MOV to MP4 on Mac
Convert a MOV video on your Mac. It runs in your browser, with nothing to install and nothing uploaded.
Your MP4 files are ready
100% Private
Your videos are converted in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Instant
Fast mode only rewraps the video, so it finishes in seconds.
Free & Unlimited
No account and no limits on how often you use it.
How to convert MOV to MP4
Three quick steps. Nothing to install and nothing leaves your device.
Add your MOV files
Click the upload area or drag one or more .mov files onto it. You can add several files and convert them together.
Choose a mode
Pick Fast to keep the exact video quality, or Compatible to re-encode it for any device. In Compatible mode you can also choose High, Balanced or Small file.
Convert and download
Press Convert, check the new file size, then download each MP4 or all of them as a ZIP.
Convert a MOV to MP4 on a Mac
Mac recordings are often saved as MOV files. Open this page in Safari, Chrome or Firefox, drop your video on the box, choose a mode and press Convert to MP4. The MP4 is saved to your Downloads folder.
- No extra app: you do not need QuickTime Player or iMovie to export a copy.
- Fast mode first: it copies the video and takes seconds. Use Compatible mode if the MP4 will not play where you need it.
- Several files: download them one by one or as a ZIP, which opens with a double-click.
- Private: the video stays on your Mac and is never uploaded.
More MOV to MP4 guides
Why convert MOV to MP4?
MOV is the QuickTime format. It is what many iPhones, Macs and some cameras produce, and it plays well in Apple apps. Elsewhere it can be awkward. Some Windows players, Android phones, TVs, video editors and upload forms handle MP4 better, and some websites ask for MP4 only.
MP4 is the format almost every device and platform accepts. This tool converts your video on your own device, so private clips, family videos and work recordings are never sent to a server.
Fast mode or Compatible mode?
There are two ways to convert, and the right one depends on where the video needs to play.
- Fast (no quality loss). The video stream is copied into an MP4 file without being touched, so the picture is identical and it finishes in seconds. The audio is converted to AAC at 192 kbps, and the file is arranged so it can start playing quickly on the web.
- Compatible (re-encode H.264). The video is re-encoded to H.264, which plays almost everywhere. It takes much longer because it runs in your browser. You can pick High, Balanced or Small file. High keeps the most detail, and Small file gives the smallest size.
- Automatic fallback. If Fast mode cannot copy a video into MP4, the tool switches to re-encoding by itself and tells you.
Why an iPhone video may still not play
Many iPhone videos use HEVC (H.265), a newer and more efficient video format. Fast mode keeps HEVC as it is, and some Windows and Android players cannot open it, even though the file is now an MP4. If that happens, convert the video again in Compatible mode, which turns it into H.264.
Limits to know about
- First use downloads the converter. The conversion engine is about 30 MB. It is downloaded once and kept for later, so the first conversion starts a little slower.
- File size. Files over 1.5 GB are refused. Files under about 500 MB work best, and large files can fail on phones because browsers limit memory.
- Re-encoding is slow. Compatible mode on a long or high-resolution video can take several minutes.
- One file at a time. When you add several files, they are converted one after another.
- MOV files only. Other video types are skipped.
Tips for better results
- Always try Fast first. It is quicker and keeps full quality. Use Compatible only if the result will not play.
- Use Balanced for most re-encodes. Choose High for important footage and Small file when you need to save space.
- Close heavy tabs. Freeing up memory helps with large videos.
- Need only the sound? Use MP4 to MP3 on the converted file to save the audio, or MP4 to MP3 320kbps for the highest quality.
- Want a short looping clip? MP4 to GIF turns part of a video into an animated image.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about the ConvertKit Lite MOV to MP4 tool.
Are my videos uploaded to a server?
No. The video is converted in your browser, so your files stay on your device. The first conversion downloads the converter engine, which is about 30 MB and is cached afterwards.
What is the difference between the two modes?
Fast mode copies the video as it is into an MP4 file and only re-encodes the audio to AAC, so there is no quality loss and it takes seconds. Compatible mode re-encodes the video to H.264, which plays almost everywhere but takes much longer because it runs in your browser.
Which mode should I use?
Try Fast first. If the result does not play on your device, or the video uses a codec MP4 cannot hold, use Compatible. Fast mode switches to Compatible by itself when it cannot copy the video.
Why does my iPhone video not play after converting?
iPhone videos are often HEVC (H.265). Fast mode keeps HEVC, which some Windows and Android players cannot open. Use Compatible mode to convert it to H.264.
Is there a file size limit?
Browsers limit memory, so files under about 500 MB work best, and large files may fail on phones. Re-encoding long or high-resolution videos can take a while.
Can I convert many files at once?
Yes. Add several MOV files, convert them together, and download each MP4 or one ZIP. Files are converted one after another.
Will the MP4 look the same as my MOV?
In Fast mode, yes. The video is copied without re-encoding, so the picture is the same. In Compatible mode the video is re-encoded, so there is a small change in quality. High keeps the most detail.
What do High, Balanced and Small file mean?
They apply only to Compatible mode. High keeps more detail and makes a bigger file. Small file makes the smallest file with some loss of detail. Balanced is the default and sits between the two. The quality menu is turned off in Fast mode.
What happens to the sound?
In both modes the audio is converted to AAC, which is the standard sound format in MP4 files. Fast mode uses 192 kbps and Compatible mode uses 160 kbps.
Why is the first conversion slow to start?
The first time you convert, the browser downloads the converter engine, which is about 30 MB. After that it is cached, so later conversions start much faster.
What do I get when I convert several files?
Each MOV becomes its own MP4 with the same name and a .mp4 ending. You can download them one by one or all together in a ZIP file.
Does it work on a phone?
It works in modern browsers on Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac. Phones have less memory, so large videos and Compatible mode are more likely to fail there. A computer is the safer choice for big files.
Is there a watermark or an account?
No watermark, no sign-up and no limit on how often you use it.
Can I convert a MOV to MP4 on a Mac?
Yes. Open the page in Safari, Chrome or Firefox, add the video and press Convert to MP4. There is nothing to install.
Do I need QuickTime Player or iMovie to convert on a Mac?
No. The tool runs in your browser, so you do not need QuickTime Player, iMovie or any other app.