Mp4 To Mov Free Mac

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/Video Converter /How to Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac - Ultimate Guide in 2021

MOV is a popular video format file originally developed by Apple. It was intended to support its QuickTime movie player and often used to save videos, movies, etc. It uses an advanced algorithm especially developed by Apple and is compatible across different versions of Mac and Windows operating systems. This page includes several effective and free ways to help you convert MOV to MP4 on Windows 10 and Mac. It also explains the differences between MOV and MP4 and answers whether converting MOV to MP4 loses quality. Now, read this article to learn more about converting MOV into MP4 on Windows or Mac computers.

Over the years, a lot of proprietary file formats have been introduced. MOV was the popular format for those who use Mac computers since it can be played with QuickTime; however, that “was” in the past.

The great thing about MOV is that they are compatible with both Windows PCs and Mac computers. However, this file format is now outdated. Thus, you may want to know how to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac computers.

MP4 is one of the most common and popular video file format nowadays. The reason being it’s compatible with a lot of media playback devices and software. With MOV being outdated, it makes sense to convert it to the MP4 file format.

This article will help you learn the ropes of converting your MOV files into the MP4 video format on macOS computers. The process is fairly easy to understand and implement. Read our guide below to learn how to do it.

Article GuidePart 1. What Are MOV And MP4 File Formats?Part 2. How Do I Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac?Part 3. Other Ways on How to Convert MOV to MP4 (macOS Version)Part 4. Conclusion

Part 1. What Are MOV And MP4 File Formats?

What Is MP4?

MP4 is a storage format for multimedia files. It is usually used to store video. However, it can be used to store other types of media. It is a widely-used format and is compatible with a lot of devices. Technically, the MP4 file format is a digital container file. This means it has compressed video data plus other types of associated data in order to be able to play the video.

However, the MP4 is not the actual video itself. It only is a wrapper around that of the video. Usually, this file type is more compressed – the reason why it’s smaller compared to other video formats. The video data contained in MP4 files are encoded with that of MPEG-4 -- this is a common standard for encoding.

What Is MOV?

MOV is also a digital container file for that of videos and other types of multimedia. It is also referred to as QTFF or QuickTime File Format. This file type was developed by Apple to be used with its QuickTime Player. Again, similar to MP4, videos within MOV files are encoded with the codec MPEG-4.

MOV VS MP4: The Differences

Before we delve onto how to convert MOV to MP4 in Mac, let’s talk about the two file formats. There’s one major difference between MOV and MP4 files. MOV is typically used in Mac environments. It is a proprietary format for files made by Apple especially for the QuickTime Player. On the other hand, the MP4 file format is actually an international standard.

On Mac computers, MP4 and MOV files are generally interchangeable. And, they can be easily played by the operating system. However, other device types have a hard time reading MOV files. That’s why it’s literally important to know how to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac.

In addition, MP4 files are usually smaller since they are more compressed. MOV files are larger in size compared to MP4 formats and have better video quality. So if you convert MOV to MP4, you don't have to free up purgeable space for MOV files anymore. These file types are best for video editing within macOS computers since they’re designed for Apple’s QuickTime.

Part 2. How Do I Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac?

Converting MOV files to the MP4 format? That’s a straightforward process with our top conversion software iMyMac Video Converter. It converts audio and video files to other formats you wish losslessly.

Aside from that, this MOV converter can be used for video editing and playback functions. There’s a huge list of supported input and output formats. Plus, media can be enhanced by fixing shaky, dark, and overexposed videos through upscaling its resolution.

SD (480p), HD (720p), FHD (1080p), and UDH (4K) are all supported. Upscaling and downscaling resolutions are possible with the tool as well. Conversions are done at ultra-fast speeds due to support of hardware acceleration technology for Intel HD Graphics, NVIDIA CUDA, AMD, and NVENC.

Here’s how to use the tool to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac:

Step 1. Download, Install And Launch iMyMac Video Converter

First, you have to download this MOV to MP4 converter app from its official website here. Then, open the installer and follow the prompts on the screen to finish the process. Launching the software is the next step in this section.

