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Inspiring
August 11, 2025
Answered

Issue Opening MOV Files in Photoshop 2025 (26.9.0) on Mac

  • August 11, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 653 views

Hi, I’m having trouble opening MOV files in Photoshop 2025 (version 26.9.0) on my new computer. After getting the new setup from IT and installing Photoshop, I tried to open a video file, but I received the following error message: “Could not open 'Test.mov' because the video file could not be opened.”

Here are the details of my system:

  • MacBook Pro
  • Apple M4 Pro
  • MacOS Sequoia 15.6
  • Photoshop version 26.9.0

Any help or guidance you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

Correct answer Wailam Pan

Thats definitely odd. I'm on an M2 Macbook Pro and current PS build and can open .mov files without issue. If the issue persists you should have Media Encoder available to convert to mp4. 


Hi everyone, once I enabled full disk access and granted permissions to Photoshop, I was able to open videos in Photoshop again. Thanks for everyone’s help.

3 replies

Legend
August 12, 2025

MOV opens on the old computer, not the new. What immediately came to mind is how the file that worked on the old computer got to the new computer. Something in the transfer corrupted the file. Whichever way you used, use another way and get another copy to the new computer.

 

You could also get the MOV back to the old computer to see if it still opens on the old computer.

If the original MOV opens on the old computer, that points to something wrong with the new computer.

If the original MOV doesn't open on the old computer, that points to something wrong with the transfer method.

 

Larry
Inspiring
August 12, 2025

Hi @LAMY2017, Thanks for the suggestion! I copied the old MOV back to the old computer, and it still opens there—so it looks like the issue is with the new computer.


After that, I tried this and it seems to have solved my issue: Go to Photoshop > Settings > Performance, then turn off 'Use Graphics Processor'.

Legend
August 12, 2025

I imagined the new computer would be more capable. Good find on the setting.

 

Larry
Legend
August 11, 2025

Does it play in QuickTime Player? Load in iMovie? You may be able to transcode it using iMovie, Handbrake, VLC, etc to a different format that Photoshop can read.

Inspiring
August 11, 2025

Hi @ExUSAYes, it does open in QuickTime Player and iMovie, but I used to be able to open the same MOV file in Photoshop on my old Mac. Now, it’s not working anymore.

Kevin Stohlmeyer
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 11, 2025

Hi @Wailam Pan is the file local on your HD? If not try dragging to the local drive first then opening in PS. 

Inspiring
August 11, 2025

Hi @Kevin StohlmeyerYes, the file is local on my hard drive. I’ve tried opening it in Photoshop, but it still isn’t working.