MOV to MP4 converter
FileReshape's MOV to MP4 converter turns QuickTime MOV videos from iPhones, Macs and cameras into MP4 with FFmpeg inside your browser. The video is not uploaded. H.264 and H.265 videos are copied into the MP4 in seconds without quality loss; ProRes and other codecs are re-encoded to H.264, which takes minutes.
Did a file not convert correctly? E-mail [email protected], ideally with a small sample file, and it will be fixed.
Key facts
- Input: MOV (.mov). Output: MP4 (.mp4).
- Your files are not uploaded: the work is done in your browser, on your own device.
- File size: up to 2 GB per file (the limit of the browser's WebAssembly memory).
- Needs a current browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) on a computer, tablet or phone; nothing to install.
- Free to use, with no sign-up.
MOV to MP4: why convert
An iPhone video, a Mac screen recording or a clip from a camera is saved as .mov, and then a Windows program, an old TV, a website or an upload form refuses it. In most cases the picture inside is H.264 or H.265, exactly what an MP4 would hold, so only the wrapper has to change. This converter does that in your browser: it copies the video and sound into an MP4 container without decoding them, which takes a few seconds and keeps the quality exactly as it was. If you need maximum compatibility, it can also convert the picture to H.264 instead. MOV files from professional cameras with ProRes are always re-encoded, since ProRes cannot go into a normal MP4. Your recordings are never sent anywhere, which matters for family videos and screen recordings of private documents.
How to convert MOV to MP4
- Drop the .mov file in the box, or click to choose it.
- Leave "Keep the video as it is" for a fast, lossless conversion, or choose H.264 for older devices.
- Click Convert to MP4 and save the MP4 file.
What changes when you convert
iPhone videos in HEVC
With the camera set to High Efficiency, iPhones record H.265 (HEVC). Copied into an MP4 it keeps its small size and plays on recent devices; for an older Windows PC, a smart TV from before about 2017 or some video editors, choose Convert to H.264. That takes longer and makes the file larger.
HDR and Dolby Vision
Copying keeps HDR information. Converting to H.264 makes a standard 8-bit video, so bright HDR scenes can look flatter than on the iPhone.
Screen recordings with sound
Mac and iPhone screen recordings often have AAC sound, which is copied. Recordings with uncompressed sound from video editing software get AAC at 160 kbit/s in the MP4.
Live Photos
The short video part of a Live Photo is a MOV file and converts like any other. The still photo is a separate HEIC file; use the HEIC to JPG converter for that.
About the formats
MOV
MOV is Apple's QuickTime video format and what iPhones, iPads and Macs save screen recordings and many camera videos as. Inside is usually H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) video and AAC sound, the same as in an MP4, but some Windows programs, older TVs and websites do not accept the .mov extension.
- QuickTime was released in 1991; MP4 was later built on its file structure.
- iPhones record in HEVC (H.265) since iOS 11 when the camera is set to "High Efficiency".
- Professional cameras use MOV with ProRes, a codec that keeps much more detail and makes very large files.
MP4
MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the most common video file format. Phones, cameras, YouTube, WhatsApp and every computer and TV use it. An MP4 is a container: the picture inside is usually compressed with H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) and the sound with AAC, and the same file can also hold subtitles, chapters and a cover image.
- The format was standardised in 2003 and is based on Apple's QuickTime format, which is why MP4 and MOV files are so alike.
- H.264 video with AAC sound plays on practically every device made in the last 15 years.
- A minute of phone video in 1080p is typically 100–200 MB; in 4K it is often 350–500 MB.
- The "faststart" layout puts the index at the beginning, so a video can start playing before it is fully downloaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is my MOV file uploaded?
No. FFmpeg runs inside your browser and reads the file from your own device. Nothing is sent to a server.
Will the quality change?
Not when the video is kept as it is: the picture data is copied unchanged, only the file format changes. Converting to H.264 re-encodes it at high quality.
Why is the MP4 almost the same size as the MOV?
Because the same video data is inside. To make the file smaller, use the video compressor, which can also lower the resolution.
Can I convert MOV to MP4 on a Mac without software?
Yes, with this page in Safari, Chrome or Firefox. QuickTime Player can also export to MP4-compatible formats, but the file keeps the .mov extension.