'how do I convert mp4 files to mov files for quicktime?' – from Apple Community
- Mov To Mp4 Converter Software
- Convert An Mp4 To Mov
- Mp4 To Mov Converter Online
- Free Mp4 To Mov Converter Mac Download
Why convert MP4 to MOV on Mac?
In short, MOV file format is fully supported by Mac, while part of MP4 files can’t be opened by QuickTime natively on Mac because of codec incompatibility.
- According to Apple, QuickTime can play most of MP4 videos with MPEG-4, MPEG-2, H.264 video codec and MP3, AAC codec. However, MP4 is a container format which can include HEVC/MPEG-H Part 2/H.265, MPEG-2 Part 2, MPEG-4 ASP, MPEG-4 Part 10 H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, H.263, VC-1, Dirac, audio (MP3, AAC, SLS, TTSI, and ALAC) and subtitles (MPEG-4 timed text). So, if there is any incompatible coding format in your MP4 video, QuickTime will fail to play it.
- MP4 can also include still images and links that can’t be handled by QuickTime.
You see MP4 is quite a complex video container format which has diverse codec combination. That’s why sometimes QuickTime Player can play MP4 files while sometimes doesn’t. That’s why you need to convert MP4 to MOV that’s fully supported by QuickTime, iMovie or iTunes on Mac.
Here we highlight 6 familiar tools to most of you Mac users so that you can make use of your existing tool without any downloading. Of course, if you prefer any good options listed here, you can try them as well.
3 Ways to Convert MP4 to MOV on Mac
Way 1. macXvideo – Losslessly Convert MP4 to MOV Format on Mac
Digiarty macXvideo is a 100% clean and free desktop MP4 to MOV converter to convert videos from MP4 to MOV on macOS at blazing fast speed, and also lets you repair corrupted MP4 video files with highest possible quality restored. This freeware empowers you to free encode between any video for playback on mobile devices or upload to YouTube/FB SNS sites without trouble.
Our MP4 to MOV Converter is free and works on any web browser. We guarantee file security and privacy. Files are protected with 256-bit SSL encryption and automatically deleted after 2 hours. Summary: Best free, Mac MP4 to MOV converter software. It may take a while for you to test and choose which is the best program suiting your needs. If you're frequently converting MP4 to QuickTime MOV on Mac or Windows, you'd go with Video Converter mentioned in Option 2. Download Free MP4 Converter for macOS 10.7 or later and enjoy it on your Mac. Free MP4 Converter is professional MP4 Video Converting software, which helps you convert any video format to and from MP4 video for playback on iPhone (iPhone X/8/7/SE/6s/6s Plus/6/6 Plus/5s/5c/5/4S), iPad (iPad Pro/Air 2/mini 3/4/Air/mini 2), iPod, and Apple TV. 6 Free MP4 to MOV Converters. UniConverter (Mac and Windows) If you are looking for the best MP4 to MOV converter, you should definitely go for UniConverter. You will not only have a good user experience when using it, you will also get high quality MOV videos. It will only take less than 1 minute to convert your videos from MP4 to MOV. Convert Videos Between Any Formats Freely. Any Video Converter is designed with no limitations and zero costs. It lets you effortlessly convert any video files to any format for FREE! Supported video inputs: MP4, MPEG, VOB, WMV, 3GP, 3G2, MKV, MOD, M2TS, M2TS, RMVB, AVI, MOV, FLV, F4V, DVR-MS, TOD, DV, MXF, OGG, WEBM, any 4K video format and more.
- 200+ most popular formats supported: convert from/to MP4, MOV, MKV, HEVC, H.264, AVI, FLV, MP3, etc. up to 4K.
- Hardware acceleration supported: Intel QSV, Nvidia Cuda, AMD GPU decoding offers 5x faster conversion speed.
- Auto Copy feature enables you to convert MP4 to MOV with intact video quality when both formats use H.264 codec.
- Extra bonuses: trimming, cropping, compressing, upscaling, and parameter adjustment.
How to convert MP4 to MOV on Mac with macXvideo?
Step 1. Click on the Donwload button above, install and run it on your Mac.
Step 2. Import the MP4 file you want to convert by clicking the 'Add File' button.
Step 3. Select MOV as the output format. The optimized default settings ensure the best output quality. If you need MOV videos for editing in iMovie or playing on QuickTime, iTunes, iPhone, etc, you can select the specific presets from the list directly.
Step 4. Click on the 'Browse' button to choose where you want to save the converter video.
- On the interface, please don't forget to check the Hardware acceleration engine and Auto Copy boxes. As mentioned above, the two features will help accelerate the whole mp4 to mov conversion when possible.
- Here you can see the editing features below the video information. Click any button on the bar to enter into the editing window, where you can cut, crop, add subtitles, add effects, rotate videos and etc.
