.MP4 files do not need an introduction. The reason is simple, actually. We all watch videos and .MP4 is one of the most popular video formats available today. Technically speaking, these extensions are associated with the MPEG-4 video files. These files are most commonly used to store videos and audios but sometimes, they might also be used to contain subtitles in the form of texts and images. The MPEG-4 compression type which is used by these files is developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). While the videos in such files are compressed through the MPEG-4 encoding format, the audio files are compressed using the AAC formats.
Generally, the user sees the BIFS programs being associated with the files with the MP4. The BIFS refers to the Binary Format for Scenes. The entire framework provided to the execution of the MPEG-4 terminal files is due to the BIFS program. The mp4 files can be easily played through various player programs, just the correct CODEC needs to be downloaded for the same. Otherwise, the player will show an error message. Commonly, the files with the MP4 are played with the Windows Media Player.
The .mp4 are also available online and as an online customer, a user can easily procure and enjoy all the types of audio and video files like songs, video clips, movies; amongst others. It is because the .mp4 extension files allow the streaming over the Internet. This means that these contents can be watched in real time (streaming) over a web-supporting device via the Internet connection. Moreover, these audio and video files with the MP4 can also be downloaded directly from the web into the hard drive. The players with the capability to play the .mp4 can also play the lower version files like those with the extension .mpeg. In fact, among all video extensions available today, .MP4 still remains the most popular, and is one of the reasons nearly all devices can play this video file format.
There are numerous software and programs associated with the .mp4 files. Apart from the Windows Media Player, these files can also be run with the KM Player, Media Player Classic, VLC Media Player, and XBMC Media Center etc. Other software related to the files with this extension are WinX DVD Ripper Platinum, WinX DVD Ripper for Mac, WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe and WinX HD Video Converter for Mac.
Open MP4 File on Windows OS
- Look for an MP4 file you need to open in Windows Explorer and double-click on it
- If the file doesn’t open automatically and you see a “Windows can’t open a file” message then you should search for a program which can open MP4 file
- If you have a program which can open MP4 file installed on your computer then launch that program and select “File” and then “Open” or similar options from its menu to open the MP4 file
- If you don’t have the program installed then you need to try searching for “MP4 wiki”, “how to open MP4 file” in the search engine.
- Once you find the application, install it on your computer
- After the program is installed double-click on the MP4 file to open it
File extensions are used by Windows operating system to specify what kind of information is stored in the file. Every file in Windows OS needs to have file extension and file extensions are used by Windows to determine which application it should use to open the file. Every application installed on Windows OS places information about which extensions it could open into the Windows registry and Windows uses this information to determine which application it should launch when user double-clicks on the file. If application which can open MP4 file is not installed, then Windows will show ‘Windows can’t open MP4 file’ message and buttons to either select an application on the computer which can open the file or to search the web for the application which can open MP4 file.