IINA 1.4.1 for Mac

Unlike cross-platform players that port their Windows or Linux codebases, IINA was built specifically for Mac users who want proper integration with macOS features and Apple Silicon performance.

Why Choose IINA for Mac?

Mac users have historically relied on VLC for Mac or QuickTime for video playback - but neither delivers the native macOS experience that modern users expect.

IINA fills this gap with a purpose-built player that respects Apple's Human Interface Guidelines while providing power-user features under the hood.

Native Apple Silicon Support - IINA runs natively on M1, M2, M3, and M4 processors without Rosetta translation.

This means faster startup times, smoother 4K playback, and better battery life on MacBooks compared to cross-platform alternatives.

Modern macOS Integration - Touch Bar controls let you scrub through videos with precision on supported MacBooks.

Picture-in-Picture mode floats your video above other windows for multitasking. System dark mode support ensures IINA matches your Mac's appearance automatically.

Universal Format Support

IINA plays virtually every video and audio format without additional codecs or plugins. MKV, MP4, AVI, HEVC/H.265, AV1, WebM, FLAC, and hundreds of other formats work immediately after installation.

For users who rip their own DVDs or Blu-rays using MakeMKV for Mac, IINA handles those MKV files perfectly - including multiple audio tracks, embedded subtitles, and chapter markers.

The mpv-based playback engine delivers excellent hardware acceleration through Apple's VideoToolbox framework, ensuring smooth playback of 4K HDR content without straining your Mac's processor or draining battery life on laptops.

Subtitle Excellence

IINA provides comprehensive subtitle support that surpasses most Mac video players. Load external SRT, ASS, or SSA subtitle files with automatic encoding detection. Adjust subtitle timing, font size, and position directly from the player interface. The built-in subtitle search feature connects to online databases to find matching subtitles for your videos automatically.

Advanced Playback Controls

Beyond basic play/pause functionality, IINA offers precise playback speed control from 0.25x to 16x with smooth audio pitch correction. A/B loop functionality lets you repeat specific sections for language learning or music practice. Video filters including deinterlacing, noise reduction, and color adjustment improve playback quality when source material needs enhancement.

macOS Workflow Integration

IINA integrates with the macOS ecosystem in ways cross-platform players cannot match. Drag videos from Finder directly onto the dock icon or use Quick Look to preview files before opening. Spotlight indexes your recently played videos for instant access. Share menu integration lets you send videos to other applications or AirDrop them to nearby devices.

For users building complete media workflows on Mac, IINA complements other macOS-native tools perfectly.

Shotcut for Mac provides professional video editing capabilities. LosslessCut enables quick trimming without quality loss and supports Apple Silicon natively. MKVToolNix handles MKV file organization and metadata editing on macOS 11.0 and newer.

Streaming and Network Playback

IINA handles network streams and online video sources directly. Paste YouTube, Vimeo, or other streaming URLs to play them within IINA using the integrated youtube-dl/yt-dlp support. HTTP, RTSP, and other network protocols work for local streaming from NAS devices or media servers.

Users running Jellyfin Server or Plex can stream content directly to IINA for superior playback quality compared to browser-based interfaces. The player respects your library organization while providing more playback control than web players offer.

IINA vs Other Mac Video Players

Compared to VLC for Mac, IINA offers a cleaner interface that feels more at home on macOS. While VLC provides broader platform compatibility, IINA delivers better macOS integration with features like Touch Bar support and native notifications.

Elmedia Player offers similar native macOS design but locks advanced features behind paid upgrades. IINA provides all functionality completely free without premium tiers or subscriptions.

MPV Player shares the same playback engine as IINA but requires command-line configuration. IINA provides mpv's powerful backend through an accessible graphical interface that beginners can use immediately.

Converting Videos for Optimal Playback

While IINA plays most formats natively, some users prefer converting videos for specific purposes. HandBrake transcodes videos to optimized formats for storage efficiency or device compatibility - available natively for macOS with Apple Silicon support. For disc ripping workflows, MakeMKV for Mac extracts content from DVDs and Blu-rays that IINA plays immediately.

Users working with video files regularly benefit from MediaInfo to analyze codec information, bitrates, and container details before deciding whether conversion is necessary.

System Requirements

IINA requires macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or later, though macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or newer is recommended for optimal Apple Silicon performance. The player runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Disk space requirements are minimal - approximately 100MB for installation.

Download and Installation

Download IINA. The installer provides a standard macOS DMG file - simply drag IINA to your Applications folder.

On first launch, macOS may request confirmation to open software from an identified developer. IINA is fully notarized by Apple for security compliance.

Set IINA as your default video player by right-clicking any video file, selecting "Get Info," choosing IINA under "Open with," and clicking "Change All" to apply the setting to all files of that type.