Free MOV to MP4 converter

How do I convert MOV to MP4?

Add your MOV file above, keep MP4 as the output and click convert. iPhone videos and Mac screen recordings hold H.264 or HEVC, which an MP4 can carry as they are, so the tool usually just moves the video into the new file: it takes seconds and loses nothing. Other codecs are re-encoded to H.264 at the quality you pick. You download the MP4 when it’s done.

MOV vs MP4: what’s the difference?

Less than you might think. MOV is Apple’s QuickTime format, and MP4 was developed from it, so the two are close relatives. Both are containers that usually hold the same kinds of video (H.264 or HEVC) and audio (AAC). The difference is support: MP4 is the format every browser, phone, chat app and video platform expects, while MOV is most at home on Apple devices.

Quality isn’t a reason to pick one over the other. The same video in either box looks the same; what matters is the codec and bitrate inside.

Why does my iPhone record MOV files with HEVC?

iPhones save camera videos as MOV. With the default “High Efficiency” setting the video inside is HEVC (H.265), which takes much less space than H.264 at similar quality. The catch is support: plenty of Windows PCs, older Android phones, websites and learning platforms can’t play HEVC, so the file shows up as “unsupported” or plays sound with a black picture.

Converting to MP4 keeps HEVC as it is, which is instant and lossless and fixes apps that only reject the .mov file. If the app can’t play HEVC itself, choose a lower resolution such as 1080p or 720p under Resolution: the video is then re-encoded to H.264, which plays everywhere. To avoid the problem for future videos, set your iPhone to Settings › Camera › Formats › Most Compatible; it then records H.264. Files will be larger.

Converting Mac screen recordings

The Mac’s built-in screen recorder (Shift-Command-5) and QuickTime Player save screen recordings as MOV. Those usually hold H.264 already, so converting them to MP4 is quick and keeps the quality. It is the easiest way to make a recording you can drop into a help article, a ticket, Slack or an LMS that wants MP4.

What can’t be converted in a browser

Be aware of two limits:

• Apple ProRes. iPhone Pro models and professional cameras can record ProRes, a format made for editing. Browsers can’t decode ProRes, so this tool can’t convert it. Use a desktop video app, or export from your editor as H.264 or HEVC first.
• Re-encoding HEVC on some computers. Moving HEVC into an MP4 works everywhere, but re-encoding it to H.264 means your browser has to decode HEVC, which depends on the browser and your computer’s hardware. Safari on a Mac handles it; Chrome and Edge usually do on computers with hardware HEVC support. If the tool says it can’t decode the video, try another browser.

How to fix “MOV file not supported”

1. Convert the MOV to MP4 here. This fixes the container. If the file still won’t play and it holds HEVC, convert again with a lower resolution, which re-encodes it to H.264.
2. If the upload still fails, check the file size limit and use the video compressor with a target size.
3. If you’re unsure what the file contains, open it in the video metadata viewer first.

Other ways to convert MOV to MP4

On a Mac, iMovie can export a project as an MP4 file (Share › File), and video apps such as HandBrake convert in bulk. Those are good choices for many files at once or for ProRes. This page is quicker for the odd file: nothing to install, and it works the same on a Mac, a Windows PC or a Chromebook.

Tips

Convert from the original

Each re-encode loses a little detail. AirDrop or copy the original file from your iPhone instead of a version that was sent through a messenger, which compresses video.

Vertical videos stay vertical

iPhone videos store their orientation separately from the picture. The converter keeps the orientation, so a portrait video stays upright. If one comes out sideways, the rotate video tool fixes it.