{"id":8807,"date":"2020-01-09T00:59:03","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T00:59:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=8807"},"modified":"2022-01-28T10:14:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T10:14:21","slug":"main-advantages-m4v-file-format","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html","title":{"rendered":"What is M4V and How to Recover Deleted M4V Files"},"content":{"rendered":"

M4V is Apple\u2019s version of the MP4 video and audio file format. Despite the similarity between the file types, there are some key differences between them.<\/p>\r\n

On this page, we\u2019ll explore what M4V files are. Then, we will explain how you can recover deleted M4V files.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>What is the M4V file format?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

M4V files are video containers that Apple uses for videos in their iTunes Store. They are occasionally used in other capacities, but that is by far their primary origin and purpose.<\/p>\r\n

M4V files are very similar to the more common MP4 file format that is used by various platforms across the internet. Both types use the MPEG-4 video container format.<\/p>\r\n

A key difference between the two file types lies in the DRM copyright protection that M4V has. The protection ensures that M4V files can only be played on computers that have authorized access to the account that purchased the video product. Not all M4V files are DRM protected, but the majority are.<\/p>\r\n

M4V files can be played on Apple\u2019s standard player, QuickTime, but also on several other applications that we will discuss in the Programs that Open M4V Files<\/b> section below. Before getting into that, let\u2019s explore how to recover deleted and corrupted M4V files.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>How to Recover Deleted M4V Files<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

People often fear they can never get back their accidentally deleted, corrupted, and lost M4V files, but that is rarely the case. There are several options for getting missing files back after they disappear. The right one will depend partially on how the files were lost in the first place.<\/p>\r\n

The first option that many users think of is visiting a data recovery center to retrieve their files. Such centers exist in most major cities and many towns of all sizes. Many people, however, find that getting to such a center is inconvenient and expensive. So, in the following sections, we\u2019ll provide information on an easier and more affordable alternative.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>How to Recover M4V Files with Software<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Disk Drill is a free software solution that you can download for free from anywhere with an internet connection. It can restore files that have been corrupted and even files that have been lost completely.<\/p>\r\n

Disk Drill is simple to use. Follow the steps below to go through the easy process.<\/p>\r\n

One<\/b>. The first step is to download Disk Drill.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"Disk \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n download-block-title<\/b>
\r\n download-block-text\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/svg>\r\ndownload-block-button-text\r\n<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

Once you have it on your machine, open it as you would any other application. There will be a pop-up window asking if you\u2019d like to allow Disk Drill to make changes to your computer. Click yes<\/b> to initiate the system.<\/p>\r\n

Two<\/b>. The main Disk Drill interface will appear. In the center of that interface will be a list of devices that you can recover from. Choose whichever device has the files you want to restore.<\/p>\r\n

\"Initiating<\/p>\r\n

Some devices will have a gray arrow beside them. Clicking on that arrow will produce a dropdown showing smaller partitions within the device. The benefit of selecting such a narrowed-down option is speed\u2014the scan will go faster with less files to look through.<\/p>\r\n

\"Gray<\/p>\r\n

Three<\/b>. Once you select the device to recover from, a bar will appear reading All recovery methods<\/b>. Below that will be a blue button reading Search for lost data<\/b>. Keep the default All recovery methods<\/b> option selected and hit the blue button.<\/p>\r\n

\"Initiating<\/p>\r\n

Four<\/b>. Disk Drill will now scan the device you selected. It\u2019s looking through all active files as well as all deleted files, which means it will take some time to complete the process despite how fast it works. You can stop the scan at any time and then resume when you\u2019d like, or you can review the found items while the scan continues running in the background.<\/p>\r\n

\"How<\/p>\r\n

Five<\/b>. There are now two options. You can either select the specific file(s) to recover, or you can recover all the files in the selected device as one big batch.<\/p>\r\n

If you prefer selecting specific files, click the checkboxes to the left of the files you want. You can select as many as you\u2019d like. Then, choose Recover<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

\"Selecting<\/p>\r\n

Alternatively, you can recover all the files in the selected device by not checking the boxes beside any specific files and clicking Recover all<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

\"Button<\/p>\r\n

Six<\/b>. Disk Drill will restore your files and ask where you\u2019d like to save them. Choose whichever location you prefer.<\/p>\r\n

Visit the Disk Drill help center or troubleshooting page if you have any problems.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>Recover M4V Files from Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

Files that were simply deleted one time go to the Recycle Bin for Windows users and Mac Trash for Mac users. Recovering files from either of these locations is easy. We explain how in the next two sections.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>How to Recover M4V files from Your Windows Recycle Bin<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