Step 2. Add Files And Choose Settings

Place your MOV files inside the software by clicking “Add Files” at the top of the interface. Simply drag and drop as an alternative way of adding your MOV videos. Choose “MP4” as the output format you wish. Change other settings as desired.

Step 3. Select Destination And Convert

Now, select the destination folder where the output file will be saved. Then, click “Convert” or “Convert All” to start the conversion process. Once complete, you will have to visit the destination folder to see a copy of the newly-converted MP4 file(s).

Part 3. Other Ways on How to Convert MOV to MP4 (macOS Version)

Method 01. Can I Convert MOV to MP4 in iMovie?

Can you convert MOV to MP4 in iMovie? iMovie is a built-in tool within macOS computers that can be used to convert video files from one format to another. It is also a video editing tool that can be downloaded within the App Store if you don’t have it in your Mac yet.

Here are the steps on how to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac iMovie:

1. Launch iMovie

Open the iMovie application on your computer by going to Finder and visiting “Applications.” In the list that appears, select iMovie. Once it is launched, choose the menu called “File” and a drop-down menu will be displayed. In this drop-down list, click “New Movie”.

2. Import Media

Click the large button labeled “Import Media” and the media browser will be opened. Choose the file(s) you wish to import and press “Import Selected” in the lower right corner.

After this, the file will be imported to the iMovie interface. Click on this file to display a yellow border surrounding it. Them, press the menu for “File” within its app toolbar. Choose “Share” from the drop-down menu and select “File”.

3. Adjust Output Settings

You can modify the output settings if you wish. You can change the description, tags, format, resolution, quality, and compression speed. After that, click “Next”.

4. Choose File Name and Save

The final step of the process involves choosing a filename and destination folder. Then, press “Save”. The progress bar will be seen as a circle in the upper right portion of iMovie. Once the export process is finished, a desktop notification will show up. By this time, you have learned how to convert MOV to MP4 (Mac) using iMovie.

Tip: If you are using iMovie for a long time and find it's slower than before, you can do something to speed up it.

Method 02. How to Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac Using The “File Rename” Technique

How to convert .mov file to mp4? MP4 is actually a subset of the older MOV format. Thus, you can also simply rename the file to change video format from MOV to MP4 on Mac. No actual conversion is required. This works on macOS and Windows PCs.

Here are the steps on how to do it:

Look for the folder which contains the MOV file and go to that folder location.
Then, right-click on your MOV file and then click “Rename”.This will enable you to change the filename including the extension of the MOV video.
Change the extension from .MOV to that of .MP4. This will be located at the end of the file name.
Once you press “Return” or “Enter” a prompt will be shown asking if you really want to change the extension.
Confirm that you wish to modify the extension of the file. macOS will warn you about it because it can make the file unreadable.
Thus, in your Mac computer, click the button named “Use .MP4” in the displayed window.
Open the newly-renamed file to test it out. It will now be in the MP4 format. Make sure that it is played in your media player within macOS.

Usually, you can rever the extension back to .MOV if it didn’t work. Or, you can try out the next method below.

Method 03. How to Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac Using QuickTime 7 Pro

QuickTime is a built-in tool within previous versions of the macOS. However, you have to download the QuickTime 7 version first. Then, you can enter your registration key in order to enable additional features within it.

Here are the steps on how to convert .mov to .mp4 using QuickTime:

First, you have to download QuickTime 7 from the official website. Then, install it by following the prompts on the screen. Launch the Utilities folder to open the QuickTime Player.
Click the menu labeled “QuickTime Player 7” and then choose “Registration”.Input your key for registration to unlock additional Pro features.
Locate the MOV file you wish to convert to MP4. Now, right-click on the file and make sure you open it with your newly-installed QuickTime app.
Now, press the “File” menu and choose “Export”.This can only be done with the registered version of the program.
Now, click the menu for “Export” and choose the option that says “Movie To MPEG-4”.This will enable you to convert MOV to MP4 format easily.
After that, click the “Save” button to create an MP4 version of your old file. This will take a few minutes depending on the size of your movie.

