MOV to MP4 converter
This MOV to MP4 converter turns a video into an MP4 in three steps: choose the file, convert, download. In most cases the picture is simply repackaged unchanged into an MP4 container, which takes seconds and costs no quality. Everything runs in your browser and your video is never uploaded.
Source: MDN – Media container formats: MP4 and QuickTime (MOV) as containers for video and audio tracks. Updated: .
How it is calculated
What happens when you convert MOV to MP4
MOV is Apple’s QuickTime format: iPhones, iPads and Macs save their videos this way. MP4 is a close relative – both formats are built on the same container structure (ISO/IEC 14496-12). That is why most videos do not need to be recalculated at all: picture and sound are copied bit for bit from the MOV file into an MP4 container, which is called remuxing. For a phone video it takes a few seconds and the quality stays exactly the same.
Two ways to get an MP4
| Setting | What happens | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Copy unchanged | The container changes, picture and sound stay as they are | Default: fast, no quality loss |
| Re-encode as H.264 | The picture is recalculated, the sound stays | When the MP4 does not play on an older device or program |
iPhone videos: HEVC or H.264?
Recent iPhones record in HEVC (H.265) by default because the files are smaller. Remuxing keeps HEVC; most phones, Macs and current TVs play it, while some Windows programs and older devices do not. If that is a problem, choose “Re-encode as H.264” – it plays almost everywhere but takes longer. To record compatible video from now on, set Settings › Camera › Formats › “Most Compatible” on the iPhone.
Limits
- Extra data such as location or Live Photo information is not carried over.
- Exotic codecs (for example Apple ProRes) cannot be handled by the browser; a message appears instead.
- The result is built in memory: files up to 4 GB work, very large ones need a device with plenty of RAM.
Privacy
The video is only read piece by piece from your device; there is no upload and no server that sees it. The open-source library Mediabunny (MPL-2.0) reads and writes the containers. To shorten a clip use Trim video, to make it smaller use Compress video, and to keep only the sound try Video to MP3.
Smaller MP4: resolution and quality
If you have the picture re-encoded as H.264, two more settings appear. Resolution scales the video down to 1080p, 720p or 480p – measured on the shorter side; a video is never enlarged. Quality “Medium” or “Low” gives a smaller file with visibly less detail. When the picture is copied unchanged, both settings are ignored because the picture is not touched.
Large files: the finished MP4 is built in memory before the download. On a computer a few gigabytes usually work; on a phone, around 1 GB can already be too much. If the conversion stops, a computer or a video trimmed beforehand often helps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert MOV to MP4?
Choose the MOV file and click “Convert to MP4”. The tool repackages picture and sound into an MP4 container and offers the file for download. Nothing is uploaded.
Does the video lose quality when converted?
Not in the default mode. Picture and sound are copied without re-encoding; only the container changes. Only “Re-encode as H.264” recalculates the picture.
How do I convert an iPhone video to MP4?
Open this page in Safari, pick the video from your library and convert it. If the MP4 does not play everywhere afterwards, choose “Re-encode as H.264”.
Why does my MP4 show no picture on my PC?
It probably contains HEVC, which not every player can decode. Convert again and choose “Re-encode as H.264”.
How long does the conversion take?
Remuxing usually takes a few seconds, even for long videos. Re-encoding takes longer, roughly as long as the video itself depending on your device.
Is there a size limit?
The file can be up to 4 GB. It is read piece by piece, but the finished MP4 is held in memory.
Can I make the MP4 smaller while converting?
Yes. Choose re-encoding as H.264, then you can set the resolution (1080p, 720p, 480p) and the quality. When the picture is copied unchanged, the file stays about as large as the original.
Sources and legal basis
- MDN – Media container formats: MP4 and QuickTime (MOV) as containers for video and audio tracks
- MDN – Web video codec guide: H.264 (AVC), HEVC (H.265), Kompatibilität
- Apple Support – HEIF- oder HEVC-Medien auf Apple-Geräten verwenden (camera format “Most Compatible”)
- MDN – VideoEncoder.configure(): bitrate in Bit pro Sekunde
- MDN – EncodedVideoChunk.type (key/delta)
- ITU-T H.264 – Advanced video coding for generic audiovisual services
- Mediabunny 1.61.0 – Vanilagy (MPL-2.0), Quelltext
- Licenses of the media tools (MPL-2.0)
As of: · Editorial policy
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