One<\/b>. Find the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and open it.<\/p>\r\n

Two<\/b>. All your recently deleted files will be in the Bin. Find the one that you want to restore and either right-click or double-click on it. Each approach does essentially the same thing, but the interface is a bit different. In both cases, select the Restore<\/b> button.<\/p>\r\n

Double-click Option<\/i><\/p>\r\n

\"Recovering<\/p>\r\n

Right-click Option<\/i><\/p>\r\n

\"Restoring<\/p>\r\n

The system will replace the deleted file to the location it had been deleted from.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>How to Recover M4V Files from Mac Trash<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

One<\/b>. Open the Mac Trash icon.<\/p>\r\n

Two<\/b>. After you find the file you want to restore, control+click or right-click on it. A dropdown menu will appear. Select Put Back<\/b>. Your computer will return the file to the location you deleted it from.<\/p>\r\n

\"Restoring<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>Restore M4V Files from a Recent Files folder<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

The Windows operating system records the files you\u2019ve recently used. More than that, it records previous iterations of working files, meaning that you can restore old versions of the file. This is extremely handy if you accidentally saved over old work.<\/p>\r\n

One<\/b>. To access your Recent Files folder, press Windows + R<\/b>. This will pull up your run dialogue bar.<\/p>\r\n

Two<\/b>. Type the word recent<\/b> into the bar. Then press Ok<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

Three<\/b>. Click on the file that you want to restore. A dropdown menu will appear. Select restore previous versions<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

\"Restoring<\/p>\r\n

Any previous versions of the file will show up. Select the one with the timestamp closest to the version you want to recover. This technique doesn\u2019t always work but is always worth a try.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>How to Open M4V Files on Mac and Windows<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Opening M4V files are simple on Mac devices if you are signed into the authorized account from which the product was purchased. In those cases, simply click and play with QuickTime Player or iTunes.<\/p>\r\n

M4V files that are not DRM copyright protected can sometimes be opened on Windows systems by using an opener such as the Miro or VLC media players. Non-copyright-protected M4V files are also playable on Android operating systems and Palm Pre and Palm Pixi smartphones.<\/p>\r\n

In some cases, you can trick a player by manually changing the file extension from .m4v to .mp4. The effectiveness of this will depend on the player you\u2019re using.<\/p>\r\n

Another option is using a third-party application to open your M4V files. We\u2019ll list a few of those below.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>Programs that Open M4V Files<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

QuickTime<\/b> and iTunes<\/b> play M4V files so long as the user is signed into the account authorized for access. They are standard in Mac systems, so we won\u2019t cover them here. Instead, we\u2019ll go over some other options for those who don\u2019t have a Mac computer and for those simply wanting another option.<\/p>\r\n

K-Multimedia Player<\/b>: First released in 2022, the K-Multimedia Player is a popular option that plays a wide range of file formats, including M4V.<\/p>\r\n

Media Player Classic<\/b>: This free multimedia player works with a wide range of file types, including M4V. It can be used on old computers because it uses so little memory. It\u2019s only available on Windows and is outdated, meaning that it doesn\u2019t have the kind of active support that you get with newer products.<\/p>\r\n

VLC Media Player<\/b>: The VLC Media Player is one of the most widely used video players around. It\u2019s free, open-sourced, and available for both Mac and Windows.<\/p>\r\n

Zoom Player<\/b>: Zoom Player is notable for flexibility and customizability. You can tailor it to your specific needs with a bevy of options. It\u2019s Windows-only, but with QuickTime and iTunes being defaulted Mac players, that\u2019s not likely to negatively affect anyone.<\/p>\r\n

<\/span>Tips to Avoid M4V File Loss<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

🛡️Backfiles up often<\/b>: Backing up files means saving them in at least two different locations. There are many ways to approach this. You can manually save files on two devices, or you can sync your files to a cloud service. Windows and macOS both have various options for this process.<\/p>\r\n

❤️Only use devices and software that you know and trust<\/b>: There\u2019s no worse way to lose your files than losing them to viruses or malware, and there\u2019s no surer way to get viruses or malware than using strange devices and software. Validate anything you come across before connecting it to your computer. If you have no idea where something came from, it\u2019s probably the best option to avoid using it altogether.<\/p>\r\n

💾Save your work often<\/b>: You never want to say that you lost your work because you simply forgot to save. Devise a system to systematize frequent saving or automate it with whatever options are available on the application you\u2019re using. Unsaved files are frequently irretrievable, so this one is particularly important to follow.<\/p>\r\n

