QuickTime Player converts certain files before playing them

You might see a progress bar showing that your file is converting.

In OS X Mavericks and later, QuickTime Player (version 10) converts files that use certain older or third-party media formats. A window with a progress bar shows that the file is converting. To stop converting, just close the window.

Converting window

Conversion doesn't modify or replace the original file, and you can save the converted file before closing it. To preserve the quality of the original file, the converted file might be larger than the original file.

Learn more

  • QuickTime Player uses Apple ProRes to convert legacy formats used in video workflows, such as those encoded with the Animation codec. It uses H.264 to convert other older or third-party media formats.
  • Learn what to do if QuickTime Player can't open a file.
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