How to Convert MOV to MP4

Convert MOV to MP4 Online (Fastest Method)

The quickest way to convert a MOV file to MP4 is to use an online converter. There is nothing to install — it works in any browser on any device, including phones and tablets.

How to Convert Using Convertio

1. Upload your MOV file using the converter widget above. Drag and drop the file or click to browse your device. You can upload files up to 100 MB for free.
2. Click "Convert to MP4" and wait. The conversion typically takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on file size. Our servers encode using H.264 with CRF 23, AAC audio at 192 kbps, and the faststart flag enabled for instant web playback.
3. Download your MP4 — the file is ready immediately. It plays on every device, browser, and social media platform without compatibility issues.

This method is ideal for one-off conversions or when you are on a device where you cannot install software. For larger files or batch processing, the desktop methods below offer more flexibility.

Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac

macOS has several built-in and free tools for converting MOV to MP4. Since Apple created both formats, Mac handles MOV natively, giving you more conversion options than any other platform.

Using iMovie (Free, Built-in)

iMovie comes pre-installed on every Mac and can export any video as MP4:

1. Open iMovie and create a new project (File → New Movie).
2. Import your MOV file by dragging it into the timeline or using File → Import Media.
3. Go to File → Share → File. Set the resolution and quality (High or Best). iMovie exports as H.264 MP4 by default.
4. Choose a save location and click Save. The export takes a few seconds to several minutes depending on video length and resolution.

iMovie re-encodes the video during export, so this method works for any MOV regardless of its internal codec. The output is always H.264 MP4 with AAC audio — the most universally compatible format.

Using QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player can export video, but with a significant caveat:

1. Open the MOV file in QuickTime Player.
2. Go to File → Export As and choose a resolution (4K, 1080p, 720p, or 480p).
3. Save the file. QuickTime exports using H.264 with AAC audio.

Limitation: QuickTime actually exports as .m4v, not true .mp4. The M4V format is technically identical to MP4 (same container, same codecs), but some devices and platforms may not recognize the .m4v extension. You can simply rename the file from .m4v to .mp4 and it will work, but if you want a proper MP4 output, use iMovie or FFmpeg instead.

Using Terminal / FFmpeg

FFmpeg is the most powerful option for video conversion on Mac. Install it via Homebrew (brew install ffmpeg) and use the following command:

ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 192k -movflags +faststart output.mp4

This command encodes the video with H.264 at CRF 23 (visually lossless), AAC audio at 192 kbps, and enables the faststart flag so the MP4 begins playing immediately when streamed on the web.

Convert MOV to MP4 on Windows

Windows does not include MOV conversion tools out of the box, but several excellent free programs handle it. Here are the three best options.

Using VLC Media Player (Free)

VLC is a free, open-source media player that also includes a powerful conversion feature:

1. Open VLC and go to Media → Convert / Save (or press Ctrl+R).
2. Click Add and select your MOV file. Click Convert / Save at the bottom.
3. In the Profile dropdown, select Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4). For better audio quality, click the wrench icon and change the audio codec to AAC.
4. Choose a destination file name and click Start.

VLC uses FFmpeg libraries internally, so the conversion quality is excellent. The default settings produce a good result, but VLC's interface does not expose advanced options like CRF control. For more granular settings, use HandBrake or FFmpeg directly.

Using HandBrake (Free, More Settings)

HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder that offers more control than VLC:

1. Download and install HandBrake from handbrake.fr.
2. Open HandBrake and drag your MOV file onto the window, or use File → Open Source.
3. Select a preset. Fast 1080p30 is an excellent default — it uses H.264 with CRF 22, which produces a compact file with excellent quality.
4. Under the Summary tab, ensure the format is set to MP4 and check Web Optimized (this enables the faststart flag).
5. Click Start Encode.

Using FFmpeg CLI

FFmpeg works identically on Windows as on Mac. Download the static build from ffmpeg.org, extract it, and add the bin folder to your system PATH. Then open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:

ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 192k -movflags +faststart output.mp4

For batch conversion of all MOV files in a folder using PowerShell:

Get-ChildItem *.mov | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.Name -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 192k -movflags +faststart ($_.BaseName + ".mp4") }

Convert MOV to MP4 on iPhone

iPhones record video in MOV format by default. If you need an MP4 to share on social media, send via email, or upload to a platform that requires MP4, here are three methods that work directly on your phone.

