Frequently asked questions about viewing and syncing video with iTunes and iPod

With the latest version of iTunes, you can play videos and even sync them to some iPod models. Here are answers (provided by Apple) to the most asked questions about video playback in iTunes and on iPod.

What are the requirements for playing increased quality movies, TV Shows, or music videos in iTunes?
What are the requirements for playing video on iPod?
What video content works with iTunes and iPod?
How does purchased video differ from other video?
Can I transfer my DVDs into iTunes and sync to my iPod?
How do I view a video in iTunes?
Can I sync my own video files from iTunes to iPod?
Do I need to buy QuickTime Pro to create videos for iPod?
Can I display video from my iPod on a TV?
Can I view video podcasts on iPod?
Can I view widescreen movies?
Does the video need to be encoded in a special way?
Why do I sometimes not see video but I hear audio and other times I don't hear audio but I see video?
Can I burn iTunes Store Videos to DVD?

What are the requirements for playing increased quality movies, TV Shows, or music videos in iTunes?

You need iTunes 7 or later and QuickTime 7.1.3 or later with:
A Macintosh with a PowerPC G4, G5, or Intel Core processor, at least 256MB of RAM, at least 16MB of video RAM, and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later. 

or

A 2 GHz Pentium class processor or better with Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 or later or Windows XP with a QuickTime-compatible audio card. Also make sure you have the latest Windows Service Pack using Microsoft Update. You also need at least 512 MB RAM and 32 MB of video memory.

Notes: A broadband Internet connection for accessing the iTunes Store is recommended.
What are the requirements for playing video on iPod?

You will need the following items:
iPod classic, iPod nano (3rd generation), or iPod (5th generation)
High-powered USB port (USB 2.0 recommended)
iTunes 7 or later to transfer video
Video content that is in an iPod compatible format.
What video content works with iTunes and iPod?

iTunes:
Video content purchased from the iTunes Store.
QuickTime and MPEG-4 movie files that end in ".mov", ".m4v", or ".mp4" and are playable in QuickTime Player.
Video podcasts.

iPod:

Video content purchased from the iTunes Store.
Videos that have been converted for iPod with QuickTime 7 Pro using the Creating Video for iPod tutorial.
Videos that have been converted for iPod with iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and others. Click here for an iMovie HD tutorial.
Video Podcasts that have been converted for iPod
See below for detailed movie specifications.
How does purchased video differ from other video?

Note: Videos purchased from the iTunes Store have FairPlay digital rights management embedded in the files and are in a format that can be readily synced to a video capable iPod. Just like with music you purchase from the iTunes Store, you own the videos you purchase. You can authorize up to five computers to play purchased videos, and you can sync the video to as many iPods as you like. An iPod can contain purchased content from up to five accounts; iTunes will not allow you to add data from a sixth account to iPod.

Can I transfer my DVDs into iTunes and sync to my iPod?

iTunes and QuickTime Pro do not support importing content from DVD videos.

How do I view a video in iTunes?

Can I sync my own video from iTunes to iPod?

Yes, as long as the video file is in a format that works with iPod. To learn how to export a movie for iPod play, see the Creating Video for iPod tutorial, and then add the resulting file to your iTunes Library.
Do I need to buy QuickTime Pro to create videos for iPod?

While QuickTime Pro is an easy and inexpensive option for creating video optimized for iPod, once you've installed QuickTime 7.0.3 or later, most applications that allow you to create (i.e., export) QuickTime movies should also allow you to create video optimized for iPod. For the Mac, examples are iMovie and Final Cut Pro. Click here for steps to export using iMovie HD.

After upgrading to the free QuickTime version 7.0.3, any application that uses the QuickTime export panel will see the new "Export to iPod" option. If you want to use QuickTime Player to export, then you will need QuickTime Pro.

Can I display video from my iPod on a TV?

Absolutely. For details, see this document.

Can I view video podcasts on iPod?

Yes, as long as the video has been correctly encoded using the Creating Video for iPod tutorial. Otherwise, the podcast will not sync to iPod.

Can I view widescreen movies?

iPod (5th generation)
Yes, there is a Video setting for Widescreen (Select Videos > Video Settings > Widescreen to turn on or off). When viewing a widescreen movie with the Widescreen setting turned on, black bars display above and below the picture. If the Widescreen setting is set to off while viewing a widescreen movie, the left and right edges are trimmed but there are no black bars. If you are viewing a movie that is not in widescreen format, this setting has no effect.

iPod classic and iPod nano (3rd generation) 
Yes, on iPod classic and iPod nano (3rd generation), there is a setting for Fullscreen (Select Videos > Video Settings > Fullscreen to turn on or off). When viewing a widescreen movie with the Fullscreen setting turned off, black bars display above and below the picture. If the Fullscreen setting is set to on while viewing a widescreen movie, the left and right edges are trimmed but there are no black bars. If you are viewing a movie that is not in widescreen format, this setting has no effect.

Does the video need to be encoded in a special way?

iPod can play the following video formats:
H.264
File formats: .m4v, .mp4, and .mov 
Video: Up to 768 kbits/sec, 320 x 240, 30 frames per second (fps), Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3.
Audio: AAC-LC up to 160 kbits/sec, 48 Khz, and stereo audio.
MPEG-4
File formats: .m4v, .mp4, and .mov 
Video: Up to 2.5 Mbits/sec, 480 x 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile. 
Audio: AAC-LC up to 160 kbits/sec, 48 Khz, stereo audio.

See the QuickTime Tutorials for steps to create video with QuickTime Pro.

Why do I sometimes not see video but I hear audio and other times I don't hear audio but I see video?

If you hear audio, but don't see video, click here. If you see video, but don't hear audio, click here.
Can I burn iTunes Store Videos to DVD?

You can save your iTunes Store movies to data DVDs for backup purposes (if you have a supported DVD burner), but these DVDs will not play in a DVD player.