This post from MiniTool MovieMaker (one of the best free video editing software) will give you a brief introduction to Apple ProRes and explains how to play Apple ProRes on PC.
What Is Apple ProRes
Before learning how to play Apple ProRes on PC, let’s first understand Apple ProRes files.
ProRes is a family of high-quality lossy video codecs developed by Apple. This video compression format is intended for use in video editing because of its flexibility, color grading performance, and high-quality compression.
In addition, ProRes is widely used by many cameras, such as Sony, Canon, Blackmagic, and now iPhone cameras, as this coding format minimizes file size while maintaining image quality. Apple ProRes videos are saved in MOV container format.
ProRes is supported by many Apple devices, such as iPhone 13, 14, and 15, and Mac with Mac OS X 10.6 and later. Therefore, you can easily play and edit ProRes files in supported apps on these devices, such as the Photos app, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, etc. But, how to play Apple ProRes on Windows 11/10? Please read on.
How to Play Apple ProRes on PC
When you try to open an Apple ProRes video using Movies & TV, Media Player, or Photos on Windows, you’ll be told that the video can’t be played because Windows doesn’t support the ProRes codec. So, how to play Apple ProRes on PC? Here are 2 solutions for you.
Way 1: Use MiniTool MovieMaker to Play Apple ProRes on Windows 11/10
MiniTool MovieMaker is a video editor without watermarks designed to help everyone edit and create high-quality videos with images, video clips, and music. It supports many popular video file types and codecs, such as MOV, MP4, MKV, Apple ProRes codecs, AV1, HEVC, H.264, and more. So, if you want a ProRes player for Windows, MiniTool MovieMaker is a good choice.
Use MiniTool MovieMaker for free on your PC and view your ProRes footage instantly without downloading ProRes codec for Windows 11/10.
Here’s how to Play Apple ProRes on Windows 11/10 PCs using MiniTool MovieMaker.
Step 1. Click the button below to download MiniTool MovieMaker.
MiniTool MovieMakerClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 2. Open this app after installation and close the promotion window to enter the main interface.
Step 3. Click the Import Media Files button to import your ProRes video from your PC. Click the + icon on the clip or drag and drop it to the timeline. Then, click the Play button to start viewing the video. You can click the Full Screen icon to play the ProRes video on a larger screen.
Additionally, you can edit your ProRes videos in MiniTool MovieMaker. Trim, split, crop, rotate, flip, and reverse videos, add text, apply transitions and filters, adjust the clip’s color, spice up your videos with stickers, and more. Then, you can export your ProRes video to MP4, MOV, MKV, WMV, AVI, and other common video formats for easy sharing or playback on more media players.
Way 2: Convert Apple ProRes to MP4 H.264
Additionally, you can use a professional video converter to transcode Apple ProRes files to MP4 H.264 (MP4 files encoded using H.264 are currently the most widely accepted video format), WMV, and additional video formats supported by Windows 11/10 built-in media player.
MiniTool Video Converter is a free video converter without watermarks that enables you to convert ProRes, MXF, AV1, and many other files to MP4 and 1,000+ formats by customizing video/audio parameters. The app’s batch conversion feature lets you convert up to 5 files simultaneously.
Moreover, since ProRes files are up to 30 times larger than HEVC files, you can use MiniTool Video Converter to compress GBs of 8K/5K/4K ProRes videos into smaller sizes for storage and management.
MiniTool Video ConverterClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 1. Download, install, and open MiniTool Video Converter.
Step 2. Under the Video Convert tab, click the area saying Add or Drag file here to start conversion to import your ProRes video. Then, click the Edit icon in the Target box to open the output window.
Step 3. Go to the Video tab, select MP4, choose a preset, or click + Create Custom to create a custom MP4 format.
Step 4. Click the Convert button to start the Pros to MP4 conversion task.
Download ProRes codec for Windows 10
To help process video in the ProRes codec on Windows PCs, Apple has released Apple ProRes RAW for Windows 10. This codec is compatible with Windows 10 64-bit PCs.
