Top 8 M4V Video Players for Mac and Windows in 2023

Choose the best M4V Player for Mac or Windows

An M4V player is any multimedia player that can open an M4V file. While M4V files are similar to MP4s, they are usually used by Apple products, meaning that more specific software is necessary to open them in some cases. If you want to open an M4V file, the best video player for Mac is Elmedia Player, while Windows computers have a variety of options that will work for many different file types. While you may be tempted to look for an M4V online player or converter, these players are more convenient and packed with useful features.

Best M4V Video Player for Mac: Elmedia Player

Elmedia Player is our top choice for a video player for Mac that is capable of playing M4V videos on Mac smoothly and with no issues. It has a simple and aesthetically pleasing interface, can play a variety of video formats in addition to M4V files, and supports other types of media, such as music, in multiple formats.

Best M4V Player for Mac with a wide range of functions

Elmedia Player is free to use as is, but also includes a Pro version for a one-time payment of $19.95 if you want to take advantage of some of the more advanced features.

Pros:
  • Clean and simple interface makes it easy to use
  • Installs in seconds
  • Can play almost any video file
  • Regularly supported
Cons:
  • Pro version is very expensive in comparison to other multimedia players
  • Restricted to macOS; no Windows version is available

How to Watch M4V on Mac with Elmedia Player

Using the Elmedia Player App

Your first step should be to download Elmedia Player from the App Store or official website and install it if you haven’t already done so. Once you’ve done this, you can easily use Elmedia Player’s built-in settings to find and open M4V files.

Download and install Elmedia Player on your Mac

Step 1: Open Elmedia Player from your Launchpad. If this is your first time opening it, you may have to confirm this action by clicking a blue Open button when prompted. You will also need to pick a theme for your video player before you can proceed.

Step 2: Click File in the upper-left corner of your Mac’s screen.

Step 3: Click Open… in the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Navigate to the M4V video you would like to open, then select it.

Navigate to the M4V video you would like to play and open it using Elmedia Player

Step 5: Click Open.

Alternatively, once Elmedia Player is open, you can simply click and drag an M4V file into the player to open it. This works well if the M4V file you want to play is in an easy spot to access, such as your Downloads folder or your Desktop.

Setting Elmedia Player as the Default Player for M4V Videos

If you don’t want to go through the process of opening a video from within Elmedia Player every time, you can alter your Mac’s settings and change the default player to Elmedia for all M4V files.

Step 1: Find an M4V file and click on it.

Step 2: Click Get Info in the resulting drop-down menu.

Step 3: Click the default video player box under the “Open With” heading. You may have to click the “Open With” heading for this option to appear.

Step 4: Click Elmedia Player in the drop-down menu.

Step 5: Click Change All… below the video player box, then click Continue when prompted.

Now any M4V file you have on your Mac will open in Elmedia Player by default when you double-click it, saving you the steps of opening the file through Elmedia Player’s settings or clicking and dragging the M4V video into Elmedia Player’s window. This simple set of steps helps make Elmedia Player the best Mac M4V player.

Alternative M4V Video Players for Mac and Windows

1. 5KPlayer

5KPlayer is a free multimedia player that can serve as an M4V player for both Windows 10/11 and Mac computers. In addition to supporting multiple file types for both videos and music, 5KPlayer allows users to watch HD and UHD videos. Users may also stream from 5KPlayer with AirPlay and DLNA options. 5KPlayer even has an option to download YouTube videos and music by URL.

M4V player for Mac and Windows that supports a variety of file types

Pros:
  • Supports a variety of file types, including M4V videos
  • Allows users to download and store videos straight from YouTube
  • Includes HD, UHD, and streaming options
Cons:
  • Ads are present in the app
  • Some features are locked behind the upgraded version, which costs $25.99

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

2. JustPlay

Here is another great media player for Mac. JustPlay is a simple and lightweight player that offers wide compatibility with most formats and provides smooth HD playback for 4K and 8K videos. The player has everything for perfect video experience: from playback adjustment and flexible video settings to advanced subtitle options.

JustPlay is M4V player for Mac that plays media files without additional codecs

Pros:
  • No additional codecs are required to play media files
  • Advanced playback controls
  • Perfect HD playback
  • Deinterlacing option.
Cons:
  • It’s a paid app.

Supported OS: macOS

3. VLC

VLC is a free multimedia player that includes support for streaming and physical media such as DVDs. It allows most video files to be played without needing codec support. VLC provides an ad-free experience and gets regular updates, making it one of the truly free alternatives on this list. However, its settings are complicated, and it does not allow users to stream with AirPlay or DLNA.

Free M4V Player supports for a wide variety of video file type

Pros:
  • No ads
  • Includes support for a wide variety of video file types, including M4V
  • Free and simple to use
Cons:
  • Doesn’t support AirPlay or DLNA
  • Interface is confusing and difficult to navigate

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

4. Cisdem Video Player

Cisdem Video Player supports almost all video formats, including M4V files. It also comes equipped with a large list of features, such as rotation, video playback customization, and built-in screenshots.