- The gear icon stands for the parameters settings where you can adjust the bit rate, resolutions, frame rate, codecs etc.
Step 4. Press the 'RUN' button to start the conversion process.
Note: Other Mac MP4 to MOV converters out the market also include AnyMP4 Studio Free MP4 Converter, Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate, FonePaw Video Converter Ultimate, Aiseesoft Video Converter for Mac, Acethinker Video Master, Freemake, to just name a few.
Way 2. cloudconvert – Online MP4 to MOV video Converter
Online video converter can be used directly on any platforms in theory. Here, cloudconvert online video converter is chosen to help you convert MP4 to MOV on Mac easily. It is quite a powerful online file converter which is capable of converting videos, audio, vectors, spreadsheets, presentations, images, fonts, ebooks, documents, CAD and archives.
- Convert MP4 to MOV, AVI, FLV, MKV, MP4, WebM and WMV at will.
- Freely choose the output resolutions, aspect ratios, quality, video audio codec, fps and bitrate.
How to convert MP4 to MOV on Mac with cloudconvert?
Step 1. Open https://cloudconvert.com/mp4-to-mov with your Safari browser on Mac.
Step 2. Click “Select File” to choose your video from your computer.
Step 3. Choose MOV as the output format.
Step 4. Click on “Convert” button.
Step 5. After converting, just download the converted file to your Mac.
However, you should note that most of the conversion process will reduce the video quality especially when transcoding 4K MP4 videos. Besides, you have to upload your videos first and then download the converted ones, but most of the online converters will keep your videos in their cloud service for about 24 hours. So, if your video is quite private, this way is not that safe to your personal privacy.
Note: Other online MP4 video converters also include Zamzar, Wondershare Online UniConverter, online-convert.com, Convertio, etc.
Way 3. Apple QuickTime Player – Export MP4 as MOV
Not just a video player, QuickTime can also help convert MP4 to MOV on Mac for iTunes, iMovie, Web, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. And your video will be exported as a QuickTime movie (.mov) using H.264 or HEVC codec.
Step 1. Launch QuickTime Player on your Mac.
Step 2. Open your MP4 file you want to convert with QuickTime Player.
Step 3. Choose 'File' and then click “Export As”.
Step 4. Choose an option from the drop-down menu like 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, Audio Only.
Step 5. Rename your file and choose a location to save the converted file.
Step 6. Click 'Save' and then QuickTime Player will start changing your MP4 video into MOV video.
Note: Actually, this only change the file extension and is not a real conversion as the data is not transcoded. If you want to convert your MP4 files to MOV with different coding formats, you have to use one of the above two ways. Besides, QuickTime Player only supports converting videos to MOV but doesn’t export movies as MP4 videos.
About MP4 and MOV
MP4 is nowadays an industry standard format which is the extension for MPEG-4 Part 14 in essence. It is a media container that contains digital video, audio streams, subtitles, still images and other data. It will also store advanced data like 3D graphics and UHD videos. This format has a very efficient compression method that makes it easier to be distribute among web and different devices.
MOVis a QuicTime file that applies proprietary compression algorithm developed by Apple. It's also a media container that uses tracks to hold data like video, audio, text, etc. Generally, MOV is a high-quality file format and the MOV videos will be larger than MP4. Check MOV VS MP4 for more detailed info about the two formats.
Formats | MOV | MP4 |
Type | Video Container | Video Container |
File extension | .mov | .mp4 |
Developed by | Apple | International Organization for Standardization |
Video Codecs | MPEG-2 (OS X Lion or later), | HEVC/MPEG-H Part 2/H.265, MPEG-2 Part 2, MPEG-4 ASP, MPEG-4 Part 10 H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, H.263, VC-1, Dirac, other, audio (MP3, AAC, SLS, TTSI, and ALAC), and subtitles (MPEG-4 timed text). |
Compatibility | Mac-based programs and iDevices | Web, Mac and Windows, Android and iDevices |
Quality | High quality | High quality |
File Size | Large | Smaller |
Are you looking for an easy way to convert or change MP4 to MOV? If you are in such a situation, you have come to the right place. This page covers seven best video converts and one manual method to help you easily convert .mp4 video to .mov or vice versa for free on Windows, Mac, and even online. Follow to pick up one practical method and change your video format from MP4 to MOV immediately.
How to Convert MP4 to MOV? Let Best MP4 to MOV Converters Help
Do you need an instant way to convert or change your video from MP4 to MOV so as to play the video on your desired devices, platforms, and media players? Although both MP4 and MOV are widely used on Windows, Mac computers, social media platforms, and media players, if you desire a high-quality video, MOV performs better than MP4.
