Video conversion
Convert 3GP to MOV
Updated Jul 2026
3GP is the small, low-quality video format old mobile phones used to save on space and network speed. MOV is the format Mac and iPhone use today. To convert, open the file in a converter and export it as MOV. Doing this on your own computer keeps old phone videos off someone else's server.
- Extension
- .3gp
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Old mobile phones
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .mov
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iPhone / Mac recordings
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert 3GP to MOV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert 3GP to MOV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the 3GP video you want to convert, or drop in a whole folder of old clips at once.
- Choose MOV as the output format.
- Convert. The MOV file is written next to the original, and nothing leaves your machine.
3GP vs MOV: what actually changes
| 3GP | MOV | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Very small, built for old mobile networks | Larger, since it holds more detail per frame |
| Video quality | Low resolution, heavy compression | Higher, though converting can't add back detail that 3GP already threw away |
| Audio quality | Basic, often compressed for phone calls | Carries over as-is, no improvement, just a format modern software reads |
| Plays on modern devices | Rarely, most current phones and computers have dropped support | Yes, native on Mac and iPhone, and widely supported elsewhere |
| Editing support | Little to none in current video editors | Broad support for trimming, editing, and sharing |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert 3GP to MOV when you want to open old phone videos on a Mac or iPhone, edit them in current video software, or send them to someone whose device no longer plays 3GP at all.
If the 3GP file already plays fine on whatever device you use to view it and you don't need to edit or share it, there's no real reason to convert it.
Why not just use an online converter?
3GP files are usually old, personal recordings, home videos, kids growing up, voice messages from a first phone. Handing them to an online converter means that footage gets uploaded to a server you have no visibility into. Converting on your own computer means those old clips stay wherever you decide to keep them, nowhere else.
Questions
Does converting 3GP to MOV improve the video quality?
No. The quality was set when the video was originally recorded and compressed, and converting can't add detail back. What you get is the same picture in a format modern devices can actually open.
Why won't my old 3GP video play on my Mac or new phone?
3GP was designed for early mobile networks, and most current devices, especially Apple's, have dropped support for it. Converting to MOV fixes that without touching the picture itself.
Does the video keep its original recording date after converting?
Sometimes. If the 3GP file has a reliable creation date stored in it, that can carry over to the MOV. Many old phone videos don't store much metadata to begin with, so it depends on the source file.
Can I convert 3GP to MOV without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it's never sent anywhere. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts 3GP, MOV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.