Method 04. How to Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac Free Online

How to Convert MOV to MP4 free? CloudConvert is an online, web-based tool that can be used on how to convert MOV to MP4 (Mac). It can be used to convert a lot of video files including MP4, WEBM, and AVI. Options are given allowing you to choose quality, video resolution, and file size.

The great thing about CloudConvert is it supports over 200 different file formats for conversion. These include audio, video, documents, archives, images, presentations, eBooks, and spreadsheets. With it, downloading software on your computer is not necessary.

You only need to use a web browser to start converting your files. Data is secure as well since the platform was built and trusted by users since 2012. You can even trim your videos to place a start and end time into your newly-converted file.

Method 05. Using VLC Media Player To Convert MOV To MP4

VLC Media Player is a popular tool among Windows users so you can easily convert MOV to MP4 in Windows. Fortunately, it can also be used within macOS computers to convert MOV to MP4. First, you have to download VLC within your macOS computer. Of course, you have to get the Mac version of the tool.

Now, here are the steps on how to Convert MOV to MP4 Mac with VLC:

Add your file by dragging and dropping it towards the interface of the VLC Media Player. Click the menu for “File” and then choose “Convert/ Stream”.
Then, add the file again by clicking “Add” on the right side of the window that pops up.
Then, click “Convert/Stream” at the bottom of the window.
Then, choose the target format by clicking the drop-down arrow for “Profile”. Make sure you choose the MP4 format.
Select a destination folder as well. Do this by clicking “Browse”.
Finally, click the “Start” button to start the conversion process. Your file will be located at the destination folder you chose earlier.

Method 06. How to Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac Using HandBrake

HandBrake is popular among macOS users when it comes to converting video files. If you want free software to help you with how to convert MOV to MP4 (Mac), then this is the one you should get. The only disadvantage to the tool is you have to go through a learning curve.

The interface doesn’t look that good. However, it still puts in the work to make conversions happen for you. HandBrake can be downloaded from its official website and then installed on your macOS computer.

Part 4. Conclusion

By now you should have learned how to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac. We have given a huge variety of methods to choose from – 7 in total. However, we do recommend using iMyMac Video Converter because of its conversion speed, editing features, and enhancement capabilities.

Getting iMyMac Video Converter for free can be done by downloading it here. You can opt for a free trial to test the product first. Once you get to know the tool, you can purchase it through a secure online payment platform. Enjoy iMyMac today!

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Part 1: MP4 vs MOV

What Is MP4

MP4, also referred to as MPEG-4 Part 14, is a digital multimedia container format for storing video data and other relevant data needed for playing the video (like audio data, subtitles, and still images). The first version of MP4 file format was out dating back to 2001. In two decades of rapid development, MP4 has already become a standard in the industry. MP4 is so popular that all the common operating systems, media players, and gaming devices can support it.

MP4 is developed based on the MOV file format (which will be talked about later); the video data in it is highly compressed without losing too much quality. That’s why the size of an MP4 file is smaller than that of other video file types. Besides, MP4 can be used as a base of other multimedia files, such as 3GP and Motion JPEG 2000.

What Is MOV

MOV, also known as QuickTime File Format or QTFF, is another popular digital multimedia container format designed by Apple for its QuickTime Player. MOV works best on iOS or Mac OS; almost all Apple products and video players can support MOV since Apple created it. MOV is widely used in videos, movies, and other multimedia files.

The concept of tracks was adopted in MOV to store data: a particular type of data is kept on a track. Many such tracks present in the MOV container simultaneously to hold different types of data: video data, audio data, text data, etc. The lossy compression algorithm is used in MOV format to reduce the video size.

Main Similarities & Differences between MOV & MP4

MP4 and MOV share the following in common:

Both MP4 and MOV are popular file containers compatible across multiple platforms.
MP4 and MOV both keep the highly compressed data.
The size of MP4 and MOV files is smaller than videos stored in other formats.
The MPEG-4 format can be used by both the MP4 and MOV container formats.

