mpv player 0.41.0 for Mac

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Tired of QuickTime refusing to play your video files?

MPV player for Mac handles every format instantly - no paid codec extensions, no conversion hassles, just immediate playback on any Mac.

→ Download MPV Player for Mac | Free & Open Source

Why MPV Player is the Best Lightweight Option for Mac

Native Apple Silicon Performance

MPV runs natively on M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs without Rosetta translation.

This means faster startup, lower power consumption, and better battery life on MacBooks compared to emulated alternatives.

Intel Mac users also get optimized performance with full hardware acceleration through Apple's VideoToolbox framework.

Play Everything QuickTime Can't

QuickTime requires Apple's paid HEVC Video Extension for modern 4K content.

MPV plays HEVC, AV1, VP9, MKV, AVI, WMV, FLAC, and over 200 other formats completely free. The built-in FFmpeg integration handles virtually any media file without hunting for codec packs or extensions.

Minimal Resource Usage

MPV uses a fraction of the memory and CPU of feature-heavy players. It launches in milliseconds, plays your video, and stays out of the way.

Perfect for older Macs or users who want maximum performance without unnecessary interface elements consuming resources.

Power User Features

Full command-line interface support makes MPV ideal for automation, batch processing, and scripting workflows. Create custom keybindings, manage playlists via terminal, write Lua scripts for advanced playback control, or integrate MPV into existing media pipelines.

Configuration happens through simple text files - no hidden preferences or registry entries.

MPV vs Other Mac Video Players

Want a graphical interface with MPV's power? IINA wraps MPV's engine in a beautiful native macOS design with Touch Bar support, trackpad gestures, Picture-in-Picture mode, and Dark Mode integration. It's the best choice for users who want MPV's format support with Apple-style polish.

VLC for Mac offers universal format compatibility with a more traditional interface. It handles virtually any file format and includes conversion features, but uses more resources than MPV.

For users managing large media libraries, Kodi transforms your Mac into a complete media center with automatic metadata fetching, library organization, and streaming capabilities. Those interested in self-hosted streaming should explore Jellyfin Server as a free Plex alternative.

For a complete comparison, see the Best Free Video Players for Mac guide.

Technical Specifications

Supported macOS: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and later, including Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia.
Architecture: Universal binary - native Apple Silicon (ARM64) and Intel (x86_64) support.
Hardware Acceleration: VideoToolbox for H.264, HEVC, VP9 decoding.
Supported Formats: 200+ including MKV, MP4, AVI, HEVC/H.265, AV1, VP9, H.264, WebM, FLAC, Opus, AAC.
Dependencies: None - self-contained application bundle.
License: 100% free and open source (GPL-2.0/LGPL-2.1).

Installation Options

Standard Installation: Download the DMG file, drag MPV to your Applications folder, and launch. macOS may require you to right-click and select "Open" on first launch to bypass Gatekeeper.

Homebrew: For users who prefer package management, install via brew install mpv in Terminal. This method simplifies updates and integrates with other Homebrew-managed tools.

Configuration: MPV reads settings from ~/.config/mpv/mpv.conf. Common customizations include default volume, subtitle styling, screenshot format, and hardware acceleration preferences.

Complete Your Mac Media Workflow

Need video conversion? HandBrake provides powerful transcoding with Metal acceleration for filters on Apple Silicon. FFmpeg offers command-line conversion that integrates naturally with MPV workflows.

For lossless editing of MKV files - extracting audio tracks, adding subtitles, or merging clips - MKVToolNix handles everything without re-encoding. MediaInfo reveals detailed codec information when you need to analyze file properties.

Recording or streaming from your Mac? OBS Studio for Mac captures and broadcasts with native Apple Silicon support.

Windows users can download MPV Player for Windows with identical features and cross-platform configuration compatibility.