Using the iMovie App

iMovie is free on the App Store and offers the most control:

1. Open iMovie and tap Create Project → Movie.
2. Select your MOV video from the camera roll and tap Create Movie.
3. Tap Done, then tap the Share button (square with arrow).
4. Choose Save Video and select the resolution. iMovie exports as H.264 MP4, which saves directly to your camera roll.

Using the Shortcuts App (Built-in Workflow)

The Shortcuts app (pre-installed on iOS 13+) can convert video formats without any third-party app:

1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap + to create a new shortcut.
2. Add the action "Encode Media" — search for it in the actions list.
3. Tap Show More on the Encode Media action. Ensure the format is set to MPEG-4.
4. Add a "Save to Photo Album" action after the encode step.
5. Run the shortcut, select your MOV video, and the converted MP4 will be saved to your camera roll.

Once you create this shortcut, you can also add it to your share sheet, so "Convert to MP4" appears as an option whenever you share a video from the Photos app.

Using Convertio.com in Safari

The online converter works on iPhone too — no app required:

1. Open Safari and go to convertio.com/mov-to-mp4.
2. Tap the upload button and select Photo Library to choose a video, or Choose File to pick from the Files app.
3. Tap Convert and wait for processing. Download the MP4 when ready.

This method is convenient when you do not want to install iMovie or set up a Shortcuts workflow. It works over Wi-Fi or cellular data and handles the conversion on our servers, saving your phone's battery and processing power.

Convert MOV to MP4 on Android

Android phones do not typically create MOV files, but you may receive them from iPhone users. The simplest way to convert on Android is to use the online converter:

1. Open Chrome (or any browser) and go to convertio.com/mov-to-mp4.
2. Tap the upload button and select the MOV file from your device storage or downloads folder.
3. Tap Convert and download the MP4 result.

The converted MP4 plays in any Android video player and can be shared directly to WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, or any other app. No third-party app installation is needed — the conversion happens entirely in your browser.

Understanding MOV to MP4 Conversion

MOV and MP4 are both container formats — they are wrappers that hold video streams, audio streams, and metadata. The actual video quality is determined by the codec used inside the container (H.264, HEVC, ProRes, etc.), not by the container format itself.

This distinction matters because it determines whether your conversion involves remuxing (instant, lossless) or re-encoding (slower, minimal quality loss).

When Remuxing Is Possible (Instant, Lossless)

If your MOV file already contains H.264 video and AAC audio, the conversion to MP4 is a simple repackaging operation. The video and audio data are copied bit-for-bit into the MP4 container without any modification. This is called remuxing, and it has three major advantages:

• Speed: Remuxing a 1 GB file takes under 5 seconds, regardless of video length.
• Quality: Zero quality loss — the output is bitwise identical to the input.
• File size: The MP4 will be virtually the same size as the original MOV.

Older iPhone models (iPhone 7 and earlier, or newer iPhones set to "Most Compatible" in Settings → Camera → Formats) record in H.264 MOV, making them perfect candidates for lossless remuxing.

When Re-encoding Is Needed

Re-encoding is required when the MOV contains a codec that is not widely supported in the MP4 container or that causes compatibility issues:

• HEVC (H.265): iPhones since the iPhone 8 record in HEVC by default at 4K. While MP4 technically supports HEVC, many devices and platforms cannot play HEVC MP4 files. Re-encoding to H.264 ensures universal playback.
• Apple ProRes: Used by iPhone Pro models in ProRes mode and professional cameras. ProRes files are enormous (up to 6 GB per minute at ProRes 422 HQ). Re-encoding to H.264 reduces file size by 90%+ while maintaining excellent visual quality.
• Older codecs: Some legacy MOV files use Apple Intermediate Codec, Sorenson, or MJPEG — all require re-encoding for MP4 compatibility.

Convertio's Encoding Settings

When re-encoding is needed, Convertio uses the following FFmpeg settings:

-c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 192k -movflags +faststart