Download Apple ProRes RAW for Windows 1.3: https://support.apple.com/en-us/106401
However, after installing this codec on Windows 10, you still cannot play ProRes videos using Movies & TV, Photos, Windows Media Player, etc. It only allows you to play ProRes files on Windows 10 64-bit PCs using the following applications:
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Media Encoder
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe Premiere Rush
Conclusion
If you want to play Apple ProRes on Windows 11/10, you don’t need to get Apple ProRes RAW for Windows 1.3. MiniTool MovieMaker can open ProRes videos without installing any codecs. This application also helps you edit ProRes videos. Also, use MiniTool Video Converter to convert ProRes for better compatibility.
With the release of the iPhone 12 Pro last year, Apple introduced a new image codec called Apple ProRAW for professional users who want to do more with their images. And this year, with the iPhone 13 Pro launch, the company has brought Apple ProRes codec for advanced video processing on computers. While MacBooks support both codecs, Windows computers didn’t have the required proprietary codecs to view these images and videos until recently. And now, with the latest iCloud for Windows update, Apple has introduced support for ProRAW and ProRes formats on Windows. Yes, you can now view Apple ProRAW and ProRes media files on your Windows 10 and 11 PCs. Here is how to go about it.
We have detailed how you can view Apple ProRAW and ProRes media files on Windows 10, 11, 7, and 8 in this article. Along with that, we have provided a brief explainer on what is Apple ProRAW and ProRes.
What is Apple ProRAW?
To bring pro-level photography on iPhone, Apple introduced ProRAW with iPhone 12 Pro. You can capture images in Apple ProRAW, along with other formats like HEIF and JPEG, on your iPhone.
Apple ProRAW stores image information in a 12-bit DNG file just like the standard RAW format that we have on DSLRs. In essence, the ProRAW format is not much different from the standard RAW format. The difference here is that Apple also stores information from its computational image processing such as Smart HDR, Deep Fusion, and Night mode.
So while editing the image, you will have much wider controls to tune the image according to your preference. You will be able to adjust exposure, color, dynamic range, and white balance with ease. Keep in mind that if you are shooting in Apple ProRAW, the DNG file size will be 10x more than JPEG or HEIF.
What is Apple ProRes?
Just like Apple ProRAW is for images, Apple ProRes is for videos. It’s a proprietary video codec developed by Apple that allows you to encode videos with a vast amount of information at reduced storage and supports video resolution up to 8K. If you want to edit videos in post-production, you should shoot videos in Apple ProRes. Naturally, the file size will be much higher than your standard HEVC or MPEG media formats.
That’s why you need iPhone 13 Pro/ Pro Max with at least 256GB of storage to take advantage of Apple ProRes at 4K 30FPS. The best part about Apple ProRes is that it’s not only faster at encoding but can decode videos at the same speed, which is a primary issue with other video codecs. To sum up, if you are someone who wants to shoot professional-looking videos on your iPhone, Apple ProRes will let you edit videos in post-production with much wider controls.
Open Apple ProRAW and ProRes Media Files on Windows 10/ 11
1. First of all, open the Microsoft Store and search for iCloud. You can also directly install the iCloud app (Free) from the link here.
2. If you are already using the iCloud app, make sure to update it from the Microsoft Store. Windows 7 and 8 users can also download the offline setup file directly from here.
3. Next, open the iCloud app and sign in with your Apple ID. This step will automatically install the codecs required to view Apple ProRAW and ProRes images and videos on your Windows 11/ 10 PC.
4. To give you all an example, I am able to view an Apple ProRAW image on my Windows 11 computer without requiring any image or video extension. So that is how you can view Apple ProRAW and ProRes media files on Windows 10, 11, and older versions like Windows 7 and 8 with ease.
5. If you are still unable to view Apple ProRAW and ProRes media files, go ahead and install the RAW Image extension (Free) by Microsoft. That should fix the issue.
Access Original Apple ProRAW and ProRes Files on Windows PC
So that is how you can view DNG and MOV files encoded with Apple ProRAW and ProRes codes on your Windows computers. In my brief testing, Windows 11 and 10 already had the required extension to open the ProRAW images using the native Microsoft Photos app. However, ProRes videos were not working, but they started playing through the QuickTime player once we installed the latest iCloud app. Anyway, that is all from us. If you want to open HEIC, HEIF, and HEVC files on Windows 10, follow our linked guide. And if you have any questions, let us know in the comments section below.
