How to View MP4 Videos on an iPhone or iPad (4 Free Options)

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Quick and easy ways to watch MP4 files on your Apple device
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This wikiHow teaches you how to open an MP4 file on iPhone and iPad. MP4 is a common video format, used on all devices. You can open videos using the Files or Photos apps, or use a third-party media player like VLC. We’ll also explain how to open MP4s sent to your device over email or text.

Quick Steps

  1. Save the MP4 file to your storage or iCloud.
  2. Open the Files app.
  3. Tap the location where you saved the file.
  4. Tap the video to open it and start playing.
Section 1 of 5:

Can you view MP4 files on Apple devices?

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  1. MP4 is one of the most common video formats, and it’s closely related to the QuickTime format, which was created by Apple. Your iOS devices should have no trouble opening and playing MP4s, either with native apps like Files or Photos, or with third-party media players like VLC. There’s no need to convert your files to another format before viewing them.
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Section 2 of 5:

Using the Files App

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  1. There are several ways you can transfer an MP4 file to your iPhone or iPad. Upload the file to the iCloud account associated with your iPhone or iPad, or transfer it to your device from a computer using Finder (or iTunes, if you have a Windows PC).
    • You can also send it to your iPhone or iPad from another Apple device using AirDrop, but this will send the file directly to your Photos app .
    • Read "How to Save MP4 Files to an iPhone" to learn more about how to transfer MP4 files to your iPhone or iPad.
    • You can also save the files to other cloud-based storage services, such as Google Drive and Dropbox. To access these services from your iPhone or iPad, download the cloud storage app from the App Store, and sign in to the app.
  2. This is the native file manager app that comes with your iPhone or iPad. You might find it on one of your Home Screens or in the App Library.
    • If the file is saved to a different cloud drive, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, tap that app on your Home Screen to access your file.
      • If you have a third-party cloud service synced to Files, you can also access the contents of that cloud service from within Files, under the Locations header in the Browse menu. Check out this guide form Apple to learn more.
  3. This tab is located at the bottom right side of the screen in the Files app. Tap it to open a menu of locations on your iPhone or iPad.
    • If Browse takes you to a specific location (like your Downloads folder) instead of the main menu, tap Browse in the top left corner of the screen to go back.
  4. For example, if it is saved to your iPhone or iPad storage, tap On My iPhone/iPad . If it is saved to your iCloud drive, tap iCloud Drive .
  5. If the file is saved to a specific folder, tap that folder to view its contents. Otherwise, scroll up and down to view all the files in the storage drive.
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    Brandon Phipps

    Technology Specialist
    Brandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions.
    Brandon Phipps
    Technology Specialist

    The MP4 file format is the international standard for video files across various applications and platforms. This file format is widely preferred due to its remarkable compression capabilities, allowing for smaller video files.

  6. This opens the file in the standard media player for iPhone and iPad.
    • If your file is stored in iCloud, you may need to wait a moment for it to download to your device before it can play.
  7. If the video doesn’t start playing automatically, you can start it by tapping the Play icon. This is the triangle shaped button in the center of the video. Tapping it plays the video in full screen mode.
    • If you don’t see the button, tap the center of the video to reveal it.
    • Tap the center of the screen during play to display the pause button and other controls.
    • Drag the timeline at the bottom of the screen to skip to a specific part of the video.
    • From this menu, you can also rotate the video, edit it, share it, or save it to your Photos app.
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Section 3 of 5:

Using the Photos App

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  1. There are several ways to save an MP4 file to Photos on your iPhone or iPad. For example:
    • AirDrop the video to your iPhone or iPad from a Mac or another iOS device to save it directly to Photos.
    • Tap the Download icon next to the video if you got it in a text.
    • If the video is saved somewhere in your Files app (e.g., in your iCloud Drive folder or your Downloads folder), open the video in the Files app , then tap the Share icon below the video. Then, tap Save Video .
      • If you don’t see the video in your main Photos library after using this method, scroll down and check in Recent Days or Recently Saved .
  2. Open Photos and navigate to your video, then tap it. If it doesn’t start playing automatically, tap the Play button below the video to start it.
    • Use the controls below the video in the Photos app to skip around in the timeline and turn the sound on or off.
    • From this screen, you can also share, edit, or delete the video.
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Section 4 of 5:

Using VLC Media Player

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  1. If you want to watch longer MP4 videos on your iPhone or iPad, you might find it easier to use a third-party media player app. While there are several apps you can use for this, VLC is one of the most popular—and it’s completely free.
    • Other highly rated options include KMPlayer (free) and Infuse (both free and subscription-based versions available).
  2. When you first launch VLC on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll see a screen that says “Empty Media Library” when you go to the Video tab. Tap the Network tab at the bottom of the screen to view options for importing and viewing MP4 files.
  3. The correct option depends on whether your MP4 file is stored on your iPhone or iPad, or if it’s saved in some other location, such as a cloud service.
    • If the video is saved on your device, tap Local files . This will open the Files app, where you can browse for your video.
    • Tap Cloud Services to open the cloud service where your video is saved (e.g., iCloud or Dropbox). You may need to log in to your selected service.
    • You can also connect to a stream to view a video without downloading it, or use the Downloads option to download the file to your device from a server.
  4. You can select multiple video files or just one. Once you’ve made your selection, tap Open in the top right corner of the screen. The file will open and begin playing in VLC.
    • Once you open the video, it should begin playing automatically.
    • Tap the screen to open a menu of controls. You can do things like skip around in the timeline, turn on subtitles (if they’re available), and change the aspect ratio of your video.
    • Tap the ••• button to see a list of more advanced options (such as changing the playback speed, adding filters, or adding bookmarks at specific points in the timeline).
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Section 5 of 5:

Opening an MP4 from an Email or Text

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  1. If someone sent you an MP4 file over email or text, simply tap on the attachment to start playing it. It will open and play within the app where you received it.
    • This will play the video without downloading it to your Photos app.
  2. Depending on which app you’re using, the steps for accessing this option may vary slightly.
    • In Apple Mail, you’ll see this button to the right of the video attachment in your message. Tap it to see a menu of options, then browse for a location where you’d like to save the MP4 (e.g., in Files or in iCloud).
    • In Gmail, tap the MP4 to open it, then tap thebutton at the top of the screen. Open Photos and look for the video in Recent Days or Recently Saved .
      • You can also tap the Share button to open the video in another app, such as VLC Media Player.
    • In the Messages app, tap and hold the video to see a menu of options. Tap Save to save the video to your Photos app.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Save the video file to your device storate, or iCloud.
      2. Open the Files app.
      3. Navigate to the video file.
      4. Tap the video file to open it.

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