MP4 and MOV are different from each other in the following aspects:

You’ll find an increase in the file size if you convert MP4 to MOV.
MOV was released by Apple Inc. in 1998 for QuickTime Player while MP4 was released by the International Organization for Standardization in 2001 as an international standard.
MP4 is more popular than MOV; it can be used in almost all operating systems (except for iOS/macOS), media players, and other applications.

Which Video Format to Choose

When to use MOV?

MOV is a better choice than MP4 in a professional environment since MOV supports codecs preferred by common professional editors.
If you tend to use the video files on Mac, MOV is quite safe and efficient.

When to use MP4?

If you want to use or share videos across platforms, MP4 is a good choice since it's a universal file format.
Most streaming platforms recommend you to use MP4 over MOV since it can work with much more streaming protocols.

Mov to mp4 converter mac free no watermark

Part 2: Convert MP4 to MOV Windows 10

How to play MP4 videos Windows 10:

Double click on the MP4 video and wait.
Right click on the MP4 file -> select Open with -> select a player in the list or click Choose another app to select another player.
Open the Windows Media Player or a third-party media player -> follow the on-screen instructions to add videos to the player.

Mp4 To Mov Free Mac File

You can use the same ways to play MOV videos on Windows 10. However, when trying to play MOV in Windows Media Player (the built-in player in Windows systems), you may receive the Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file error message. In this case, you need to fix the problem by:

Converting your video from MOV to MP4
Adding codecs to Windows Media Player
Repairing corrupted MOV videos
Troubleshooting Windows Media Player
Disabling & re-enabling drivers

Use MiniTool Video Converter

How to convert MP4 to MOV (.mp4 to .mov) on Windows 10?

Step 1, you should download a professional MP4 to MOV converter like MiniTool Video Converter.

Please get to know about the software before using it for video conversion to confirm that it won’t bring any damage to your data and system.

Step 2, you should install the software by initializing the setup wizard and following the on-screen instructions carefully.

Double click on the setup file.
Choose Yes in the User Account Control window.
Click Install Now. You can also choose Custom Installation to change the default language and installation path before that.
Wait for the installation to complete.
Click Start Now or close the window currently & run the software later.

Mov Converter Mac

Step 3, you should add MP4 videos and convert them to MOV file format.

Please add the MP4 videos you want to convert into the software by clicking on the Add Files icon/Add Files button at the top left or the big Add Files icon in the middle. If you want to add MP4 files via drag & drop, please close the software and re-launch.
Navigate to the target video files -> select them -> click Open.
Click on the edit button after Target to change the file name and output path for each file. Or click on the down arrow after Output to specify a storage location for all files.
Click on the edit button under Target to select MOV as the target format and choose a resolution for each file. You can also click on the down arrow after Convert all files to to specify the target file format with a favorable resolution.
Click on the Convert button after each file to start conversion separately. Also, you can select all MP4 videos and click on the Convert All button in the lower right corner to batch convert them.

Step 4, you should check the converted files.

Shift to the Converted tab.
Click on the Show in Folder button after each file to check them.
You can also navigate to the output path you set to view the converted files manually.

By viewing the converted files in File Explorer, you’ll find the file extension is changed from .mp4 to .mov.

Note: MiniTool Video Converter can also be used as a MOV to MP4 converter. You only need to load the MOV videos you want to convert and choose MP4 with a desired resolution as the output format in step 3 mentioned above. Other steps to convert MOV to MP4 are the same as that to convert MP4 to MOV. After the conversion, the file extension will be changed from .mov to .mp4.

Are there other choices for MP4 to MOV conversion? Of course, yes. A lot of converters are available for you to use for MP4 to MOV or MOV to MP4 conversion. Besides, you can use the free online converters directly to change the format of your video files.

Use FormatFactory

There are a lot of converters you can download to convert MP4 to MOV on Windows. Let’s just take FormatFactory as an example.