The Apple ProRes QuickTime Decoder for Windows allows Apple ProRes files to be played back under the Windows operating system. System requirements for version 1.0 suggest using Windows XP (SP2) or a later OS version along with QuickTime version 7.5 or later.
How do I open a ProRes file?
Answer: Just download VLC from its official site. After installation, launch it and go through Media > Open File to locate your ProRes video. No extra software is required to play ProRes video in Windows, Mac and Linux.
Can a ProRes be MP4?
ProRes4444 is a file format made for professional video. … Unless you are a pro you won’t notice the difference in quality and the file sizes are much smaller. Another reason to use MP4 is that it’s more compatible. ProRes requires that QuickTime be installed on your editing computer.
Why is ProRes better than H 264?
H. 264 offers a high compression ratio, and therefore the files are small in size that uses less space on your storage devices. … Limited Colors – H264 is an 8-bit codec. This means, as compared to ProRes, H264 files have fewer color grading options while working with post-production software.
What is 4K ProRes?
Shooting 4K ProRes Video Requires iPhone 13 Pro With at Least 256GB Storage. … Aimed at professionals, the ProRes codec offers higher color fidelity and less compression, and it is often used for commercials, feature films, and TV broadcasts.
Is ProRes raw good?
ProRes RAW is an exciting and relatively new video format, but it brings with it an almost endless number of questions. I will start off by saying that it is well worth the effort since raw video can offer increased dynamic range and detail than standard formats.
Is ProRes editable?
Overview. ProRes is a line of intermediate codecs, which means they are intended for use during video editing, and not for practical end-user viewing. This is achieved by only using intra-frame compression, where each frame is stored independently and can be decoded with no dependencies on other frames.
How does ProRes raw work?
With ProRes RAW, you can import, edit, and grade video with RAW data straight from your camera sensor — without slowing down your edit. ProRes RAW also provides maximum flexibility for adjusting the look of your video while extending brightness and shadows.
Is DNxHD better than ProRes?
ProRes codecs are all 10-bit 422 as is DNxHD 220x but lower bit rate DNxHD codecs are 8-bit 422 architectures. … For most applications ProRes or DNxHD will provide enough image information and latitude to facilitate an efficient workflow with visually lossless images.
Is ProRes 422 better than h264?
Yes, ProRes 422 is vastly better than any H. 264 for possible quality though much bigger in file size. On a PC, the Cineform 10-bit YUV or DNXHD/R options are both quite high in quality.
Can you edit ProRes raw on PC?
Earlier this year, Adobe started selectively supporting ProRes Raw, but only for Windows users running Nvidia GPUs. With this new update, both macOS and Windows users will be able to edit ProRes Raw video regardless of what system or GPU your computer has packed inside.
Does resolve support ProRes raw?
ProRes RAW is not supported in Resolve, and we do not know if it ever will be.
What is ProRes 422 HQ?
Apple ProRes 422 HQ is a higher-data-rate version of Apple ProRes 422 that preserves visual quality at the same high level as Apple ProRes 4444 but for 4:2:2 image sources. … The target data rate is approximately 220 Mbps at 1920×1080 and 29.97 fps.
Which version of ProRes should I use?
ProRes 422 is the best choice for: All 8-bit video formats (including AVCHD, H. 264, MPEG-4, DV, DVCPro) I would also recommend it for DigiBeta files as well.
Can you edit ProRes on Windows?
The company released beta software that lets Windows editors work with ProRes RAW files in Adobe’s Premiere Pro, After Effects and Media Encoder. This means they won’t have to devote time or computing power to transcoding the files — they can simply load them into their editing suite and get to work.
Is ProRes RAW log?
With the RAW to Log Conversion setting applied, ProRes RAW files behave just like conventional log video and can be edited the same way.
Is ProRes 422 HQ RAW?
ProRes RAW sits between ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 HQ in terms of file sizes and ProRes RAW HQ sits between ProRes 422 HQ and ProRes 4444. So if you work with ProRes 422 HQ, then the file sizes will be very similar to what you’re already used to.