So how to convert MP4 to MOV? While searching for MP4 to MOV conversion solutions, you may feel confused among the massive searching results on Gooogle, Being, YouTube, etc. Here, we have collected seven MP4 to MOV video converters with one manual way to help you effortlessly switch video from MP4 to MOV without losing the video quality. Pick up one and follow the tutorial steps to convert your video for MOV, MP4, MP3, AVI, etc., with ease:
How to Convert MP4 to MOV on Windows 10/8/7 for Free
As mentioned above, the MOV format shares a better video quality than MP4. Therefore, when you are saving an HD video, we recommend you to save the video as .mov. If you need to change a video or a movie from MP4 to MOV on Windows 10, 8, or 7, what is the best video converter for Windows? Here we'll show you three effective ways of changing MP4 to MOV without losing the video quality.
Follow to convert your MP4 video to MOV now:
#1. Use EaseUS Video Editor - Best MP4 to MOV Converter
EaseUS Video Editor is a newly released video editing software that enables all levels of users to create and edit a professional-level video on Windows 10/8/7 PCs. Besides supporting users to trim, clip, merge videos and adding text, overlay, filter, transitions, etc., effects to videos, this software also supports converting video formats for free.
Download, install EaseUS Video Editor on your PC and follow to see how to convert MP4 to MOV with ease:
Step 1. Import the source file
Launch EaseUS Video Editor. On the home screen, you can import the source file by either clicking the 'Import' option or simply dragging the video to the appropriate area.
Step 2. Add to project
You need to add the imported file to the track by choosing the 'Add to Project' option, or you can drag and place the video to the track as you want.
Step 3. Export the source file
Now you can click 'Export' on the main menu on the top.
Step 4. Save as MP4/AVI/WMV/MKV/MOV/GIF
Under the 'Video' tab, choose a file format among the available options as the desired video file format.
On the right pane, you can edit the file name, customize an output folder and settings and then click 'Export'.
#2. Manually Change MP4 Extension to MOV
The other free and quick way that you can apply to change MP4 video to MOV format is to follow the steps here to manually change a video format. We suggest you apply this method to convert small size videos from MP4 to MOV.
How to convert MP4 to MOV Windows 10?
Step 1. Open Windows File Explorer, click 'Options' under the View tab.
Step 2. On the Folder Options window, uncheck 'Hide extensions for known file types'.
Step 3. Create a copy of the target MP4 video and right-click on the copied file, select 'Rename'.
Step 4. Change the file extension of the video file from .mp4 to .mov. And click 'Yes' to confirm the change.
If you need to convert big movie videos or HD videos to MOV, EaseUS Video Editor or the upcoming media player VLC can help. After this
#3. Use VLC
VLC is a media player that supports users to import video or audio to VLC and make some basic changes over the video. Windows users can also apply this media player to convert MP4 to MOV using VLC with the following steps:
Here is a list of steps on how to convert MP4 to MOV on Windows 10, using VLC:
Step 1. Launch VLC Media Player on your computer, click on 'Media' and select 'Convert/Save'.
Step 2. Click 'Add' and browse to open your MP4 file, then click 'Convert/Save'.
Step 3. Click the Settings icon to bring up Profile edition, rename the video and then check MP4/MOV as the video format.
Step 4. Click 'Browse' to choose a destination and click 'Start' to begin converting MP4 to MOV.
How to Convert MP4 to MOV on Mac for Free
As a widest used video format, MOV is regarded as a default video file format on Mac computers. Also, as the Mac media player - QuickTime supports MOV better than MP4 and other video formats. However, many music videos are saved as .mp4 extensions.
To resolve this issue, you may need one or two free ways to convert MP4 to MOV on Mac. Here, you will find two free methods for help.
#1. Use QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player is a default media player on Mac computers. It only supports MPEG-4 (.mp4, .m4v) format. But MP4 is a complex video container with various video and audio codecs. Therefore, you may try the following steps to try to convert MP4 to MOV using QuickTime Player:
Step 1. Launch QuickTime Player on Mac, go to Finder menu and click 'File' > 'Open File'.
Step 2. Browse and select the MP4 video saved on Mac, and click 'Open' to load the file into QuickTime Player.
Step 3. After opening the MP4 video, go to Finder, click 'File' and then click 'Export'. Select the video resolution.
Step 4. Click 'Save' to finish the process.
The MP4 video will be automatically saved as .mov file after exporting the file.
If QuickTime Player doesn't support converting your current MP4 video, don't worry. You can still try the next method to change the video file format to MOV using iMovie.
#2. Use iMovie
iMovie is another pre-installed application that allows Mac users to play videos, photos, and even clipping videos with some basic operations. Being similar to QuickTime Player, iMovie can also help Mac users to change the video format, such as converting MP4 to MOV.
