How to Convert MOV to MP4 (iPhone Videos Too)

To convert a MOV file to MP4, open Convert to MP4, add the MOV, and press Convert to MP4. If the video inside is already H.264 (as with iPhones set to "Most Compatible" and many cameras), it's simply repackaged as MP4 in seconds with no quality loss. If it's HEVC (H.265) from a recent iPhone, it's converted to H.264 so it plays everywhere.

Convert MOV to MP4 step by step

1. Open Convert to MP4.
2. Add the MOV file — click, drop or paste it — or paste a direct link to one.
3. Choose the Quality (used only if the video has to be re-encoded): High, Standard or Smaller file.
4. Press Convert to MP4.
5. The result tells you what happened — repackaged (same video, new container) or converted — and you download the MP4.

MOV, MP4, H.264 and HEVC in plain words

• MOV and MP4 are containers — the "box" that holds the video and sound. They're close cousins; many players open both.
• H.264 and HEVC are codecs — how the picture inside is compressed. H.264 plays on practically everything. HEVC (H.265) makes smaller files but doesn't play on many Windows PCs, older Android phones, Firefox and some websites.

So "MOV won't play" is usually really "HEVC won't play". Converting to MP4 with H.264 fixes both the container and the codec.

iPhone videos specifically

Recent iPhones record in HEVC by default (Settings › Camera › Formats › High Efficiency). Options:

• Convert after recording with this tool — HEVC becomes H.264.
• Switch to Most Compatible in the same setting, so future videos are H.264 (larger files).
• AirDrop or share a video: iPhones often convert to H.264 automatically when sharing to devices that need it.
• HDR (Dolby Vision) videos become standard (SDR) H.264, which can look a little less vivid but plays everywhere.

Why not just rename .mov to .mp4?

Sometimes that works — when the MOV already holds H.264 — because many players look at the contents, not the name. But it's unreliable, and for HEVC it changes nothing. The tool's repackaging does the rename-done-properly in seconds, and converts only when necessary.

Find out what's inside your MOV

You don't need to check before converting — the result tells you whether the file was repackaged or converted. But if you're curious:

• Mac: open the file in QuickTime Player and choose Window › Show Movie Inspector; the format line shows H.264 or HEVC.
• Windows: right-click the file, Properties › Details, or open it in VLC and use Tools › Codec Information.

"HEVC", "H.265" or "hvc1" means the video will be converted; "H.264" or "avc1" means it will be repackaged in seconds.

Make the file smaller too

iPhone videos are big. After converting, Compress Video can cut the size by lowering the resolution (for example, 4K to 1080p) — ideal for sharing.

Other formats

To go the other way (MP4 to MOV for Final Cut or iMovie), or to WebM, MKV, AVI or FLV, use the Video Format Converter.

Privacy

Everything happens in your browser using ffmpeg (WebAssembly) — your videos aren't uploaded. The first use downloads the video engine (about 30 MB) once.

Frequently asked questions

How long does converting take?

Repackaging takes seconds even for large files. Converting HEVC to H.264 re-encodes every frame — roughly the length of the video or longer for 4K, depending on your device.

Will I lose quality?

Not when repackaging. When converting, High keeps the result visually identical; Standard is a good balance; Smaller file is for sharing.

Can I convert on my iPhone?

Yes, in Safari. Long 4K videos may be too much for a phone browser's memory — convert those on a computer.