mpv for MAC
Free, open-source media player that plays almost any video or audio file, with high-quality GPU rendering and scripting.
mpv Overview
mpv is a free, lightweight media player that plays almost any video and audio format, from MP4 and MKV to HEVC, AV1 and HDR video. It focuses on picture quality and speed: video is rendered on the GPU with the libplacebo engine, with high-quality scaling, colour management and HDR tone mapping. mpv has a minimal on-screen controller instead of a big window full of buttons, and is mostly controlled with the keyboard and mouse. It is so capable that other Mac players, such as IINA, are built on top of it.
mpv is free and open source, licensed under the GPL version 2 or later. Its own GitHub releases include Mac builds: the Apple Silicon build needs macOS 14 or later and the Intel build macOS 15 or later. mpv can also be installed with Homebrew (as a command-line player) or from third-party builds listed on mpv.io.
Key Features
mpv gives you a fast player that you can shape exactly the way you want.
- Plays almost anything: nearly every video and audio format and codec, through FFmpeg.
- High-quality video: GPU rendering with libplacebo, advanced scaling and HDR tone mapping.
- Hardware decoding: smooth playback of high-resolution video with low power use.
- Subtitles: full support for ASS, SRT and embedded subtitles, with styling options.
- Streaming: play online videos directly, using yt-dlp.
- Keyboard control: every action has a shortcut, and all of them can be changed.
- Scripting: extend mpv with Lua and JavaScript scripts, such as the new right-click menu.
- Configuration: plain-text config files for profiles, shaders and per-file settings.
What’s New in Version 0.41.0
mpv 0.41 brings a new default renderer and a right-click menu.
- The libplacebo-based gpu-next renderer is now the default
- Vulkan hardware decoding is preferred over other methods
- New context menu script for right-click menus
- Improved default colour management
- An on-screen indicator while a file is buffering or loading
mpv FAQ
Is mpv free?
Yes. mpv is free and open source, licensed under the GPL version 2 or later.
Which macOS version does mpv need?
The official Mac builds of mpv 0.41 need macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon and macOS 15 or later on Intel Macs. Third-party builds and Homebrew may support other versions.
Why does mpv have no big window with buttons?
mpv is minimal by design. It shows a small on-screen controller when you move the mouse, and everything else is done with keyboard shortcuts or the right-click menu.
What is the difference between mpv and IINA?
IINA is a Mac-style player built on top of mpv. It adds a native macOS interface, while mpv itself is the lighter, more configurable engine.
Can mpv play YouTube videos?
Yes, if yt-dlp is installed. Then you can open a video page address in mpv and it streams the video.
Does mpv support HDR video?
Yes. mpv renders HDR video with tone mapping, so it looks right on both HDR and normal screens.
How do I change mpv's settings?
mpv uses plain-text files: mpv.conf for options and input.conf for keyboard shortcuts, in the ~/.config/mpv folder.
Can I install mpv with Homebrew?
Yes. brew install mpv installs mpv as a command-line player; Homebrew's version has no Mac app bundle.
Who makes mpv?
mpv is developed by a team of volunteers. It started as a fork of mplayer2, itself a fork of MPlayer.
Where does the mpv download on mpv.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official mpv releases on GitHub at https://github.com/mpv-player/mpv/releases/latest. mpv.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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