[macOS] How to Check MacBook Video Codecs and Frame Rates

When editing video files recorded with devices such as smartphones, DSLRs, or camcorders on your MacBook, there may be instances where you need to check the codecs and frame rates of the captured videos.

If you have professional software like Premiere or Final Cut installed, you don’t have to worry about the codecs and can focus on the final output. However, there are times when you need to perform simple tasks or monitor videos temporarily.

To check video frames and view audio and video codecs on your MacBook, you can follow these steps.

Checking Video Frames

To check video frames on macOS, you can utilize QuickTime Player’s video properties.

1. Launch QuickTime Player and open the video for which you want to check the frames.
2. Go to Window > Show Movie Inspector.
   ❕ You can also use the shortcut ⌘ + I to open the movie inspector.
3. Expand the video details in the inspector window.
4. In the Encoded FPS section, you can find the video frames.

Checking Video and Audio Codecs

Checking the codecs used for video encoding on a Mac is simple. You can open the file information to view the details and find the codecs for both video and audio.

1. Right-click on the video file for which you want to check the codecs.
2. Click on Get Info.
3. Expand the additional information in the file information window.
4. In the Codec section, you can find the codecs used for video and audio encoding.