MotionShineShort answer: in QuickTime Player, open the video, choose View > Loop so a checkmark appears, then press Play. That is Apple's own method. It repeats the video while you watch, but it does not change the file. To save the repeats into one longer video, use the free loop video tool.
Apple facts are from Apple Support's QuickTime Player pages, checked on 24 October 2026.
Loop a video in QuickTime Player
Apple's steps:
- Open the video or audio file in QuickTime Player.
- Choose View > Loop. A checkmark appears next to it.
- Click the Play button.
To stop looping, choose View > Loop again and the checkmark goes away. Apple's keyboard shortcuts page lists Option-Command-L for looping a movie.
This is for watching. If you send the file to someone, it plays once for them.
Save the loop as one longer file
When you need the repeats inside the file, for a background video, a demo on a screen or a social post, use the free loop video tool. It runs in your browser.
- Drop in a .mov, .mp4, .webm or .mkv file.
- Pick Times and tap 2x up to 20x, or type any number up to 500. Or pick To a length and type a time such as 1:00.
- Choose to keep or remove the sound.
- Play the result, then click Download the looped video.
The tool's page says the picture is copied, not re-encoded, so there is no quality loss, and that nothing is uploaded. It also says the file grows with the count. Its own example: a 20 second clip played 5 times becomes one video of 1 minute 40 seconds.
Which one should I use?
| You want | Use |
|---|---|
| Watch it on repeat now | QuickTime View > Loop |
| A file that repeats when others play it | The loop video tool |
| A video that fills an exact length | The loop video tool, To a length |
| A GIF that loops forever | Video to GIF |
An MP4 has no loop setting inside the file, so a one-play MP4 stops at the end unless the player repeats it. A GIF loops on its own. If you have a GIF and need a video, see how to convert a GIF to MP4 on Mac.
Make the clip first
If the video is a Mac screen recording, trim it before you loop it, so the end meets the start cleanly. How to edit a video on Mac has the basics. MotionShine, by the maker of this site, is a free Mac screen recorder with a full editor. Free exports go up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark. It records and edits, it does not loop.
FAQ
How do I loop a video on a Mac?
Open it in QuickTime Player and choose View > Loop, then press Play, per Apple Support.
What is the shortcut to loop in QuickTime?
Apple's QuickTime Player shortcuts page lists Option-Command-L.
Does QuickTime save the loop?
Apple's page describes looping as playback. I found nothing saying it changes the file. To make a longer file, use the loop video tool.
How many times can I loop a video with the tool?
From 2 to 500 times, or to a length you type, according to the tool's page.
Is my video uploaded?
The tool's page says it runs in your browser and your files are never uploaded.
