iPhone Video Converter: MOV and HEVC to MP4

Make an iPhone video play everywhere. Converts MOV and HEVC recordings to standard H.264 MP4 without uploading anything.

How to use the iPhone Video Converter tool

  1. Choose the video from your iPhone or your computer.
  2. Leave the quality on High.
  3. Press Convert.
  4. Download an MP4 that plays anywhere.

About this tool

iPhones record in a QuickTime MOV container, and since iOS 11 the default codec is HEVC (H.265), which Apple calls "High Efficiency". It makes smaller files, but Windows often needs a paid codec to play it, Android support varies, and many editors and websites reject it outright.

This tool re-encodes the video to H.264 inside an MP4, which is the combination that plays on effectively every device, website and editor made in the last fifteen years. Whether an iPhone video can be read at all depends on your device's HEVC support: Safari on a Mac or iPhone handles it, Chrome and Edge do on hardware that supports it, and Firefox generally does not.

Why use ToolsCrow for this

  • Solves the HEVC problem. Outputs plain H.264 MP4.
  • Works on the iPhone itself. Convert in Safari without an app.
  • No upload. Personal footage stays on your device.
  • No watermark. Free with no account.

Good to know

  • HEVC decoding depends on your device. If your browser refuses the file, open this page in Safari on your Apple device, or set Camera > Formats > Most Compatible on the iPhone to record H.264 in future.
  • Re-encoding HEVC to H.264 usually makes the file larger, because H.264 is less efficient. That is the trade-off for compatibility.

Frequently asked questions

Is my video uploaded to a server?

No. Everything runs inside your browser tab using your own device's video hardware. Your file is never sent to ToolsCrow or anyone else, which also means there is no waiting for an upload and it keeps working if your connection drops after the page has loaded.

Is it really free? Is there a watermark?

It is free with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limits. The only limits are the ones your device sets: memory and processing power.

How large a video can I use?

Because the video is processed on your device, the limit is your device's memory rather than a server quota. Phone clips of several hundred MB are fine on most devices, and desktop computers usually handle 1 to 2 GB. Files over about 4 GB are not supported.

Which browsers work best?

Current Chrome, Edge and Safari (16.4 or newer, including iPhone and iPad) work best because they include the WebCodecs video engine. Recent Firefox versions work for many files. Older browsers fall back to a much slower real-time mode or may not work at all.

Why will my iPhone video not play on Windows?

Because it is HEVC (H.265) in a MOV container. Windows needs a codec package for HEVC. Converting to H.264 MP4 removes the problem entirely.

How do I stop my iPhone recording HEVC?

On the iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose "Most Compatible". New recordings will be H.264.

Will the file get bigger?

Often yes, since H.264 needs more bits for the same quality. Run the result through the Video Compressor if size matters.

My iPhone video will not open. Why?

iPhones often record HEVC (H.265). Whether a browser can decode HEVC depends on your device: Safari usually can, Chrome and Edge only with supported hardware, Firefox generally cannot. If your video is rejected you will see a clear message rather than a broken file. In iPhone settings, Camera > Formats > Most Compatible records H.264 instead.

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What users are saying

Usman Farman

Does One Job Perfectly: iPhone Videos That Finally Play Everywhere

This iPhone Video Converter solves a problem almost every iPhone user has hit at least once.. a video that plays flawlessly on your phone but refuses to open on a laptop, a smart TV, or a client's computer. It converts MOV and HEVC recordings into standard H.264 MP4, the one format that plays everywhere.