How To Change Video Format On Mac

How to convert video to and from MP4 on a Mac

MPEG-4 or MP4 video files can be viewed on any platform and multimedia device, including Apple tree products. To be sure that your movie will play back on your iPad, iPod Touch, or Sony PSP, you may need to change the initial format of your files, e.g., to convert video to MP4 on a Mac. However, y'all tin use a video converter to change the format – for example, if the video file you desire to transfer to your device is large and in that location'due south non enough gratuitous space left.

Our picks for the listing of video converters to MP4 for Mac are:

Movavi Video Converter
Ultra-fast converter with simple interface, plenty of formats to choose from, and helpful editing tools.
Movavi Complimentary Video Converter
A free version of Movavi Video Converter. It doesn't feature editing and SuperSpeed conversion, just has all the formats bachelor.
CloudConvert
A simple tool that doesn't require installing. It works best for individual pocket-size files.
VLC
A media player with editing and converting features. It may not exist as uncomplicated as the previous picks, simply it plays the majority of existing file formats.
MacX Complimentary MP4 Video Converter
MacX Free MP4 Video Converter lets yous convert MP4 on a Mac in only a couple of clicks. Can target portable devices and convert from DVD disks and folders.
HandBrake
A DVD-ripping tool with additional conversion features. It can approximate the size of your final file before converting.

In this article, you'll find a review of the 6 programs for converting video files. You will besides learn how to choose a Mac MP4 converter and will observe data virtually the MP4 format and answers to frequently asked questions.

Movavi'due south MP4 converter for Mac

Best for: uncomplicated interface and fast speed

With Movavi Video Converter for macOS, y'all tin easily convert to MP4 on your Mac, optimizing resolution and file size. Thanks to support for all popular formats, y'all can use the programme to convert MOV, MKV, FLV, M4V, MTS, VOB, WebM, WMV, and AVI to MP4, rip unprotected DVDs, or extract sound tracks into MP3 audio files. The software offers a lot of editing options besides. The guide below explains how to modify a video format on a Mac in 5 simple steps.

Stride 1. Download and install Movavi'southward MP4 converter for Mac

Download Movavi Video Converter, open the .dmg file, and install the software co-ordinate to the instructions in the popular-up window. So run the program.

Step 2. Open the files for conversion

Click the Add Media button, select Add Video, and add the files y'all want to convert. Note that the programme enables you to catechumen multiple files in one get.

Step three. Cull the output format

Go to the Video tab, click on the desired format category, and select the appropriate preset from the list. You can too detect set-made presets for mobile devices in the Devices tab. If you lot desire to change the default parameters for resolution, audio bitrate, etc., you lot can click the Cogwheel button below the list of formats and make the necessary adjustments at that place.

Pace four. Trim your video (optional)

You tin can too trim your video if needed. To practise this, click the Edit button and select Trim. Place the cutting marker where you want your video to finish and click the Cut button. Now select the fragment you lot want to cut out and hit Delete. So hit Save and Shut.

Step five. Convert the video to MP4 on your Mac

Now you tin choose the destination binder by clicking the Save to button. Now click the Convert button to process the files and wait until the encoding is finished. The output folder will open automatically unless you've unchecked this selection before you lot started.

Movavi Video Converter

The ideal way to get your media in the format you need!

Free MP4 converters for Mac

If y'all need to know how to catechumen video on Mac, this list of gratis converter software will assistance betoken you lot in the right direction. There are a number of programs that contain an MP4 converter for free on Mac computers, and we've gathered some of our favorites for this list. Each product is on the listing because we believe it to perform well at its intended goals. How well these programs rank against each other will depend greatly on your ain feel, goals, and preferences. Therefore, we ask you to go on in listen that the MP4 converters for Mac presented below are listed in no detail social club. Considering they are all complimentary, we recommend that y'all effort all of those that appeal to y'all and determine for yourself which suits your needs better.

Movavi Free Video Converter
CloudConvert
VLC
MacX Free MP4 Video Converter
HandBrake

Best for: getting the experience of a fully-fledged converter for costless

This free version of Movavi Video Converter is even so packed with features. You lot'll be able to catechumen to and from virtually whatsoever media format you lot can think of, including video, sound, and epitome formats. There are over 200 presets available to tailor your conversion to the device of your choice, or you tin permit the software try to motorcar-detect the device. Considering many conversions don't plow out the mode yous intended, this MPEG-iv converter for Mac lets y'all catechumen a small sample of the video first so you tin can see what the terminal results will look like before committing to the settings.

How to convert a video to MP4 with Movavi Complimentary Video Converter

Open Movavi Complimentary Video Converter.
Click on Add Media in the top left corner of the window and and so click on Add Video to select the video files that you'd like to catechumen.
In the Video tab, detect the MP4 format and click on it. A prepare of presets for MP4 files will open. Choose the one that all-time suits your needs.
Click on the Convert push button to begin the conversion. When the conversion is finished, a folder containing the converted files will automatically open.