Download, install, and run the FormatFactory app.
Select Video in the left pane.
Click -> AVI WMV MPG…. under Video (these formats, including MOV, are not listed separately).
Click on the down arrow after Out Format to open the drop-down menu.
Select MOV from the list and click Output Setting if you’d like to change the advanced settings like Video Encode, Video Size, Bitrate, etc.
Click on the Add Folder icon to add an entire folder containing MP4 files or the Add Files button to add one or more MP4 files.
Click on the Folder icon at the bottom to select a folder as the destination to store converted files.
Click on the OK button in the bottom right corner.
Select Start from the top menu and wait for the conversion to end.
You can click on the File Information icon to browse the detailed information; click on the Open Output Folder icon to view converted videos, or click on the Play icon to play the converted files directly.

Popular Online Converters

Also, many free converters are provided for you to choose from online. Please follow this guide to convert MP4 to MOV directly on the internet.

Open the browser you usually use: e.g. Chrome.
Type MP4 to MOV into the search box and press Enter.
Choose an online converter you prefer from the searching results.

I choose CloudConvert since it ranks first on my browser.

Click on the Select File button in the middle.
Navigate to the storage path of your MP4 file, select it, and click Open.
If you want to load MP4 files By URL, From Google Drive, From Dropbox, or From OneDrive, you should click the down arrow after the Select File button.
Click on the Convert button and then wait for the uploading and converting process to finish.
Click on the Download button and wait until the downloading process is completed.
Click on the Show in folder link in the Chrome downloads page or navigate to the Downloads folder on your Windows 10 PC manually.
Now, you can check or play the converted video files.

That’s all about how to perform conversion from MP4 to MOV on a Windows PC.

Part 3: QuickTime Player Can't Open MP4

When users are trying to play MP4 on Mac using QuickTime Player, they may fail and receive the QuickTime Player can't open MP4 error.

QuickTime Player can't open “filename”.
The document “filename” could not be opened.

Two of the most possible reasons for causing this error are 1.the MP4 file itself is corrupted or damaged; 2. your MP4 is in an older or specialized media format that can't be compatible with QuickTime Player.

How to Fix When QuickTime Player Won’t Play MP4

Choice 1: search for an app that works with your MP4 file.

You may have installed another app that can support the file format of the MP4 video you try to play.

Open Finder as you usually do.
Locate the MP4 file you want to play.
Right click (or control-click) on it.
Select Open With from the pop-up menu.
Choose from the installed apps in the list that your Mac thinks might be able to open the MP4 file.

If this method failed, please go to search the Internet or Mac App Store for applications that are able to play the current MP4 file.

Choice 2: update QuickTime Player.

Open QuickTime Player on your Mac.
Select Help to see its drop-down menu.
Choose Update Existing Software.
Click Check for update now and follow the instructions to continue.

QuickTime 7 and above can deal with MP4 files as well as other formats. But you should note that QuickTime 7 pro is not a free player.

Choice 3: convert MP4 to MOV.

You have 3 options for MP4 to MOV Mac.

First, copy the MP4 videos to a USB disk -> connect it to a Windows PC -> convert MP4 to MOV by using the converters mentioned in part 2.
Second, search the Internet or Mac App Store for a converter that works with MP4 files on Mac.
Third, open a browser -> search for an online MP4 to MOV converter -> convert files under in-page guidance.

Macos Mov To Mp4

Choice 4 (the last choice): download the MP4 codec pack.

If the video/audio codec used by MP4 is not included in the QuickTime Player built-in codec pack, you can go to CENT (or Softonic) to download the MP4 codec pack for QuickTime as a supplementary.

Attention:

This approach is since it not 100% safe for your computer since it might bring along adware/malware. I advise you to take other choices if possible.

Part 4: Wrap Things up

Both Windows and Mac users sometimes need to convert a video file from MP4 to MOV. This page introduces MP4 and MOV in brief; then, it lists the main differences between them to help you decide which one to choose. After that, several useful ways to convert MP4 to MOV (and vice versa) are shown to you step by step. Hope this can help you deal with the MP4 to MOV or MOV to MP4 issues.