Convert MOV to MP4
Convert iPhone and Mac MOV videos to MP4 that plays on Windows, Android and the web.
How it works
MOV is Apple's QuickTime container. MP4 is the same family of container (both are ISO base media files), which is why an H.264 MOV can be converted to MP4 by simply rewriting the container: no re-encoding, no quality loss and only a few seconds of work. This tool does exactly that when it can.
Recent iPhones record HEVC (H.265) by default, and pro cameras record ProRes. Those codecs are the reason "MP4" files sometimes still refuse to play on Windows or upload to a website. In that case the tool re-encodes the video to H.264 with AAC audio, the most compatible combination, at a quality level you control. Also useful for MKV, WebM and AVI inputs.
Will my file be copied or re-encoded?
| What is inside the MOV | What the tool does | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 video (iPhone "Most Compatible", most cameras) | Copies it into an MP4 unchanged | Seconds |
| HEVC / H.265 video (iPhone default "High Efficiency") | Re-encodes to H.264 so it plays everywhere | Roughly real time on a laptop |
| ProRes (pro cameras, screen recorders set to ProRes) | Re-encodes to H.264 | Slower; files are very large |
| Audio in AAC | Kept, or re-encoded to AAC if the video is re-encoded |
Your iPhone setting decides which row applies: Settings > Camera > Formats. "Most Compatible" records H.264 and converts here in seconds; "High Efficiency" saves space on the phone but needs re-encoding for Windows and many websites.
How to use it
- Drop the MOV file (or MKV, WebM, AVI, 3GP) on the upload area.
- Leave the mode on Auto. It tries a lossless remux first and only re-encodes when the codecs require it.
- Click Convert. A remux finishes in seconds; a re-encode runs at roughly real-time speed for 720p.
- Download the MP4 and check the note in the result card to see which path was used.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my MOV re-encoded instead of copied?
Because it contains HEVC, ProRes or another codec that ordinary MP4 players do not handle. Re-encoding to H.264 makes it play everywhere at the cost of encoding time.
Will there be quality loss?
None for the remux path. For re-encoding, CRF 23 is visually close to the source; use CRF 18-20 if you want it as close as possible at the expense of a larger file.
Can I stop my iPhone from recording HEVC?
Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible records H.264 MOV, which remuxes to MP4 losslessly.
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