Play M4V files on Mac using  Cisdem Video Player

Pros:
  • Supports a huge list of video formats
  • Allows for video player customization
  • Pro version is relatively cheap if you’re looking for advanced functionality
Cons:
  • Contains a paid version that hides some features
  • Requires a moderate amount of RAM to run

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

5. Free M4V Player

Free M4V Player is an M4V video player for Windows computers. As its name suggests, it can play M4V files with no problem, but it doesn’t support the number of additional video file types that the other players on this list do.

M4V Player for Windows

Pros:
  • Simple-to-use interface
  • Supports HD viewing
Cons:
  • Only available for Windows
  • Small number of supported file types

Supported OS: Windows

6. Final Media Player

Final Media Player is a lightweight multimedia player for Windows computers that supports M4V video playing. It includes support for an additional 40+ video files and an additional 40+ audio files, making it an easy and versatile option.

It's lightweight M4V Player for Windows

Pros:
  • Doesn’t require specific codecs for video files
  • Simple presentation makes it easy on your computer’s memory
Cons:
  • Outdated interface
  • Only available for Windows

Supported OS: Windows

7. DivX

DivX is a well-rounded media player for Mac and Windows computers. With the option to play a variety of video file types – including M4Vs – and other features like streaming, file conversion, and 4K video support for specific file types, DivX is a solid choice for playing your M4Vs and any other videos you want to watch.

DivX plays a variety of video file types, including M4Vs

Pros:
  • Supported on both new and outdated versions of macOS and Windows
  • Options to connect cloud services like Google Drive
Cons:
  • Free version has ads
  • Outdated interface can be clunky to use
  • 4K is not supported for all file types

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

What is an M4V File?

An M4V video file is very similar to an MP4 video file; the key difference is that, since the M4V format was developed by Apple, it is most commonly encountered in Apple products. While QuickTime – the default video player on Mac computers – can open many M4V files from the start, it has a limited interface and will sometimes fail to open M4V files that have different codecs than normal. This makes M4V files harder to open than standard MP4 files.

M4V files may also be locked by DRM copy protection in some cases.

M4V Converter – How to Convert from M4V to MP4 and More on Mac

Since M4V files can be harder to play, users may want to convert them into easier-to-play MP4 files. In some cases, an M4V file may be converted to an MP4 by simply changing the file extension to read “.mp4” instead of “.m4v”; however, this is an unreliable process, so here are a couple of solid options for converting M4V videos into MP4 files, or any other file type you like.

The quickest option is to use a service like CloudConvert, which will let you upload the M4V and then choose a video format to convert to. Once the conversion is complete, you will be able to download your new file. The downside is that CloudConvert only allows for a small number of file conversions at a time, and it can be slow.

HandBrake is another option for converting files from one format to another, and it includes a section for codecs so that you can make sure your final video will be compatible with your chosen player. The interface looks confusing at first, but choosing a video and converting it is a deceptively simple process. HandBrake is available for both macOS and Windows computers.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of video players for Mac and Windows for a wide variety of users who want to play M4V videos on their computers. Whether you have advanced needs – such as DLNA streaming and file conversion – or you just want to view some files that won’t open, Elmedia Player is the best option for all of your M4V-viewing needs if you have a Mac.

FAQ

You can play M4V video by using a free M4V player such as Elmedia Player on Mac or one of the alternatives on a Windows computer.

Each of the M4V video players on this list is able to play an M4V file.

Yes, VLC supports M4V files regardless of their codecs. VLC is also a decent MP4 player for Mac, but if the interface is too complicated, you can always choose a VLC alternative like Elmedia Player to play your M4V files.

Most M4V files can be played with QuickTime, but some contain the wrong codec and will instead return an error when you attempt to open them. Using Elmedia Player guarantees that your M4V files will open every time whether or not their codecs are correct for QuickTime.

You can use any of the best video players we recommend, although Elmedia Player will not work on Windows computers since, at this time, it is designed for Macs only.

WMV files are commonly associated with the Windows operating system, so it can be hard to find a WMV player for Mac. You may use Elmedia Player since it supports the WMV format.

I am an internationally certified Freelance Technical Author/Embedded System Developer. I briefly studied computer science before starting a career in freelance software development. My expertise extends into Mac and iOS app development. Having worked extensively with iOS technologies, I’ve contributed to projects ranging from app development to system optimization, gaining a reputation as a versatile and knowledgeable professional in the tech industry. Fascination with Apple products eventually led me to pursue a career in technical writing. My commitment to delivering accurate and accessible content laid the foundation for my success. Now I'm actively engaged in the development and improvement of projects related to virtual COM ports as well as working on USB over Ethernet technology, Embedded Systems and Multimedia Software. I follow tech-related YouTubers, and frequently watch their webinars and lectures to expand my knowledge and stay updated on upcoming major changes in the digital world. Besides, I use online platforms that offer valuable information for tech writing. I write on varied topics including Electronics, Computers, Technology, Mac software and Apple devices.