Files with an M4V file extension are used as multimedia files and usually hold audio data that is encoded using the MPEG4 Part 14 multimedia container format. M4V stands for “MPEG-4 Visual” and was originally introduced by Apple for multimedia classification purposes.
M4V is often associated with BIF which stands for “Binary Format for Scenes” and is the one responsible for the complete framework used to present MPEG-4 terminals. Because of this fact, M4V files can be played using various players as long as the player was installed with the correct CODEC that can be found in the player’s website. Many audio players however support files with an M4V extension; this includes Apple QuickTime and Nullsoft Winamp.
Some M4V files may also contain videos downloaded from the Apple iTunes store online. This includes but is not limited to full-length movies, TV show episodes, music videos and many more. Most of these files are covered by Apple’s FairPlay DRM copyright protection and can’t just be downloaded without authorization. Thus, to play an M4V file, one should have an authorized copy of iTunes installed in his computer and must use an account used to purchase and download the video file/s. However, M4V files that are unprotected or not copyrighted can just be renamed to MP4 and can therefore be opened in other video players.
These are the programs that can open M4V files (depending if it is copyrighted or not):
| Mac OS | Apple iTunes
Apple QuickTime Player Adobe Flash CS5 Elitima Elmedia Player RealNetworks RealPlayer PCF Micro VideoLAN VLC Media Player |
| Windows | Microsoft Windows Media Player
Apple iTunes Apple QuickTime Player RealNetworks RealPlayer PCF Micro VideoLAN VLC Media Player Nullsoft Winamp Media Player Media Player Classic |
| Linux | PCF Micro
VideoLAN VLC Media Player |
