Today I rebuilt my Windows 7 box and after I imported my Google Picasa database / library I realized none of my .MOV video files were showing up in any of my albums. Thinking it was an easy fix I went into the Option menu only to find the .MOV extension was greyed out. Has this happened to you? Read on as I have a simple fix.
Step 1 – Download and Install iTunes or Quicktime
No real black magic here. Just surf over to http://www.apple.com/itunes/ and you should be able to grab a copy. If your not an iTunes (iPhone/iPod etc..) user, don’t install iTunes. Just grab a copy of Quicktime here: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/. Once downloaded install the app. you downloaded.
Note: If you already have Apple Quicktime or iTunes installed, skip to Step 2.
Step 2 – Configure Picasa to display .MOV files
Open Picasa, Click Tools, Options
Step 3
Click the File Type Tab, Check the Box Quicktime Movies (.MOV), Click OK
Conclusion
That’s all there is to it. Your .MOV files should now start appearing in your Picasa Albums. Depending on the number, it could take anywhere from a few seconds to hours to get them all populated.
About the author
Based in Seattle, Steve Krause is the founder and chief of groovyPost.com. Email Steve at Steve@groovyPost.com.
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9 Responses to “How-To Add or Watch .MOV Files in Google Picasa”
I had no idea you could add .mov files into Picasa so thank you. Will this let you upload them to picasa web albums also?
@Kelsy – Yes. I thought you can also upload .mov files through the web interface however I know for certain, once you add .mov files to the Picasa Client, you can then sync them up to a Picasa Web Album of your choice.
Great article. After sifting through dozens of threads about the issue, you were the first one to point out that it’s not enough to install QuickTime, and that you should also check the options panel in Picasa.
Keep up the good work
My pleasure Mike and thanks for the feedback. I have to admit, I was scratching my head at first before I realized I needed QuickTime….. Now all I need is for Google to add a nice Transcoding option into Picasa and I’ll be all set!
Thanks a lot, I had same problem than you when using my new laptop with windows7, all the .mov already uploaded into my online gallery were appearing as a static picture, and I can not watch .mov videos with Picasa or with Album Web Picasa.
Really the solution is simple, but not obvious for these like me, not expert in deep.
Best regards
awesome, thank you!
Could someone be so kind to tell me where I can find the volume control in picasa, as I watch my movies files thru picasa, but can’t find anywhere to adjust the volume. I have tried asking on google, but can’t find an answer anywhere! Would appreciate someones help with this. ( I have gone into tools, but nothing on volume control in there either). Thank you, Jennie
i downloaded quicktime player for picasa 3 i have videos but their no longer on my memory card how to use the quicktime player with the videos that picasa up on as just photos and videos
OK, but what if Picasa 3 doesn’t allow me to check the “Quick time Movies (.MOV)” box for some reason? I can see where I am supposed to check it, but it is not activated for me to check. It’s disabled somehow.
What now?