🔌Switch to an uninterruptible power supply<\/b>: Power surges are common culprits of file loss and corruption. If a surge hits while you\u2019re transferring data, there\u2019s a good chance that the data will be damaged. An uninterruptible power supply mitigates that threat by steadily feeding your computer electricity even during a power surge.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"M4V is Apple\u2019s version of the MP4 video and audio file format. Despite the similarity between the file types, there are some key differences between them. On this page, we\u2019ll explore what M4V files are. Then, we will explain how…","protected":false},"author":7894,"featured_media":39099,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1759],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8807","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-recovering-file-types-formats"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is M4V File Type & How to Recover Deleted M4V Files<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"M4V is a media format file for distributing videos through iTunes and was developed by Apple. M4V most used for protecting the copyright.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is M4V File Type & How to Recover Deleted M4V Files\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"M4V is a media format file for distributing videos through iTunes and was developed by Apple. M4V most used for protecting the copyright.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"709\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jeff Suwak\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"What is M4V File Type & How to Recover Deleted M4V Files\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"M4V is a media format file for distributing videos through iTunes and was developed by Apple. M4V most used for protecting the copyright.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jeff Suwak\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is M4V File Type & How to Recover Deleted M4V Files","description":"M4V is a media format file for distributing videos through iTunes and was developed by Apple. M4V most used for protecting the copyright.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is M4V File Type & How to Recover Deleted M4V Files","og_description":"M4V is a media format file for distributing videos through iTunes and was developed by Apple. M4V most used for protecting the copyright.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html","og_site_name":"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":709,"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Jeff Suwak","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"What is M4V File Type & How to Recover Deleted M4V Files","twitter_description":"M4V is a media format file for distributing videos through iTunes and was developed by Apple. M4V most used for protecting the copyright.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png","twitter_creator":"@Cleverfiles","twitter_site":"@Cleverfiles","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jeff Suwak","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html"},"author":{"name":"Jeff Suwak","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/1bf22bb2fe82823c1fd95d5f9f0b3779"},"headline":"What is M4V and How to Recover Deleted M4V Files","datePublished":"2020-01-09T00:59:03+00:00","dateModified":"2022-01-28T10:14:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html"},"wordCount":1711,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png","articleSection":["Recovering File Types & Formats"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html","name":"What is M4V File Type & How to Recover Deleted M4V Files","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png","datePublished":"2020-01-09T00:59:03+00:00","dateModified":"2022-01-28T10:14:21+00:00","description":"M4V is a media format file for distributing videos through iTunes and was developed by Apple. M4V most used for protecting the copyright.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/recoverAll-1.png","width":1200,"height":709,"caption":"Button to recover all scanned files in Disk Drill."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-deleted-m4v.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\u0413\u043b\u0430\u0432\u043d\u0430\u044f","item":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/fr\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What is M4V and How to Recover Deleted M4V Files"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/","name":"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization","name":"CleverFiles","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dd-mac-1024-flat.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dd-mac-1024-flat.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"CleverFiles"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/Cleverfiles"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/1bf22bb2fe82823c1fd95d5f9f0b3779","name":"Jeff Suwak","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/cropped-IMG_0489-scaled-1-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/cropped-IMG_0489-scaled-1-96x96.jpg","caption":"Jeff Suwak"},"description":"Jeff Suvak is a writer specializing in technology, computers, data recovery, security, and privacy. With a polished and engaging writing style, he delves into the world of technology to share valuable insights with his readers. Jeff's writing style is truly unique, with a patina that adds a sense of wisdom and experience to his work. He's not just a tech enthusiast; Jeff is passionate about keeping up with technology trends and making his content relevant and up-to-date. As a versatile writer, Jeff writes a wide range of content, from comprehensive guides that break down complex technical concepts to engaging blogs that capture the reader's imagination. Jeff's experience spans a wide range of operating systems, including Windows macOS. His in-depth knowledge and insightful writing shed light on various aspects of these platforms, making them easily understandable to readers from all backgrounds. Whether you're a Windows devotee or an iOS enthusiast, Jeff's content provides valuable insights and helpful tips to help you navigate these operating systems with confidence. Visit Jeff Suwak's personal website at http:\/\/www.beyondthetempestgate.com\/. You're sure to find a treasure trove of technology-related knowledge in his articles.","sameAs":["jeff-suwak-277546124"],"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/author\/jeff-suwak\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7894"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8807"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40876,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8807\/revisions\/40876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}