How to Convert MXF to MOV on Windows and Mac

To convert MXF to MOV, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install the converter.

  2. Open MXF videos in the program.
  3. Pick a MOV preset and convert videos.
Edited by Ben Jacklin
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How to convert MXF to MOV

If you enjoy filming with video recorders or video cameras, you may be familiar with the MXF file format for video and audio files. If you haven't used this format before, you might be asking, "What is an MXF file?". MXF stands for Material Exchange Format. Companies like Canon and Sony use this file to format footage recorded with their equipment, and it's often used by professionals to store digital video and audio data.

Because of its intended use for video cameras and recorders, MXF can be challenging to play on a Mac or Windows computer unless you have compatible programs. If you are unable to play these files, or if you want to make them more accessible on other devices, there are several ways to convert MXF to MOV for free with either downloadable software or web-based programs. Unlike MXF, MOV is a file compatible with many devices and plays via the default QuickTime video player. Any device that has QuickTime or another compatible viewer can play MOV files converted from MXF format.

Depending on what type of tool you need to convert .mxf to .mov file formats, the following are some popular converters you can try. Whether you're looking for online converters or software to download on your Mac or Windows device, there are plenty of options available for converting to MOV. You can even use them to convert MOV to MXF and perform other conversions.

How to use the Movavi MXF to MOV converter

If you want a dependable MXF-to-MOV converter to convert MXF and other files to various formats, Movavi Video Converter is a user-friendly software compatible with both Mac and Windows devices, with an intuitive interface that's easy to navigate. In addition to converting MXF files and many others to nearly any desired format, you can also use this software to:

  • Modify the size of your videos

  • Avoid any sacrifice in quality with consistently efficient conversion

  • Convert several files via batch conversion

  • Convert recordings from several different devices into a singular file format

  • Edit your video files by adjusting the quality, increasing or lowering the volume, joining clips, or trimming videos

To help you get started with this software, here's a brief how-to guide for using Movavi Video Converter to convert MXF files to MOV. This software will have you converting MXF to MOV in no time, and you'll also be able to perform plenty of other file conversions as needed.

Step 1. Install and open the MXF converter on your computer

Start by downloading Movavi Video Converter for either your Mac or Windows PC. From there, follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.

Step 2. Add the MXF videos to the conversion list

To begin the conversion process, open the application and click on Add Media in the top left corner, followed by clicking Add Video directly below. You can choose one or multiple MXF files.

Step 3. Edit your video before converting

One additional feature that makes Movavi Video Converter different from other software is editing your videos. Prior to converting your MXF files, you can adjust the quality or volume of your videos, or you can join or trim clips.

Step 4. Select the conversion format

The next step is to click on the Video tab toward the bottom of the window and choose the output format, which in this case would be MOV. To convert the file for use on mobile devices, you can also open the Devices tab and select the preferred preset for the device. You can easily select the preset you want by connecting your mobile device to your computer and selecting the Device Detection option.

Step 5. Convert MXF files to MOV

Start the conversion process by clicking Save to and selecting the save destination for the completed video. Choose either the folder of your choice or the default folder. Next, simply click Convert and wait for the process to complete before accessing your saved file.

Keep in mind that this process will also apply to other file conversions, with many file formats supported to allow you to complete nearly any conversion you need for any device.

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How to convert MXF to MOV (QuickTime) online & for free

For other solutions to convert MXF to MOV or complete other file conversions, there are several types of web-based and downloadable programs available. While some programs will require you to download software, web-based solutions can enable you to upload your videos to their website and complete the conversion online.

Using exclusively online platforms, you can simply use your internet browser of choice to access the developer's website and complete conversions entirely online. However, the software options listed are also safe and secure to use if you would rather have an application on your device for added convenience and accessibility.

The following are some widely used options that you can use to convert your MXF videos.

This web-based converter allows you to easily convert files online without the need to download any software. Whether you have a Mac or Windows computer, you can use this platform to convert MXF to MOV along with other file conversions. This website supports multiple file formats in addition to MXF and MOV, including FLV, WMV, MP4, AVI, 3G2, MKV, and OGV. You can also choose from multiple audio formats. You can easily complete conversions using their conversion webpage.

The following guide will show you how to convert MXF to MOV with Online Video Converter.

  1. Visit the homepage to begin the conversion process
    If you want to convert a file, simply visit the Online Video Converter website.
    Proceed to the Online Video Converter website

  2. Choose the MXF files you want to convert
    You can start the conversion by clicking on Add Your Media, located in the box at the upper right corner of the page. You can also click on the downward arrow to select files from Dropbox or Google Drive to upload to the converter.

  3. Select the output file format
    Within the Convert to dropdown menu, choose MOV or another type of file extension for the conversion.