What data rate is 4K?
For standard definition (SD) streaming you’ll need at least an average speed of 3Mbps, for HD 5-8Mbps and for 4K UHD you’ll need 25Mbps minimum, but we recommend a connection of 50Mbps to cover all scenarios (live 4K broadcasts require more speed, for example).
Is ProRes RAW 444?
And, to consider the ProRes aspect of ProRes RAW, standard ProRes RAW has rate that sits between 422 and 422 HQ while HQ is between 422 HQ and 444. … Another benefit is that ProRes RAW wraps all the image data, audio, and metadata into a single file, making it easy to organize and manage in large projects.
Is 4K better than 1080P?
As their names imply, 4K UHD has a considerably higher resolution than 1080P HD video. 4K resolution is exactly 3840 x 2160 pixels, whilst 1080P consists of 1920 x 1080 pixels. … This massive difference brings about some important advantages for 4K when one compares it to the quality of a 1080P video.
Is there a way to get the ProRes codec on a Windows PC? If for any reason you need ProRes codec on Windows, you may wish to read this post. It explains a workaround to create ProRes codec for a Windows based computer.
Where can I download ProRes codec for Windows?
“Hi wise people, is it possible to install Apple ProRes codec on my Windows PC? I just switched from a MacBook Pro to a Dell Windows computer and I’m trying to find a way to do this. Unfortunately, I can’t see an option to download. Can anyone help please? Thanks in advance.”
As a matter of fact, Apple does not support the creation of Apple ProRes files on a Windows PC. If you persist in doing this, a few companies have tried to reverse-engineer the codec and offer a method of doing it. That means, it is possible to re-encode your on-hand videos to Apple ProRes via using such a converter app. Check a step by step instruction on how to generate ProRes codec on a Windows machine.
How to create ProRes codec for Windows?
Here’s what you need
HD Video Converter
To transcode videos to ProRes on Windows, follow these steps:
Step 1: Import source files into this program
Launch HD Video Converter for Windows and click “Add File” to load your Premiere output into this program.
Step 2: Select ProRes as target format
Click “Profile” to select a ProRes codec as output format under “General Video” catalogue. (See the screenshot above)
Tips:
If necessary, you can click “Settings” button to modify video and audio parameters like encoder, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, aspect ratio, sample rate, and audio channels. You can also “Enable 3D Settings” to add 3D effect to your source media.
Step 3: Start file conversion
Click “Convert” to start videos to ProRes conversion on a Windows PC.
As soon as the conversion is complete, click “Open Folder” to get the generated ProRes .mov files on your Windows machine. Hope it helps solve your problem.
Also read
How to output WebM in FCP X?
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[Solved]4K video stutters/lags a lot on my Windows PC
Apple ProRes is one of the most popular video codecs used today in the film and television industry and with good reason; the quality is fantastic, the file sizes are manageable, and the ease of use for macOS users to view ProRes files in QuickLook or Quicktime. Recently Apple ProRes compatibility for Windows PC users has been greatly expanded, with Windows being able to read and write ProRes in several pieces of software. Check out our ProRes for Windows workflow below.
Decoding (playback)
If you only need to playback ProRes files but not write them, there are two good free solutions. The first is the VLC player. VLC is something of a Swiss-Army Knife when it comes to playing back video and audio files.
Another option is DaVinci Resolve which is a suite of full-blown video editing and color correction software. Now, this may exceed your needs, but it is a free solution and can playback other popular video files such as RED camera files, H264, H265, and even MKV. DaVinci Resolve on Windows cannot save ProRes files. Programs that can save ProRes on Windows are next on our list.
To view ProRes files in DaVinci Resolve, click on the Media tab along the bottom of the interface. Navigate to where your ProRes clips are saved in the Media Storage panel. Note that this panel can also see connected hard drives, networks, and camera cards. If you need full-screen playback in a pinch, the keyboard shortcut is “P” for… pinch? I’m not sure why “P” but that’s full-screen! Press “P” again to exit full-screen.
Encoding (writing)
The Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Premiere Pro, Media Encoder, and After Effects can now natively read and write Apple ProRes on Windows thanks to a recent update. You will need an active subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud to access these features.
