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 (partial support) (.avi), 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, VVC/H.266, Dolby Vision, Theora, Sorenson 1 & 3, Cinepak, Flash,
Real Video, Intel Indeo, 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.
