HEVC (H.265) to MP4 Converter
Turn HEVC video into MP4 with H.264, which plays without extra codecs on Windows, older phones and TVs, in browsers and in video editors. Free, with no account and no watermark.
Output: MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, the most widely supported combination.
Need more changes? Continue in the full editor after downloading or processing the converted file.
How to convert HEVC to MP4
The converter re-encodes the HEVC video into H.264 and saves it as a standard MP4 file. You do not need to choose a codec, quality or resolution.
Step-by-step
- Choose an HEVC video or drag it onto the upload area. Any container works: MP4, MOV, MKV or a raw .hevc stream.
- Wait for the upload to finish, then click Convert to H.264 MP4.
- Wait while the video is converted. 4K and long videos take longer.
- Download the MP4 and play, edit or share it where the HEVC video did not work.
What you get
The result is built for compatibility rather than for the smallest possible size:
- H.264 video with 8-bit 4:2:0 color, which plays on practically every phone, computer, TV and browser without extra codecs or extensions.
- 10-bit and HDR video (HDR10 or HLG, as recorded by many phones and action cameras) converted to standard 8-bit video, so colors do not look gray and washed out on regular screens.
- AAC audio, the standard audio format for MP4, converted from whatever the original used.
- A normal MP4 file even from a raw .hevc stream, as saved by some dashcams and security cameras, with the original resolution and frame rate.
- Fast start for the web: the MP4 can start playing in a browser before it has fully downloaded.
Why HEVC video may not play
HEVC, also called H.265, is a codec: a way of compressing the picture. It can sit inside an MP4, MOV or MKV file, so a file can be called .mp4 and still not play. On many Windows PCs, HEVC needs the paid HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store; without them, the Photos and Media Player apps show an error or play only the sound. For a MOV from an iPhone, the page made for it also covers HDR and the Mac: MOV to MP4 Converter.
Older phones, smart TVs and set-top boxes often have no HEVC decoder at all. Browser support depends on the browser and the hardware, so many web players, learning platforms and upload forms still reject HEVC. Editing is a problem too: on computers without hardware decoding, an HEVC timeline stutters, and some editing apps do not import it. H.264 avoids all of this.
Where HEVC videos come from
Most HEVC files today come from cameras that save space: iPhones, Android phones with the high-efficiency video option turned on, GoPro and other action cameras in 4K and 5K, DJI drones, dashcams and security cameras. Game capture and screen recording apps can also record HEVC, and many downloaded films are encoded with x265.
To record compatible video from the start, switch the camera to H.264. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. On Android phones, turn off the high-efficiency video option in the camera settings, and on GoPro cameras, check the video compression setting. The files will be larger, but they play everywhere without converting.
H.264 vs H.265: what is the difference?
H.265 (HEVC) is the newer codec. At the same visual quality, it needs roughly half the data of H.264, which is why phones and cameras use it for 4K and HDR. The price is heavier decoding and narrower support, especially on older hardware and on Windows without the extension.
H.264 (AVC) is older and less efficient, but nearly every device made in the last fifteen years plays it in hardware. Keep HEVC for storing and watching on devices that support it, and use H.264 when you need to share, upload or edit a video without surprises.
When to convert HEVC to MP4 H.264
Convert when the video has to work somewhere that does not handle HEVC:
- Playing on a Windows PC without the HEVC extension, or on an older phone, TV or media player.
- Uploading to a website, LMS, CMS or online form that rejects the file or shows it without a picture.
- Editing on a computer where HEVC footage stutters, or in software that does not import it.
- Sending a video to someone whose device you do not know, so it opens on the first try.
Quality, file size and limits
Expect a larger file: H.264 needs more data than HEVC for the same picture, so the MP4 is often one and a half to two times the size of the original. If it is too large to share, run it through the video compressor.
Files can be up to 200 MB, which is about a minute of 4K from a phone, and even less from an action camera. For longer videos, open them in the full Deus Video online editor: it accepts files up to 1 GB, with no size limit on the Maxi plan, and exports MP4 with H.264.
Compress, trim or convert the MP4
MOV to MP4 Converter
Turn a QuickTime or iPhone MOV into an MP4 that plays almost everywhere.
Compress Video
Make the MP4 smaller if the H.264 version came out too large to send.
Trim Video
Keep only the part you need, for example to fit a 4K clip into 200 MB.
Convert Video Format
Convert to HEVC, MOV, WebM or another format instead of MP4.
Need to Edit Your Video?
Continue with trimming, resizing, cropping, text, subtitles, audio, and other edits in the full editor.
Learn more about video codecs and formats
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about converting HEVC (H.265) video to MP4 with H.264.
Is the HEVC to MP4 converter free?
Yes. It is free, you do not need an account, and the MP4 has no watermark.
Will converting HEVC to H.264 reduce quality?
The video is re-encoded, so it is not lossless, but the settings keep the original resolution and frame rate and aim to keep the difference hard to see. HDR video is converted to standard dynamic range so it looks right on ordinary screens.
Why is the MP4 larger than the HEVC file?
HEVC compresses about twice as efficiently as H.264. The H.264 version needs more data to keep the same picture, but it plays almost everywhere. If size matters, compress the MP4 afterwards.
Should I install the HEVC extension on Windows or convert the video?
If you only need to watch HEVC videos on your own PC, the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store are enough. Convert when you need to share, upload or edit the video, or when it has to play on devices you do not control.
Can I convert a raw .hevc file from a dashcam or security camera?
Yes. Upload the .hevc file as it is. The converter re-encodes it into a standard MP4 with H.264, so it opens in ordinary players and on phones.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes, files can be up to 200 MB. For larger videos, use the full Deus Video online editor: it accepts files up to 1 GB, with no size limit on the Maxi plan.