Best for: Converting video files one at a time or in batches online without downloading any software to your estimator

CloudConvert is a good option for people who desire an MP4 converter for Mac online. Because it'southward a web app, it doesn't require users to download software or find a compatible version for their organisation. The avant-garde settings in the app also allow users to control different aspects of their conversions and output files, such as resolution, attribute ratio, and codec.

How to convert an MP4 video with CloudConvert

Go to CloudConvert.
Click the Add Files button and select the file(south) you desire to convert.
Open the Convert to dropdown carte du jour and select MP4.
If you lot want to control other presets, click on the wrench icon and cull the settings you want.
Click the crimson Convert button.

All-time for: multi-tasking (if you need a player, converter, and video editor)

You may have heard of VLC Media Player before, it'south ane of the nigh popular media players around due to its power to open almost any file format you lot throw at it. The capability has fabricated information technology a standard part of most Linux distributions and a favorite amidst both Mac and Windows users where the native media players are often lacking back up for a few popular codecs.

What you lot might not have known though, is that VLC is too capable of converting to and from that wide array of formats that it supports, making it smashing for use as a Mac MPEG-4 converter. The reason you might non know that is that information technology isn't really designed equally a video converter, and so the process isn't as intuitive equally you may like and the conversion procedure tin can exist slower than a dedicated video converter would be.

How to modify a video format on Mac with VLC

Open the VLC program.
With the VLC program agile, open up its File menu on your Mac'southward card bar.
Click on the Convert / Stream selection. You lot'll detect information technology almost the bottom of the menu. Alternatively, you tin can hit Shift-Command-S on your Mac keyboard to open the dialog.
When the Convert / Stream dialog opens upwardly, you can drag and drop the file you want to convert where it says "Drop media hither." There is also a push in that section you can click on to open your media file manually.
With your media file open in the Convert / Stream dialog, information technology's time to convert the file. From the Choose Profile section, pick the format and preset that you'd like to convert your file to. In that location are two options for MP4 files; one for video and 1 for sound.
If yous'd similar more control, yous can click on the Customize button next to the presets dropdown. From hither you can choose unlike codecs and output formats.
Click on the Save File choice and select the location you'd like your converted file to be placed in. The file volition then exist converted into the new format and saved at that location.

Best for: Converting videos to MP4 format on Mac for playback on iPhones, iPads, PSP, and other devices

MacX Free MP4 Video Converter is a free MP4 video converter for Mac. If you lot're looking for an MP4 converter for Mac that lets you convert to multiple formats for different devices and video publishing platforms, this may exist an option for you. In improver to video conversion capabilities, information technology also allows users to extract sound files and catechumen video files to MP3, as well.

How to convert an MP4 video with MacX Free MP4 Video Converter

Download, install, and open MacX Free MP4 Video converter.
Click + to load the video you want to format, or drag and driblet the file into the converter.
From the dropdown menu, select MP4 every bit your output format.
Click Scan to choose the destination where y'all want to save your output video.
Click Run to salve your converted MP4 video.

Best for: ripping DVDs and converting to MP4

Only as VLC is primarily known as a media player, HandBrake was primarily known as a DVD ripping tool. It includes some dainty DVD-specific features such every bit chapter selection and basic support for extracting subtitles. It can also part as a general Mac MP4 converter as well, and as DVDs get less popular, that aspect of the software is coming to the forefront.

One outstanding feature of HandBrake is the option to use a scrap rate reckoner that volition guess the size of your file before you convert it. This way, you can be sure your file will stay under these size limits you demand while obtaining the maximum quality for those limits. The software can exist a bit buggy, however, and the interface is outdated.

How to catechumen a video to MP4 on Mac with HandBrake

Open up HandBrake.
When the program opens, click on the Source carte option.
Select the Open File option and choose the file yous'd like to convert to an MP4.
Click on Browse side by side to the Destination field almost the elevation of the interface and choose where yous'd similar to salvage your new MP4 file.
Make sure that Container Format in the Preset section underneath the Destination field is set to MP4.
Change whichever options you lot may want to in the settings section on the lower part of the screen.
Click the Start button to brainstorm the conversion process.

How to choose an MP4 converter for Mac

There are a lot of converters out there, so yous might wonder how to make up one's mind which software to use. Below y'all'll find criteria that will likely be helpful in your quest to find the all-time MP4 converter for Mac.

