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Convert M4V to MOV

Ethical Tube's free M4V to MOV converter turns M4V videos into MOV, Apple's QuickTime video format. It runs entirely in your browser, so your videos are never uploaded, and it's free with no sign-up or watermark.

Files are converted on your device and never uploaded.

Price
Free
Uploads
None, it runs on your device
Sign-up
Not needed
Batch
Unlimited files
Output
MOV (H.264 + AAC)
Install
Nothing to install

How it works

How to convert M4V to MOV

  1. Add your M4V files

    Drop M4V files onto the converter, click to choose them, or paste from the clipboard. Add as many as you like.

  2. Check the settings

    MOV is already selected. Keep the original resolution or pick a smaller one, and choose a quality.

  3. Download your MOV videos

    Each file gets its own download button as soon as it's ready. Download all saves everything in one ZIP file.

The formats

M4V and MOV at a glance

  • What is an M4V file?

    M4V is Apple's version of the MP4 format, used by the iTunes Store and exported by apps like HandBrake and iMovie. An unprotected M4V is essentially an MP4 with a different extension. Movies bought from iTunes are copy-protected (DRM), and protected files can't be converted. It opens in QuickTime, the Apple TV app, iPhone and iPad, VLC, and most players that open MP4.

  • What is a MOV file?

    MOV is Apple's QuickTime format and the default for videos recorded on iPhones and exported from Final Cut Pro and iMovie. It's closely related to MP4 and often holds H.264 or HEVC (H.265) video. Windows and some websites handle MOV less reliably than MP4, and iPhone HEVC videos may not play on older computers. It opens in QuickTime, Photos, and iMovie on Mac, iPhone and iPad, VLC, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Windows Media Player (HEVC videos need Microsoft's HEVC extension).

Good to know

What changes when you convert M4V to MOV

  • If the video and audio already use codecs that MOV supports, they're copied without re-encoding, which is lossless and fast. Otherwise the video is converted to H.264 video with AAC audio.
  • Only the main video and audio tracks are kept. Subtitles, chapters, and extra audio tracks aren't carried over.
  • Re-encoding uses your device's hardware video encoder when it has one, which is often faster than real time.
  • Copy-protected (DRM) files can't be converted.
  • Very long videos can run out of memory, especially on phones.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Is this M4V to MOV converter free?

Yes. It's completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark, and no limit on how many files you convert. It costs Ethical Tube nothing to run, because the conversion happens on your own device rather than on a server.

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. The conversion runs inside your browser with Mediabunny and your browser's WebCodecs video encoders, so your files never leave your device. Once the page has loaded, it even works offline.

Does converting M4V to MOV lose quality?

Not if the codecs already fit: then the video and audio are copied as they are, with no loss. When they have to be re-encoded, the default quality keeps the result visually close to the original. Pick a higher quality for footage you plan to edit.

How long does it take?

When the video can be copied without re-encoding, a few seconds. Otherwise it depends on the video's length and resolution and on your device. With a hardware encoder, a 10-minute 1080p video usually takes a few minutes on a laptop.

Can I convert several M4V files at once?

Yes. Add as many as you like. They're converted one after another, and you can download each MOV file as soon as it's ready or all of them in one ZIP file.

Does it work on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows?

Yes. It works in current versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. Phones handle short clips well, and long or 4K videos convert best on a computer.

What can open a MOV file?

QuickTime, Photos, and iMovie on Mac, iPhone and iPad, VLC, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Windows Media Player (HEVC videos need Microsoft's HEVC extension).

Is there a file size limit?

There's no upload limit because nothing is uploaded. The practical limit is your device's memory: everyday files are fine, and a computer can usually handle videos up to about 2 GB.

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