Convert iPhone videos to MP4
Videos copied from an iPhone, or AirDropped to a Mac, are often QuickTime .mov files. Some Windows players, Android phones, websites and editing tools prefer MP4.
MOV to MP4 rewrites the container instead of re-encoding: H.264 or HEVC video is copied bit for bit, so there is no quality loss and no long wait. It runs in your browser.
Example: a 2-minute family video AirDropped to a Mac as .mov. Convert it to MP4 and it plays on a relative's Android phone.
Recent iPhones record in HEVC by default. MP4 holds HEVC fine, but some older Windows PCs need a free codec extension to play HEVC. If a player still refuses the file, check whether it supports HEVC, or set the iPhone camera to 'Most Compatible' (H.264) for future videos. Audio is copied when it is already AAC and re-encoded to AAC otherwise. Files are written for fast start, so they begin playing quickly on the web.
Step by step
- Copy the .mov file from your iPhone to your computer, or use the tool directly on the phone.
- Open MOV to MP4 and add the video.
- Convert and download the MP4.
- Play it on the target device to confirm.
Tips
- Want a short looping clip instead? Use MP4 to GIF on the result.
- ProRes videos can't be copied into MP4; the tool says so clearly.
- Long 4K videos are large; check your device has enough free space.
Questions
- Is quality reduced?
- No. The video stream is copied, not re-encoded.
- Is my video uploaded?
- No. Conversion runs in your browser.
- Why won't the MP4 play on my old PC?
- It may lack HEVC support; install a codec or record in H.264.