Presets

There are many different target devices out there that you may want to view your converted files on. Considering each device has its own set of best settings for things like resolution and bitrate, creating an optimal conversion between file formats tin require a flake of technical knowledge. It isn't realistic that everyone should have to get out and larn technical specifications for their target devices, then many of the programs on the market place that practise video conversions also come with presets to target the nearly pop devices. The best video converters to MP4 for Mac are going to be the ones that have plenty of presets to account for these devices. You should expect for software that has as many presets as possible, as this will provide you lot with the maximum utility. However, at the very least, you'll want presets for the devices you lot ain and will be targeting with your conversions.

Customization

This is the opposite finish of the spectrum from presets. Mac MP4 converters may exist used to target a specific device, and the software used should certainly make that selection every bit easy as possible for yous. But there may be times when you desire more specific command over how the output file is generated. There is a lot of flexibility in the MP4 codec, Mac power users volition want to be able to excerpt every bit much of that flexibility as possible. For that reason, a good Mac MP4 video converter will besides have the pick to adapt all of the important settings manually if needed. This will permit the converter to be fast and user-friendly when it needs to be, merely too powerful and flexible when that need arises.

Capture capability

Sometimes, when converting a video, you really demand more than just to change the video format. For case, when converting a DVD video, you might need the plan to read extra data such equally alternate audio tracks and subtitles. Some programs are only able to extract the video files for conversions. Others may offer the ability to take the core video and catechumen it to sound only. The best solutions out there will allow you the greatest flexibility to rip any aspect of the DVD that is possible for conversion.

Are free programs expert enough?

A free MP4 converter for Mac will probably get the chore done, depending on your requirements and the quality of the program. Many free programs, however, have either express characteristic sets or are more than difficult to use than they need to be. Gratuitous programs are mostly created in a very commonsensical fashion and are not as focused on ease-of-utilize every bit commercial programs similar Movavi Video Converter are. We've mentioned Movavi Gratis Video Converter on the list already, and so you'll exist able to go a good idea of what benefits y'all'll get from the paid software by downloading and playing with that. If your needs are very basic, or if it isn't something you'll be using very frequently, y'all may be fine using complimentary versions and upgrading only when the restrictions or hassles necessitate it.

What is MP4?

Although about famous for video, the MP4 standard is actually a media container that can comprise any type of media. Audio only files with the .M4A extension are also normally seen. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed the MP4 format using the QuickTime File Format from Apple as a base. The grouping added explicit support for MPEG features such as Initial Object Descriptors to the QuickTime File Format.

The MPEG format is perhaps most popular at present for MP3 sound files, but has its start in the MPEG-1 video standard created back in 1993. MPEG stands for Moving Pictures Experts Group, the organization that developed the standard. MP4 is short for MPEG-4 Part fourteen, which is the actual specification that describes the standard.

File extension	.mp4, .m4a, .m4p, .m4b, .m4r, .m4v
Category	Media container
Video-encoding formats	MPEG-4 or H.264
Audio-encoding formats	AAC
Adult by	International Organization for Standardization
Device and Bone compatibility	All Windows-based devices, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, game consoles like Xbox and Playstation

Frequently asked questions

How to play MP4 on a Mac?

You can open MP4s on your Mac using the default player if the videos are compressed with the MPEG-4, MPEG-2, or H.264 codec. If you want to play an MP4 file encoded with a different codec, you'll need to install a thespian that supports that codec, or simply convert the file to the MOV format.

Why can't QuickTime Thespian open up MP4 files?

Don't know how to play MP4 on a Mac? Effort to open your video with QuickTime Player. An MP4 file can be encoded with various video and audio codecs, and QuickTime Player supports some of them. Then in case your video is encoded with supported formats, playing MP4 on your Mac is possible with QuickTime Player. Notwithstanding, you lot might need to install a special codec component if the codecs used in your MP4 file are not compatible with the player. Alternatively, you can use Movavi Video Converter to change the MP4 codec from H.263, H.265, MJPEG, or ProRes to the MPEG-4 or H.264 codecs supported by the QuickTime Player.

Does iMovie back up MP4?

You tin can play MP4 in iMovie, but there are certain MP4 codecs this Mac plan supports: MPEG4/AAC or H.264/AAC. MP4 files compressed with other codecs are not compatible with iMovie.

Which is the best video format for Mac?

The best video format for Mac is MOV – a native format for QuickTime Actor. MOV files are supported even on older versions of macOS. Newer versions also support MP4's MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs.

How do I convert MP4 to QuickTime?

To convert MP4 to MOV for QuickTime with Movavi Video Converter, follow the instructions beneath.

Download the program.
Add the videos y'all desire to convert.
Select the advisable MOV preset.
Click the Convert button.

For a more detailed version of the guide, follow the link below:

Get to the full version of the guide

Why can't I play MP4 files on my Mac?

If yous cannot play an MP4 file on your Mac, information technology most likely ways that the video uses a codec non compatible with the device. Effort transcoding it to a more widely used code, such as H.264.