Can Plex Support MOV? How to Play MOV on Plex with Ease?

It's not strange that this question has been asked many times across various social media platforms, forums, and discussions, including the official Plex forum, because quite a lot of people have run into Plex MOV playback problems, such as MOV won’t play, MOV no sound, etc.

Does Plex support MOV files? We'll give you the short answer: Yes, Plex can play MOV files, but there are some caveats. According to the official list of Plex supported video formats, the MOV container with H.264 video and AAC audio is natively supported for direct playing.

As a container format, MOV can hold video and audio data encoded using combinations of different video and audio codecs. If the video codec is not natively supported, the Plex Media Server will automatically transcode the video file. This means that if your MOV video is encoded using Apple ProRes, Cinepak, or CineForm, for example, Plex cannot play it directly and will have to transcode it. To check the video codec of your MOV file, you can use a media information tool like MediaInfo, which provides detailed information about your media files.

Additionally, it's important to note that video compatibility can vary depending on the device, platform, and model you're using. And, the transcoding process may not always be successful due to a variety of factors, such as improper resolution, bit rate, sample rate, etc. Read on to discover your ultimate guide to playing MOV files on Plex.

To enjoy a smooth MOV playback in Plex, the most recommended solution is to re-encode them to the Plex Direct Play Video Format MOV (H.264/AAC) beforehand, that's where WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro comes in. Unlike other same kind of video transcoders, this novice-oriented app offers a straightforward way to convert MOV to Plex recommended specs. The support of batch video processing and hardware acceleration makes the conversion work more efficient and time-saving.

Free downloadFree download this novice-oriented app, let's jump in the step-by-step guide below.

Here are some additional solutions that may help you fix the problem:

Solution 1: Repair Corrupted File

You can check if your MOV file is corrupted by trying to play it in different media players. If the file doesn't play in any player, it may be corrupted. Next, try repairing MOV files using a video repair tool, which gives you a chance to fix various issues in video files, such as audio-video sync issues, playback freezes, and more. Once you've repaired the file, try playing it again in Plex.

Solution 2: Update Plex

If you're using an outdated version of Plex, update it to the latest version. Plex updates often include support for new codecs and bug fixes that can help resolve MOV playback issues like MOV file only plays audio. To update Plex, go to the settings menu and check for updates.

Solution 3: Check Network Connection

If your network connection is slow or unstable, it can cause Plex to struggle with buffering and streaming high-quality MOV videos. To fix this, try connecting your device to a faster network or reducing the streaming quality in Plex settings.

By walking through this guide, you should be able to play your MOV files on Plex without any interruptions. Instead of attempting to identify the specific issue and solution for your model, it is more efficient to transcode MOV files to eliminate any potential issues. If this approach does not work for you, or if you have any other suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us.