  4. Begin the conversion process and select a save destination for the file
    Once you've selected the output format for the MXF file, click Convert, which will begin the conversion process. After the file has finished converting, save the file to a designated folder on your computer.

Although Online Video Converter is entirely free to use via their website, there are certain restrictions for the free version. If you want access to benefits such as larger file sizes, online storage, additional input and output formats, or the ability to upload multiple files with batch conversion, you will need to pay for the desktop version or a subscription to their services.

For another free option that's compatible with both Mac and Windows computers, VLC is an easy-to-use software that's safe to download and install. VLC, also known as VideoLan Client, is a program from the non-profit developer, VideoLAN. The interface is easy to access, and you can use it as an MXF file player in addition to a converter. When downloading this software, you don't need to be concerned about inadvertently downloading any user tracking programs, spyware, or ads that you may otherwise risk with free software.

If you would like to use VLC for converting MXF to MOV or simply viewing MXF files, follow these steps.

  1. Download VLC and install the program on your computer
    To get started with VLC, you can download the program for your Mac or Windows computer from the VLC website. Next, install it by following the included instructions.
    Proceed to the VideoLan website

  2. Add your MXF files to the conversion queue
    After installing and opening VLC, select the File menu and click on Convert / Stream (Mac version) or Convert / Save (Windows version). Afterward, a second window will load with a Drop media here section. You can then either click Open media to choose a file from your computer to upload or manually drag and drop files into the application.

  3. Choose the output format for the file
    Once you've added the files you want to corner into the conversion list, choose the output format to convert them to, which you can do by clicking on Choose Profile. If you want to convert the file to MOV, you will need to select the Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4) option. This is because MOV files share the same parameters as MP4 files.

  4. Select a designated save location for your files
    After choosing the output format for your file, click Save as File within the Choose Destination tab. Here, you can add ".mov" to the end of the file’s name, which will save the MP4 in the desired MOV format. Next, simply wait for the conversion process to complete, and you can begin playing your MOV or move it to another device.

VLC may be convenient and easy to use as a highly accessible and versatile free software, but it may not appeal to everyone. Some users have complained about issues when using this software to play MXF files, while its outdated design may be off-putting to some. However, if you’re looking for a response to the question of how to play MXF files, VLC is a viable option.

Similar to Online Video Converter, CloudConverter is a convenient web-based file converter that makes it easy to convert MXF to MOV online. The platform supports over 200 file formats, including MXF and many other video, audio, document, ebook, and other types of file formats. CloudConvert is a secure website that protects users' privacy and claims to sell access to its API, not user data. Conversions are of high quality using open source software, with the ability to adjust video quality and other options.

If you want to know how to convert MXF files with CloudConvert, follow this brief guide.

  1. Visit the CloudConvert website to use the converter
    To begin your conversion, visit the CloudConvert website, where you can use the online converter.
    Proceed to the CloudConvert website

  2. Select the input and output formats
    After loading the homepage, you can use the site as an MXF-to-MOV converter by selecting those formats in the convert [...] to [...] box at the top of the page. Simply click on the dropdown menu after convert and choose MXF, which you can easily access by typing it into the search field. Next, select MOV or type it into the dropdown box after to. After you've selected both files, the page will reload as an MXF-to-MOV converter. You can also turn it into any other converter by changing the file formats.

  3. Upload the file you want to convert
    You can then upload the MXF file to convert by clicking on the red Select File box below the banner.

  4. Make changes to any parameters
    After uploading your file, you can change different options to edit your videos, including the audio or video codec, presets, Constant Rate Factor (CRF) to optimize quality, tune, level, and other aspects.

  5. Begin the conversion and save your file
    Finally, you can begin the conversion process and save the completed file to a designated save destination.

CloudConverter is free, secure, and easy to use, but it comes with certain limitations that you're likely to experience with most online converters. While there are plenty of options available to users in the free version, you will need to pay for packages or subscriptions to access other features. You will need a paid version if you want to upload any file size, convert multiple files concurrently, shorten processing times, and get access to customer support.

MXF vs. MP4: Comparison

To better understand the differences between MXF vs. MOV files. There are some fundamental differences between these two file formats to keep in mind, including the developers behind them, the types of codecs they support, file extensions, and the devices used to store and play them. With a better understanding of the differences between them, you can decide which format is right for your device and application.

Comparison parameter

MXF

MOV

Developer

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

Apple

File extension

.mxf

.mov

Video codecs supported

MPEG-1, 2, 4, H.264, DV, uncompressed, and others

H.264 + others

Looking for more information about MXF files or how to convert MXF to MOV? The following are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you convert video recorder and camera data to MOV for easy viewing, or vice versa.

Frequently asked questions

▶️ What is an MXF file?

▶️ How do you convert MOV to MXF?

▶️ How can I play MXF files?

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