How to Convert MOV to MP4 (Free Online Ways Included)

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 However, this file format is now outdated.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 With MOV being outdated, it makes sense to convert it to the MP4 file format.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.

Contents: Part 1. Why Convert MOV to MP4?Part 2. Best Converter to Convert MOV to MP4 on MacPart 3. How Do I Convert A MOV File to MP4 in QuickTime?Part 4. How Do I Convert MOV to MP4 for Free Online?Part 5. Other Ways to Convert MOV to MP4Conclusion

Part 1. Why Convert MOV to MP4?

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. Best Converter to Convert MOV to MP4 on Mac

Looking best way to convert 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

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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 MP4 Format

Place your MOV files inside the software by clicking “Add Multiple Videos or Audios” button. Simply drag and drop as an alternative way of adding your MOV videos. Select Convert Format and choose “MP4” as the output format you wish. Change other settings as desired.

Step 3. Select Destination And Convert MOV to MP4

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

Part 3. How Do I Convert A MOV File to MP4 in QuickTime?

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 7 Pro:

1. 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.
2. Click the menu labeled “QuickTime Player 7” and then choose “Registration”.Input your key for registration to unlock additional Pro features.
3. 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.
4. Now, press the “File” menu and choose “Export”.This can only be done with the registered version of the program.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Part 4. How Do I Convert MOV to MP4 for 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.

Part 5. Other Ways to Convert MOV to MP4

Method 01. How Do 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 using iMovie:

1. Open the iMovie application and choose the menu called “File” then a drop-down menu will be displayed. In this drop-down list, click “New Movie”.
2. 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.
3. 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”.
4. 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”.
5. 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 to mp4 on Mac without iMovie? Can I just rename MOV 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:

1. Look for the folder which contains the MOV file and go to that folder location.
2. 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.
3. Change the extension from .MOV to that of .MP4. This will be located at the end of the file name.
4. Once you press “Return” or “Enter” a prompt will be shown asking if you really want to change the extension.
5. Confirm that you wish to modify the extension of the file. macOS will warn you about it because it can make the file unreadable.
6. Thus, in your Mac computer, click the button named “Use .MP4” in the displayed window.
7. 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. 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:

1. 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”.
2. Then, add the file again by clicking “Add” on the right side of the window that pops up.
3. Then, click “Convert/Stream” at the bottom of the window.
4. Then, choose the target format by clicking the drop-down arrow for “Profile”. Make sure you choose the MP4 format.
5. Select a destination folder as well. Do this by clicking “Browse”.
6. Finally, click the “Start” button to start the conversion process. Your file will be located at the destination folder you chose earlier.

Method 04. 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.

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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