Adobe Premiere
I have some edited videos in a timeline and would like to export this content as a ProRes QuickTime MOV. To save Apple ProRes files out of Adobe Premiere Pro:
- Click on the timeline panel to ensure it is selected.
- Select Menubar > File > Export > Media.
- Under Export Settings choose QuickTime.
- Under Preset choose Apple ProRes 422.
I chose ProRes 422 since it is a good catch-all setting and is ideal if filming was done on a DSLR, GoPro, or mirrorless camera. There are other presets which have special use-cases but for most projects, they are unnecessarily large.
Adobe Media Encoder
Media Encoder is a great choice to convert multiple pieces of video at once. Often, files like H265 can be too difficult for some computers to play back smoothly, and so the Editor will want to convert them to ProRes for efficiency. Media Encoder presets are the exact same as Premiere Pro:
- Bring the files you which to convert into the Render Queue.
- Select QuickTime from the Export Settings column.
- Select Apple ProRes 422 from the Preset column.
- Click output file to set the destination for the render.
Adobe After Effects
Apple ProRes can be particularly useful for After Effects artists as the format can save transparency information. In this animated title, the background is not really black, it’s see-thru. Let’s save it with transparency enabled so we can drop it into Premiere Pro for the edit. Follow these steps:
- Select Menubar > Composition > Add to Render Queue.
- Adjust the Output Module by clicking High Quality.
- Format Options…
- Select Video Codec: Apple ProRes 4444.
- Change Video Output > Channels to RGB + Alpha.
- Ensure Depth is Millions of Colors+.
- Specify an Output Path.
Now with my animation rendered, the transparency information is preserved. I can drop this clip straight into an editor like Premiere Pro and immediately see the results.
Avid Media Composer
Avid Media Composer, widely popular among feature film and newsroom editors around the world, can also decode and encode ProRes on the Windows platform. Avid also looks a lot prettier these days with a recent UI refresh. There are two ways to interact with the ProRes codec. The first is to change the default import settings to ProRes—this part is optional. But, when importing media you can transcode to ProRes straight away by selecting:
- Menubar > Edit > Preferences
- Project
- Media Creation
- Import
- Apple ProRes and the compression type from the pulldown (Note: ProRes 422, sometimes simply called ProRes, is a good catch-all setting if you are unsure.)
Finally, click “Apply to all.” Now, any media created inside Avid will be in this codec.
Alternatively, we can export standalone ProRes video files from Media Composer. To do this:
- Select Menubar > File > Output > Export to File.
- Open the Options Panel.
- Export As: MOV.
- Change Codec Family to Apple ProRes.
- Change Compression to Apple ProRes 422.
Recent additions
A few other video editing platforms have very recently added Apple ProRes encode support on Windows, these include Magix Vegas, Lightworks Pro, and Edius X.
Fake ProRes beware
It’s worth noting that there are some suspicious software packages available that promise ProRes encode on Windows, and will usually cost a few dollars. These suites are nothing new and are usually referred to as FFMPEG ProRes encodes. FFMPEG ProRes is a method of using open source tools to reverse engineer the codec.
The main issue with using FFMPEG ProRes is how metadata gets written in the video. One of the first lines of metadata in an Apple Approved ProRes file will state this, whereas the FFMPEG version will not. The best-case scenario is this won’t be a problem, but the worst-case scenario is a client could reject your film or television program because it doesn’t meet the criteria during a technical inspection. For safety, I recommend sticking with the list of software packages above.
Did I miss anything? Care to share your favorite Windows encoding workflow? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear it!
- How to Get Started with Video Editing: A Beginners’ Guide
- Which Video Codec is Right for Me?
- How to Make Your Videos as Small as Possible Without Losing Quality
- Software Shootout: Final Cut Pro vs. Premiere Pro vs. DaVinci Resolve
Over the past fifteen years, Arthur Ditner has worked in post-production in a variety of roles including colorist, editor, and dailies producer. He has had the pleasure of working with some of the top directorial talent in Canada, and has traveled the United States building remote dailies labs supporting network television series. He plays bass guitar on occasion and resides near Toronto.