Unable to view newer .MOV video files on Fedora 41

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1

Problem

In my case, with latest VLC version on Fedora 41 intel x64, I get the error:
'Your input can’t be opened:
VLC is unable to open the MRL ‘file:///shared/IMG_4608.MOV’. Check the log for details."

Apparently, it only happens with newer .mov files from iphone 12, with IOS 17.6.1. Another video in .mov format, from Same iphone but made back in Dec 2023 works just fine.

no idea where VLC saves the log file; ‘which’ isn’t helpful.

I have had this issue since I bought this new laptop with Fedora 41 intel x64 on it, so it never worked.
It’s not just VLC having this issue, all other software for video’s have same issue, however, I am using VLC for a decade and it has the reputation to be able to view virtually anything, but apparently not on Fedora Linux.
the Default Video app of Fedora gives a message about a codec missing, but I tried installing it, with same result.

Screenshot From 2025-02-10 15-32-38
Screenshot From 2025-02-10 15-32-381206×336 30.8 KB

Screenshot From 2025-02-10 15-33-17
Screenshot From 2025-02-10 15-33-172644×1844 129 KB

I have been reading of people having same issue on different versions of Fedora, some unresolved some resolved, but all possible solution I viewed have been tried, I have installed all rpm’s , libraries which are supposed to be required, but obvously I am missing some sort of codecs for Apple’s new .mov files requirements…

any advice is appreciated.
Nico.

Top

Cause

Not yet known.

Related Issues

Bugzilla report: #NNNN

Workarounds

None yet.

4

MOV is not a movie format. It is a container for movies in many formats.

You will need to find out what the movie format is with in the .mov container.

5

use mediainfo to find out which codec was used to encode the video

@moderators why is this a wiki post?

6

Unwiki’ed

2 Likes
7

Because it was created in Proposed Common Issues , although the template clearly instructs people to use Ask Fedora instead.

8

I’m surprised new users are allowed to do this.

9

So far I’ve wanted anyone to be able to propose a new common issue. Unfortunately there’s some percentage of people who don’t read the instructions, so it might need to change.

10

The percentage is small enough to leave everything as-is, IMHO. moving a topic from Proposed Common Issues to Ask Fedora is just one click, and we need to assume that this is not done intentionally or bad intentions in mind.

1 Like
11

@mix75
I am not 100% sure but I think older iOS used H.264 coded and newer versions use HVEC (H.265).

Follow Howto/Multimedia - RPM Fusion to install the necessary codecs from rpmfusion.

12

That sounds likely.

13

does this help to figure out what codec I might be missing?

Screenshot From 2025-02-11 19-12-06
Screenshot From 2025-02-11 19-12-062004×1000 258 KB

14

here is a larger .mov file;

Screenshot From 2025-02-11 19-15-00
Screenshot From 2025-02-11 19-15-002004×1000 273 KB

and this is the one which is opening fine from last year:

Screenshot From 2025-02-11 19-15-47
Screenshot From 2025-02-11 19-15-472004×1000 255 KB

15

pls read Flo’s 2nd post.

16

I am not installing anything which guesses what I need. I have already installed a million codecs and did not help. is there a way to find out what Fedora lacks for this video file or not?

17

It’s not a guess.
the images you’ve posted confirm it!

Alternatively you could try to force your phone to use the older video codec instead of hevc(x265) . I don’t know if it’s possible though.

18

and where do you see that confirmation in my screenshots? I can’t see anywhere the H.265

19

google it! :slight_smile:
HEVC=h265

20

I don’t use google and you can just be as clear as possible in the reply, no need to be mystic or cool. it’s not actually. but thanks for the info…

1 Like
21

You must surely know that ‘google it!’ is a synonym for ‘use your favorite search engine’.

22

Did you use rpmfusion codecs ? Configuration - RPM Fusion to enable repos free and non-free after that follow exactly Howto/Multimedia - RPM Fusion don’t skip first step to swap ffmpeg that will give needed codecs to vlc