Help: ".mp4" video downloading as ".txt" file

[Adam_2050]

I am new to OS X. I've downloaded some mp4 video which are showing up as a text file.
Any idea how to open this file?

 

[Boyd01]

Are you sure they really *are* mp4 files? Try changing the extension to .mp4 and see what happens. You could also try changing the extension to .m4v, I believe they are basically the same but IIRC, some .mp4 files don't work in the TV app on MacOS.

You could also try installing the free VLC app and see if they will play there. But I have never seen an example of a downloaded .mp4 file with a .txt extension.

 

[Big Bad D]

From where or with what steps or apps did you download these video files? From Finder and Get Info, what exactly is the downloaded file type? Are you sure you really downloaded the video itself and not just some video file details which appear as a text file?

 

[Boyd01]

Might also help to know what computer and what version of the operating system you're using. "OS X" is actually a name that Apple stopped using 5 years ago, with the introduction of MacOS Sierra.

I had the same thought as @Big Bad D , that you didn't actually download the video but some kind of text, this might happen if you right-clicked. You could try to open the .txt file in TextEdit and see if it really does contain text.

 

[KaliYoni]

I am new to OS X. I've downloaded some mp4 video which are showing up as a text file.
Any idea how to open this file?

Another thing to check is how you are initiating the download. Something else that can happen is that you are really downloading the HTML for the webpage that contains the video.

If you download a lot of videos, I recommend this video downloading utility:

Downie - YouTube Video Downloader for macOS - Charlie Monroe Software

Video downloader for macOS with support for YouTube and other 1200 sites.

software.charliemonroe.net

The developer is very engaged with the product. Downie is updated regularly and user questions, in my experience, are answered quickly.
(I do not have any connections to the developer. I am simply a satisfied customer)