Can't Play M4V File Encoded by Handbrake on QuickTime? [Solved]
There are many a time your M4V files created by Handbrake are refused by QuickTime to open.
HandBrake, an open-source and cross-platform video transcoder, is one of the best free video converters which can transcode almost any video format that we know of. It boasts rich presets of video profiles for suiting a plethora of portable devices. Thus means, you only need to select the name of your end-play device on the Handbrake, the best video settings that go compatible with that device will then be applied to your video. Generally speaking, it does a good choice for encoding videos from HEVC/H265 or other formats to M4V. However, the problem is M4V transcoded with HandBrake may not play on your QuickTime player. Now what? Don't worry. Keep reading to find the efficient solutions to fix this issue.
Strapped for time? Click one of the links below to jump straight to your most interested part.
Part 1 QuickTime Doesn't Play M4V From HandBrake: Error Overview
Let us consider one real-time scenario to know the trouble you encounter when playing M4V videos from Handbrake on QuickTime: you use HandBrake to transcode a video from some sort of format to M4V. You try to play this video on QuickTime, but get a playback error message only, and it contains a link write with a list of compatible QTFF (QuickTime File Formats).
You are confused as M4V is claimed to be one of the formats that QuickTime supports. You click the link and wish to find the exact solution. Unfortunately, that error remind doesnt intend to give you further help. You think the M4V video is broken, but it cant explain why that is playable in other media players. Then, what is restricting QuickTime to play HandBrake coded video files? Let's find out the possible reasons and relevant solutions in the next part.
Part 2 The Main Reasons Why QuickTime Doesnt Play HandBrake Encoded M4V Videos
Possible Reason 1: The M4V file Encoded by Handbrake is Corrupt
The source file is broken if the error message reminds you that you are importing an invalid file. Because "invalid file" often implies that no data involved in that video file.
To fix a corrupted M4V file, you can easily re-encode the source video file with HandBrake. But be careful while selecting the audio and video codecs. Before playing the video make sure that it has a valid file size and not just 0KB. In addition, make sure the source video is not under DRM protected as Handbrake lack the support to convert any videos under copy protected.
Possible Reason 2: Codec Conflict
If your QuickTime player isn’t playing M4V videos encoded by HandBrake, then this may be due to video codec conflict issue. If you're using Mac High Sierra then you don’t need any third-party codec software. Because Mac High Sierra has a built-in support for various latest audio and video codecs like AC3 and HEVC. So, installing a third-party codec software will definitely invite codec issues as this will create a codec selection conflict in apps like QuickTime. In such a situation no codec actually gets selected and you'll see a playback error.
Therefore, you are suggested to remove any third party codec software to get issue fixed
Possible Reason 3: Incompatible Video Codec
An incompatible video codec is the major cause of the M4V file playback error in QuickTime. Mac OS uses it's own audio-video codecs to process media data which is very limited. So many users prefer third-party codec software. This may render a codec selection issue between the systems default codecs and the newly installed ones. Once QuickTime gets confused about these two and makes the wrong selection, it returns errors.
Free Download VideoProc to Fix M4V Video File Made by Handbrake Doesn't Play in QuickTime
Part 3: How to Fix QuickTime M4V Playback Error Caused by the Incompatible Video Codec?
As a free video converter, the performance of Handbrake and it's support to specific codecs or platforms is hard to be guaranteed. For a stable and error-free workflow, you are recommended to adopt VideoProc, a more professional and versatile video transcoder. Before we move to the main tutorial, you should know the difference between remuxing and re-encoding.
What is Remuxing?
It is a process of taking the audio and video streams from one video container format and to another. In this process, the video settings like resolution, visual quality, and aspect ratio remain exactly the same. In a word, no transcoding gets involved in remuxing.
What is Re-encoding?
You can simply call this as video transcoding, which refers to the direct digital-to-digital conversion of one codec to another. Besides the changes in the codec, you can also transcode the original video to M4V format with your customized settings like resolution, bit-rate, video codec, aspect ratio, etc.
Now we are going to post the step-by-step tutorial for remuxing and re-encoding using VideoProc.
After downloading and installing VideoProc on your PC (Download VideoProc on Windows ) or Mac ( Download VideoProc on Mac ), you are free to go. Here's the rundown of guides and tips for fix quicktime refuses to play M4V video files made by QuickTime
Medthod 1: How to Remux a Video Using VideoProc?
Step 1: Launch the video converter, and then click Video > +Video to load your movie or video.
Step 2: In the Target Format section click the Video tab and select M4V as output format.
Warm Note: It is necessary to enable Auto Copy when remuxing videos.
Step 3: Click RUN and wait until the remuxing gets finished.
Method 2: How to Re-Encode a Video Using Video Converter?
Step 1: Upload the source video to VideoProc.
Step 2: Select the output video format from the Target Format and uncheck Auto Copy.
Step 3: Click Codec Option and customize audio and video settings like resolution, bit-rate, FPS, visual quality, audio sample rate, etc. Click Done when finished.
Step 4: Click RUN to start re-encoding your video with customized settings. These are the two solid solutions to fix the problem of M4V not playing in QuickTime. Youre free to choose any of the solutions as both are guaranteed to work.
Final Words:
We used VideoProc here to fix a QuickTime playback error while using its remuxing and re-encoding feature. But VideoProc isn't just limited to these two features only as it is very much of capable doing other things like video editing, subtitle editing, video downloading, screen recording, and DVD copying/ripping. The supports of level-3 GPU acceleration enables you to convert any type of videos at speed 47X faster than real-time play. In short, its all-in-one audio, video processing software with almost all quality features that you need.
