Today, most people consider MOV files to be an outdated format, and since it’s more convenient to use MP4 files, you’ll want to know how to convert MOV to MP4. If you still have an extensive collection of old MOV files taking up space on your Mac, you may convert them into an MP4 file format with a little bit of patience by following these step-by-step instructions.

Difficulty

What You Need

MOV file you want to convert

Internet connection

Our favorite method is theonline converterCloudConvert. It’s free to use, quick, and works on both Macs and PCs as long as you have an internet connection. In this guide, we’ll show you how to use CloudConvert to convert MOV files to MP4, and we’ll go over a couple of offline conversion options as well.

How to convert MOV to MP4 in browser

It’s been our go-to choice for years, but given you have to upload your video files to a remote server, keep in mind that the company that converts your video may have access to it. And when using online conversion methods, we think it’s worth noting that you should always practice some level of restraint with converting potentially inappropriate or private videos. But CloudConvert appears to be a great online file conversion option with no serious complaints against it that we know of.

We also recommendOnline-Convert.comas another excellent conversion tool.

Here’s how to convert MOV to MP4 using CloudConvert:

Step 1:Fromthe CloudConvert homepage, click theSelect filebutton. Pick the MOV file you’re going to convert, then selectOpenfrom the File Explorer screen’s bottom corner.

Step 2:On the next page, select theDown arrowicon next to the phraseConvert to. Then, chooseMP4from the menu that appears.

Step 3:Select theConvertbutton to the right. Once the conversion is complete, CloudConvert may automatically play your newly converted video file for you so you can see if the conversion is how you want it to look. If the video looks fine to you, you can download the file by selecting the greenDownloadbutton.

The file will go to your Downloads folder, and from there, you can watch your MP4 video on any compatible device or platform.

How to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac

Macs come with a surprisingly versatile video editor built right in, and it’s completely free. We’re talking about iMovie. The best part about using iMovie to convert MOV to MP4 is how simple the entire process is. Let’s dive right in.

Step 1:Launch iMovie.

Step 2:SelectFilefrom the top-left menu and then chooseNew movie.

Step 3:SelectImport media.

A file browser will open, and you can select the MOV file you want to convert.

Step 4:Select the MOV file to convert, and then chooseImport selected.

Step 5:The MOV file will appear in iMovie.

Select it so a yellow box appears around the file. Then selectFile>Share, and then chooseFilein the drop-down that appears.

Step 6:Choose1080pfor the resolution and then selectNext.

Step 7:Select a file name and location for your file. iMovie will automatically convert the file to MP4. Easy!

How to convert MOV to MP4 on Windows

Converting a MOV file to MP4 on Windows is not as easy as it is on Mac, but it’s not impossible. You can do it with third-party apps such as Handbrake, but it’s a lot easier to use the built-in Photos editor.

Step 1:Right-click on your MOV file and then hover overOpen withand selectPhotos.

Step 2:When Photos opens with your MOV file displayed, select theVideo trimicon at the top of the Photos app window. The icon should look like a simple image icon with a pencil in front of it.

Step 3:At this point, it gets a little weird, but stay with us. If you need to trim your video go ahead and do so.

If you don’t want to trim it, it is still important that you at leastattemptto do so, so that theSave as copybutton becomes clickable. Move the trimming sliders around, release the sliders, and them move them back to their original positions (if you don’t want to trim the video).

Then select theSave as copybutton.

Step 4:Find where you want to save your file, and then click on theSave as typedrop-down menu.

SelectMP4from the list.

Step 5:ClickSave.

There are plenty of ways to convert an old outdated MOV file to a shiny new MP4, regardless of which platform you’re on. Many tools are baked right into the operating system, as with Windows Photos app and Apple’s iMovie. Then there are third-party options such as CloudConvert, which can handle pretty muchany file typeyou throw at them, (even flv). You never again have to worry about that old MOV file.