How to Convert MOV to MP4: 9 Easy Ways

Use these browser and desktop apps to convert your MOV files to MP4s.

MOV files, also known as the QuickTime multimedia file format, are actually a proprietary file format developed by Apple itself. If you're a Windows user who's ever tried working with an Apple-formatted hard drive, you already know that the struggle is real. Thankfully, the technological gap has drawn itself to a near close as time wears on.

Nowadays, most PCs and Apple devices can handle both MOVs and MP4s, at least to some extent. Still, though, the occasional need to convert MOV video files to MP4 files has not yet fallen by the wayside. Here, we show you the nine best ways to convert MOV to MP4.

How to Convert MOV to MP4 in Your Browser

Little says "instant gratification" like a web app designed to perform without making a mess on your computer. If you've only got one or two video files that you need to convert on a whim, try any of these free services for a quick and painless transaction.

1. Adobe Spark

Did you know that you can convert MOV to MP4 online with Adobe Spark? We didn't. It's an awesome service that can get the job done right in your browser.

Simply navigate to the splash page for MOV video conversion and upload a clip. You can trim it or mute it if necessary. Once you sign in, you can download the newly-converted file.

2. Zamzar

Zamzar is a company on a mission— to "provide high-quality file conversion for as many file formats as possible".

To use Zamzar to convert MOV to MP4 free of charge, click the Converters dropdown at the top of the site and select Video Converters. You'll be able to load your files in and convert them online.

The name of the site is a fun literary allusion to Kafka's famous book "The Metamorphosis". In the story, the protagonist, Zamzar, inexplicably becomes a giant insect, symbolic of the transformation that your files will undergo here. Who ever said there's no culture to be found in tech?

3. Wondershare's Media.io

Wondershare's Media.io online video converter is very similar to Zamzar's. This appears to be a service that goes alongside the Wondershare UniConverter 13 application, which we will touch upon soon.

The Wondershare online video converter requires no download and is totally free to use. All that you have to do is upload your file and hit Convert.

4. CloudConvert

Another upload-and-go type of video conversion service. If you're interested in how to change MOV to MP4 without downloading some weird third-party app and none of the preceding sites make the cut for you, CloudConvert is a solid option.

CloudConvert is great because it supports pretty much any file format combination that you can throw at it, MOV to MP4 most certainly included. If you've got less than 25 MOV to MP4 video conversions to do today, you won't even need to pay for a subscription.

Those who do need more will be glad to see that their subscription plan will be determined on a sliding scale, priced according to how much they need to do. With a paid subscription comes a few other benefits: high-priority uploads and no limit on your uploaded file sizes.

Related: How to Compress a Video on Your iPhone

How to Convert MOV to MP4 With a Downloadable Application

For those of us with many video files to process, there are a host of creative apps designed specifically for the task.

For important projects and assignments, all of the following will get the job done, guaranteed. You might already have one or two of these installed on your computer already.

1. Adobe Premiere

While sort of a roundabout solution, Adobe Premiere can be used to convert MOV files to MP4 files. You're basically creating a one-clip sequence and exporting it as an MP4. Call up your video file, toss it into the timeline, and export it as an H.264.

2. Adobe Media Encoder

Media Encoder is the more sensible option here; it's literally built to convert files en masse. Click the plus sign at the top of the queue and import your clip. Choose H.264 as your destination container, select your destination folder, and press play to get things rolling. For batch-processing MOV to MP4, Media Encoder is our top recommendation.

If you've ever exported a video file using either Premiere or Media Encoder, you know exactly how this process works. Nothing crazy to see here.

Related: The Best Free Apps to Trim, Cut, or Split Videos

3. iMovie

iMovie can be used to convert video files just like Premiere. All that you have to do is import your MOV, add it to the timeline, and export it as an MP4.

Pretty much any type of video editing application can be used in this way—AVID, Final Cut, you name it. If a video program can work with MOV files, there's a good chance that it'll be able to output to MP4, as well.

4. VLC Media Player

Is there anything that the VLC Media Player can't do? Yes, everybody's favorite orange cone can even convert video files from MOV to MP4. How?

From the Media dropdown, select Convert / Stream. Call up your video file and choose your destination profile, MOV to MP4 or otherwise. Hit Save as File to begin your video conversion.

Related: The Best Video Converter Apps for macOS

5. QuickTime Player Pro

Finally, we arrive at the QuickTime app itself, the one that started it all. You can convert MOV to MP4 using QuickTime, but only the Pro version. While the free version of QuickTime can convert video files to some extent, you really only have the option to change the quality of the file, not the file container itself.

To convert video to MP4 with QuickTime Pro, load in your video file and export it from the app with the appropriate output option selected under the Export As dropdown.

Related: How to Compress a Video and Reduce the File Size

The Body Is a Vehicle, and So Are These File Containers

Can you really choose the best file type to use? We would argue not—the best file type to use is the one that your system will accept. If you're working with MOVs and something's got to give, all nine of these applications and web services will get the job done in no time at all. Plug it in, send it off, and watch it fly.

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