MP4 to MOV Converter
Turn an MP4 into a QuickTime MOV file that opens in Apple apps and in software that asks for MOV. Free, with no account and no watermark.
Output: MOV with H.264 video and AAC audio, which QuickTime and every Apple device play.
Need more changes? Continue in the full editor after downloading or processing the converted file.
How to convert MP4 to MOV
The converter re-encodes the video into a standard MOV file. You do not need to choose a codec, quality or resolution.
Step-by-step
- Choose an MP4 file or drag it onto the upload area.
- Wait for the upload to finish, then click Convert to MOV.
- Wait while the video is converted. Long or 4K videos take longer.
- Download the MOV and open it in the app or upload it to the service that needed MOV.
What you get
The MOV is built to open in Apple software without extra codecs:
- H.264 video with 8-bit 4:2:0 color, which QuickTime Player, Photos, iMovie, Final Cut Pro and Keynote open on any Mac, iPhone or iPad.
- AAC audio, the standard audio format for QuickTime.
- HEVC, VP9, AV1 and 10-bit video converted to 8-bit H.264. HDR video is converted to standard dynamic range, so colors do not look washed out on regular screens.
- The original resolution and frame rate. An odd width or height is rounded down by one pixel, because H.264 needs even dimensions.
- Fast start: the MOV can start playing before it has fully loaded.
Why an MP4 may not open on a Mac
Apple software plays most MP4 files, so if an MP4 will not open in QuickTime Player or iMovie, the cause is usually the codec inside, not the container. Common culprits are HEVC video labeled in a way QuickTime does not accept (hev1 instead of hvc1), 10-bit H.264, VP9 or AV1 video from the web, old MPEG-4 codecs such as DivX or Xvid, and Opus audio.
Renaming the file to .mov does not change any of that. This converter re-encodes the video and audio into H.264 and AAC, the codecs QuickTime has always supported, so the result opens even when the MP4 did not.
MP4 and MOV: what is the difference?
MOV is Apple's QuickTime container, and MP4 is a standard container based on it. With the same H.264 video and AAC audio inside, the two play the same in practice. MOV can also hold formats MP4 cannot, such as ProRes, which is why professional editing and some broadcast specs ask for MOV.
This converter produces MOV with H.264, not ProRes. That suits apps and forms that simply require a .mov file. If a specification asks for ProRes, export from video editing software that supports it.
Converting MP4 to MOV on a Mac
If QuickTime Player already opens the MP4, you can save it as MOV without uploading anything: choose File > Export As and pick a resolution. QuickTime saves the result as a .mov file.
Use this converter when QuickTime cannot open the MP4, when you are on Windows, Android or a Chromebook and need to send a MOV, or when you want H.264 with standard settings rather than whatever the original contained.
When to convert MP4 to MOV
Convert when MOV is required or the MP4 does not open in Apple software:
- An app, template, online form or client asks for a .mov file.
- QuickTime Player, Photos or iMovie does not open the MP4, shows a black picture or plays it without sound.
- You prepare a video for a Mac-based editing workflow and want a file that imports without surprises.
- You work on Windows or Android and need to hand over a video to someone who uses only Apple software.
Quality, file size and limits
The MOV can be larger or smaller than the MP4, depending on the original codec: an HEVC or AV1 video often grows when it is converted to H.264. If the result is too large to share, run it through the video compressor.
Files can be up to 200 MB. For a longer video on a Mac, use File > Export As in QuickTime Player, which has no size limit, as long as QuickTime opens the MP4. Transparency is not created: MOV with H.264 has no alpha channel. If the MP4 has several audio tracks, the MOV gets the default one, usually the first.
Compress, trim or convert the video
MOV to MP4 Converter
Turn a QuickTime or iPhone MOV into an MP4 that plays almost everywhere.
Compress Video
Make the video smaller when it is too large to send or upload.
Trim Video
Keep only the part you need before you convert or send it.
Convert Video Format
Choose MP4, WebM, MKV, AVI or another output format instead of MOV.
Need to Edit Your Video?
Continue with trimming, resizing, cropping, text, subtitles, audio, and other edits in the full editor.
Learn more about MP4 and MOV
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about converting MP4 files to MOV.
Is the MP4 to MOV converter free?
Yes. It is free, you do not need an account, and the MOV has no watermark.
Will converting MP4 to MOV 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.
Do I need MOV to use a video on a Mac or iPhone?
Usually not: Apple devices play MP4 with H.264 or HEVC. Convert when an app or form specifically requires MOV, or when the MP4 does not open because of the codec inside it.
My MP4 does not open in QuickTime. Will converting help?
Most likely, yes. The problem is usually a codec QuickTime does not support, such as VP9, AV1, 10-bit H.264 or old DivX. The converter re-encodes it to H.264 and AAC, which QuickTime opens.
Is the result ProRes?
No. The MOV contains H.264 video, which keeps the file compact and plays everywhere in the Apple ecosystem. If you need ProRes, export it from editing software such as Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes, files can be up to 200 MB. For a larger video on a Mac, open it in QuickTime Player and choose File > Export As, which saves a MOV of any size, as long as QuickTime can open the MP4.