · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Supported platforms
- macOS · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Playback controls
- Playback controls support play, pause, fast-forward, rewind, and changing playback speed. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Playback speeds
- Listed playback speeds include 2x, 5x, 10x, 30x, and 60x, with small increments from 1.1x to 2x. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- QuickTime Player plays video and audio files on Mac. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Screen recording
- Users can record the entire Mac screen or select just a portion of it. · support.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Subtitle support
- Yes · support.apple.com, 21 Sept 2026
Where QuickTime Player stands on Freedom251
- Media Player Software#43 of 76
- Screen Recorder Software#13 of 19