Here are the steps of how to use iMovie to change MP4 video to MOV:
Step 1. Open MP4 video in iMovie on Mac, go to 'File' > 'Share' > 'File'.
Step 2. Set the video resolution, set Quality as 'Best (ProRes)' and click 'Next'.
Step 3. Navigate a location and click 'Save'.
iMovie will automatically save the video as .mov and all you need is to wait for the process to finish.
Convert MP4 to MOV Online for Free & Unlimited
Besides using video converters on Windows or Mac computers, the last option that you can turn to is using online video conversion applications. What is the best online video converter? A qualified video converter will meet the following two specifications:
- Free: It's free in converting videos to any file format.
- Unlimted: It supports to upload and convert unlimited videos.
In the following, you will find three versatile online video converting applications with tutorial steps to guide you efficiently change MP4 to MOV:
#1. CloudConvert (MP4 to MOV Converter)
Mov To Mp4 Converter Software
CloudConvert supports to convert your video files online for free. It enables you to upload video online and convert video file immediately within minutes.
See how to convert your .mp4 video to .mov on CloudConvert:
Step 1. Select and upload video to CloudConvert by clicking the Select File button.
Step 2. Select the MP4 video to upload, and click the drop menu to select 'MOV' as the target file format.
Then click 'Convert' to start the MP4 to MOV conversion process.
Step 3. When the converting process completes, you can download the MOV video to your computer.
#2. ZAMZAR
ZAMZAE is a superb online video converter that makes it easy for all levels of users to change video format online. As long as you open ZAMZAR in the browser, you can start the .mp4 to .mov converting online for free:
Step 1. Open ZAMZAE on a browser, and click 'Add Files' to select and upload your MP4 video.
Step 2. Select MOV as the target file format and click 'Convert Now' to start the conversion.
Step 3. After converting, click 'Download' the video and save it on your computer.
Then you can play the video or share it with your friends.
#3. ConvertFiles
ConvertFiles is another practical tool that can help users changing file format. Users can either convert video files or change image formats using ConvertFiles.
Let's see how to convert MP4 to MOV on ConvertFiles:
Step 1. Open ConvertFiles on the browser and click Browse to select your MP4 video.
Convert An Mp4 To Mov
Step 2. Select MOV as the target file format and click 'Convert'.
Step 3. When it finishes conversion, download and save the .mov file on your PC.
Conclusion
On this page, we introduced 7 video converters and 1 manual method to help all levels of users to change MP4 video to MOV on Windows, Mac, and even online for free.
- For the easiest and most comprehensive video converter for Windows, you should try EaseUS Video Editor as it also offers more video editing features to enhance your videos.
- For a reliable Mac video converter, changing MP4 to MOV, iMovie on Mac is an optimal choice.
- And if you prefer to directly change videos from .mp4 to .mov online, don't miss CloudConvert.
Convert MP4 to MOV FAQs
This page answers the question of 'How do I convert MP4 to MOV' and 'Can I convert MP4 to MOV on Windows, Mac, or online'. However, the above solutions cannot resolve all video converting questions. We collect the other 4 top concerning questions that are related to MP4 to MOV conversion. If you are having the same doubts, check the answers and solutions below for help:
1. Can I convert MP4 to mov using handbrake?
No, you cannot use HandBrake to change an MP4 video format to MOV. The reason is that HandBrake only supports to the output format of videos - MKV and MP4. In other words, you cannot use HandBrake to convert MP4 to MOV.
To switch MP4 to MOV with ease, you can revert this page to apply the above-recommended ways and tools for help.
2. Can I convert MP4 to MOV using Premiere Pro?
Yes, as a professional video editing software, you can convert MP4 to MPV using Premiere Pro with the following steps:
Step 1. Create a project and import the MP4 video.
Step 2. Export the MP4 video, setting file format as .mov, and save it on your PC.
3. How do I convert youtube video (mp4) to MOV?
To convert a YouTube mp4 video to MOV, you need to go through the following process:
Step 1. Download the YouTube mp4 video on your PC with a reliable YouTube downloader.
Step 2. Save the downloaded video on your PC.
Step 3. Change the MP4 video format to MOV and then save the changes.
Or you can use another video converter software like EaseUS Video Editor to automatically switch the YouTube video format to MOV.
Mp4 To Mov Converter Online
4. How do I convert MOV to MP4?
There are two ways of converting MOV to MP4 on Windows PC. One is to use a video converter to change the MP4 video into MOV. The other method that you can apply to switch video files to MOV is to manually change the file extension of MP4 Video from .mp4 to .mov.
Free Mp4 To Mov Converter Mac Download
For a detailed guide, you may refer to Convert MOV to MP4 for help.