Video conversion
Convert M4V to MOV
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is the video format iTunes uses for movies and TV downloads, while MOV is the format most Mac video and editing software expects. To convert M4V to MOV, open the file in a converter and export it as MOV. Doing it on your own computer keeps the video off other people's servers, with no upload required.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .mov
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iPhone / Mac recordings
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to MOV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to MOV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file you want to convert, or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose MOV as the output format.
- Convert. The MOV file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs MOV: what actually changes
| M4V | MOV | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | iTunes purchases, downloads, and rentals | Recording and editing on iPhone and Mac |
| File size | About the same as MOV, since it's the same video and audio in a different wrapper | About the same as M4V |
| Quality | No change if the video isn't re-encoded | Same, unless the app re-encodes it |
| Copy protection (DRM) | Purchased iTunes videos are often locked with DRM | No DRM |
| Works in editing software | Rarely accepted directly | Yes, the standard format for Mac editing tools |
| Plays on Windows | Only through iTunes or Apple software | Yes, with a compatible player |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to MOV when you want to edit an iTunes video, bring a personal recording into editing software, or open the file in an app that only recognizes QuickTime's MOV format.
If the M4V is a purchased or rented iTunes movie with copy protection, it can't be converted at all, so keep watching it in Apple's own apps instead.
Why not just use an online converter?
M4V files are often personal, home movies, kids' recitals, downloaded shows, not something you want passing through a stranger's server just to change the wrapper. An online converter uploads the whole video before handing back a MOV. Converting on your own computer skips that step entirely, the video stays on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting M4V to MOV lose quality?
Usually not. Most M4V to MOV conversions just repackage the same video and audio into a different container without touching the footage itself. If the app has to re-encode the video, there may be a small quality change.
Can I convert a DRM-protected iTunes movie to MOV?
No. If you bought or rented the movie through iTunes, it's usually locked with Apple's copy protection, and no converter, including Morphjet, can remove that. This works for M4V files you created or downloaded without protection.
Why would I need MOV instead of M4V?
MOV is the format most Mac video and editing software expects, while M4V is really an iTunes-specific format. If you're editing, archiving, or moving a video into software that doesn't recognize M4V, MOV is the safer choice.
Can I convert M4V to MOV without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts the file locally on your own computer, so it never touches the internet. You can turn off wifi and it still works.
Does the MOV keep chapters or purchase info from the M4V?
Chapter markers usually carry over, but iTunes-specific extras like purchase and rental information do not, since MOV has no place to store them.
Morphjet converts M4V, MOV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.