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MP4 MOV
File conversion

Convert MP4 to MOV

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Sep 8, 2026
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Is it possible to convert MP4 to MOV?
Yes - MP4 converts to MOV.

You can do it right here with our free converter - no sign-up, and your file is deleted right after.

The fastest route is to use our converter above or run ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mov locally - both finish in seconds and preserve full quality. The one caveat: if you use QuickTime Player on macOS, it re-encodes the video, which takes longer and may slightly reduce quality.

Also to MOV: MXF · R3D · MPEG4

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert MP4 to MOV?

MOV is Apple's QuickTime container, and applications like Final Cut Pro and older Mac editing tools expect .MOV files for import. Some Mac apps also accept MOV more reliably than MP4 when round-tripping between editing and delivery workflows.

How to convert MP4 to MOV

QuickTime Player BUILT-IN

Open your MP4 in QuickTime Player, choose File > Export As, then pick a resolution - the file saves as MOV.

Freemake Video Converter FREE

Add your MP4, choose MOV as the output format, and click Convert - free for Windows.

Command line - ffmpeg CLI

Remux without re-encoding in seconds: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mov

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About these formats

.MP4 MPEG-4 Part 14 Video File

An MP4 file is a video container (MPEG-4 Part 14, standardized 2003) that holds video, audio, subtitles, and chapters in one file. It plays on every phone, computer, browser, and smart TV…

Open .MP4 details →
.MOV Apple QuickTime Movie (.mov)

A MOV file is an Apple QuickTime movie - the default format for video recorded on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. On a Mac, double-click it to play in QuickTime Player. On Windows 10/11, the…

Open .MOV details →

Quality & what to watch

  • A remux with ffmpeg -c copy copies the video and audio tracks unchanged - no quality loss and nearly the same file size.
  • QuickTime Player's Export re-encodes the video to H.264 or HEVC, so output may be larger and take noticeably longer for big files.
  • MOV is not standard on Windows; if the file is going to a Windows machine or a browser, keeping it as .mp4 is usually more compatible.

Frequently asked questions

Is converting MP4 to MOV lossless?
When remuxing with ffmpeg -c copy, yes - the video and audio data are not touched. QuickTime Player's Export re-encodes the video, which causes a small quality reduction.
Will the MOV file be bigger than the MP4?
A remux produces nearly the same file size. A re-encode through QuickTime Player can produce a larger file depending on export settings.
Can I convert MP4 to MOV on Windows?
Yes - use ffmpeg on the command line or a free GUI converter. QuickTime Player for Windows was discontinued in 2016.
Does the MOV keep subtitles and multiple audio tracks?
A remux with ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mov copies all tracks; add -map 0 to explicitly include every stream.