Is MOV to MP4 conversion lossless?

It's lossless when the MOV already contains H.264. HEVC sources are re-encoded once at high quality.

Can I just rename .mov to .mp4?

Sometimes, if the codec is H.264, but it's unreliable. A proper conversion is safer.

Why is my MP4 bigger than the MOV?

HEVC is about twice as efficient as H.264. Compress the MP4 afterwards if needed.

Does Videozify upload my MOV?

No. Conversion runs in your browser.

How do I convert MOV to MP4 on iPhone?

Open the converter in Safari and choose the video from Photos, or switch the camera to Most Compatible.

Can I convert MOV to MP4 in bulk?

Convert files one after another in the same tab; each takes seconds to minutes.

Will the audio be kept?

Yes. Audio is copied or converted to AAC.

Can I convert MP4 back to MOV?

Yes, but it's rarely needed. Macs and iPhones play MP4 natively, so MP4 is the more compatible choice.

Will the converted MP4 keep the date and location?

Most metadata isn't carried over. Keep the original if the capture date matters.

Is HEVC better quality than H.264?

At the same file size, yes. At normal sharing quality, the visible difference is small.

Guide

How to convert MOV to MP4 on Windows, Mac and iPhone

By Mohamed Laghbar · Updated 10 October 2026

MOV and MP4 are both containers, and they often hold the same video. Converting is usually about compatibility: iPhone MOV files use HEVC (H.265), which many Windows PCs, Android phones and websites can't play. Converting to MP4 with H.264 makes the video play everywhere. If the MOV already contains H.264, the conversion can be a fast, lossless re-wrap.

Quickest way: drop the file into the MOV to MP4 converter. It runs in your browser, so the video stays on your computer, and it picks a lossless re-wrap when possible.

How to convert MOV to MP4 with Videozify

Open the MOV to MP4 converter in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone or Android.
Drop your .mov file onto the box, or tap to choose it. Several files can be converted one after another.
Leave the quality on the default. It re-encodes HEVC to H.264 at a quality close to the original.
Press Convert and keep the tab open while the progress bar runs.
Download the MP4. It plays in Windows Media Player, on Android, in web browsers and in editing software.

Open the MOV to MP4 converter →

Why MOV files won't play

Since iOS 11, iPhones record in HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) by default and save it in a .mov container. HEVC produces files about half the size of H.264 at the same quality, but it's patent-encumbered, so support outside Apple's ecosystem is patchy. Windows needs the paid HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store to play it. Many Android phones, smart TVs, older editing apps and website upload forms reject it or show a black screen with sound.

The .mov extension itself is rarely the problem. MOV is Apple's QuickTime container, and MP4 is based on it, so most players read both. The codec inside is what matters. That's why renaming a .mov file to .mp4 sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

Re-wrap or re-encode?

If the MOV holds H.264 video and AAC audio, as with files from many cameras, screen recorders and older iPhones, the streams can be copied into an MP4 container unchanged. That's a re-wrap (remux): it takes seconds and loses no quality.

If the MOV holds HEVC, ProRes or another codec, it has to be decoded and re-encoded as H.264. That takes longer and compresses the picture once more, but at a sensible quality setting the difference is invisible on normal screens.

Convert MOV to MP4 on Windows

Clipchamp (built into Windows 11): open it, import the MOV, drag it to the timeline and choose Export, 1080p. The result is an MP4 with H.264. If the MOV is HEVC and the HEVC extension isn't installed, Clipchamp may not import it.

VLC media player (free): Media > Convert/Save, add the file, choose the "Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)" profile, set a destination file ending in .mp4 and start. VLC's built-in decoders handle HEVC without the Microsoft extension.

Handbrake (free, open source): open the MOV, choose the Fast 1080p30 preset, check that the format is MP4 and press Start. It gives the most control but has many settings.

Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac

QuickTime Player: open the MOV, then File > Export As > 1080p. Despite the .mov extension of the source, the export dialog offers Greater Compatibility (H.264), which saves a .mov you can rename or play almost anywhere. To get a true .mp4 file, use iMovie or a converter.

iMovie: create a project, add the clip, then Share > File and choose quality and resolution. iMovie saves an .mp4 file with H.264.

Finder quick action: right-click the file and choose Encode Selected Video Files. Pick the H.264 setting. The output is .m4v, which is MP4 with a different extension and plays on most devices.

Stop the problem at the source on iPhone

Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible makes the iPhone record H.264 instead of HEVC. Files are larger, but every device can play them. When you send videos from Photos with AirDrop or the share sheet, iOS often converts them to H.264 automatically if it detects that the receiver needs it. Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic does the same over USB.

How to check which codec your MOV uses

On a Mac, select the file in Finder, press Command-I and look under More Info for Codecs: HEVC means H.265, and H.264 means it can be re-wrapped losslessly. On Windows, right-click the file, choose Properties > Details and check the video section, or open it in VLC and use Tools > Codec Information. MediaInfo (free) shows full details on any platform.

Files from screen recorders, DSLRs and older iPhones are often H.264 already. Files from iPhone 8 and later, with the default camera settings, are usually HEVC. ProRes MOV files from professional cameras and iPhone Pro models are very large and always need re-encoding to share.

Converting for editing software

Older versions of editing apps sometimes refuse HEVC, or play it with stutter because decoding HEVC is demanding. Converting to H.264 MP4 makes editing smoother on modest computers. Professional editors sometimes convert to an intermediate codec such as ProRes or DNxHR for editing, but H.264 MP4 is fine for most home and social projects.

Uploading to websites and forms

Many job sites, school portals, insurance forms and older content management systems only accept MP4, or accept MOV but fail to process HEVC. If an upload gets stuck at processing or shows a black thumbnail, converting to H.264 MP4 is the first thing to try. Keep the file under the site's size limit by compressing if needed.

Keeping quality high

Convert from the original file, not from a copy that was already sent through a messaging app, since those are compressed again. Keep the original resolution unless you need a smaller file. If the converted MP4 is much larger than the MOV, that's normal: H.264 needs more bits than HEVC for the same quality. Run it through the video compressor if size matters.

Frequently asked questions

Is MOV to MP4 conversion lossless?: It's lossless when the MOV already contains H.264. HEVC sources are re-encoded once at high quality.
Can I just rename .mov to .mp4?: Sometimes, if the codec is H.264, but it's unreliable. A proper conversion is safer.
Why is my MP4 bigger than the MOV?: HEVC is about twice as efficient as H.264. Compress the MP4 afterwards if needed.
Does Videozify upload my MOV?: No. Conversion runs in your browser.
How do I convert MOV to MP4 on iPhone?: Open the converter in Safari and choose the video from Photos, or switch the camera to Most Compatible.
Can I convert MOV to MP4 in bulk?: Convert files one after another in the same tab; each takes seconds to minutes.
Will the audio be kept?: Yes. Audio is copied or converted to AAC.
Can I convert MP4 back to MOV?: Yes, but it's rarely needed. Macs and iPhones play MP4 natively, so MP4 is the more compatible choice.
Will the converted MP4 keep the date and location?: Most metadata isn't carried over. Keep the original if the capture date matters.
Is HEVC better quality than H.264?: At the same file size, yes. At normal sharing quality, the visible difference is small.