QuickLook Video
This app allows macOS Finder to display thumbnails/cover art, QuickLook previews, and metadata for
most types of audio and video files.
QuickLook, AVFoundation and Spotlight understand a limited number of media files - mostly only MPEG
audio and video codecs within MPEG container files. This app adds support for wide range of other
codecs and "non-native" media file types, including:
- File formats: Matroska
.mka, .mkv, WebM .webm, Windows Media .wma, .wmv,
Ogg Video .ogm, .ogv, AVI .avi, QuickTime .mov, Flash Video .flv, .f4v,
Real Media .ra, .rm, .rv, SMPTE .gxf, .mxf.
- Audio codecs: Vorbis, Windows Media Audio, WavPak, ATRAC, etc.
- Video codecs: VP6, VP8, VP9, AV1, HEVC/H.265, VVC/H.266, Dolby Vision, Theora, Sorenson 1 & 3,
Cinepak, Flash, Real Video, DivX, Intel Indeo, QuickTime animation, etc.
How does it work?
The app contains a Spotlight extension that adds support for non-native file formats, and two Media
Extensions that add support to AVFoundation for non-native file formats and video codecs.
(Long-time Mac users may remember Perian which performed a similar
function with the QuickTime framework before QuickTime was replaced by AVFoundation).
Installation and Usage
See Getting Started.
Troubleshooting
See the troubleshooting guide if you have any problems.
License
Copyright © 2014-2026 Jonathan Harris.
Licensed under the GNU Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.
