Video conversion
Convert M4V to MP3
M4V is Apple's video container, holding both video and audio tracks, while MP3 is an audio-only format. To convert M4V to MP3, open the file in a converter and export just the audio track as MP3. Doing this on your own computer means the video and its soundtrack never have to leave your machine.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .mp3
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- The universal audio format
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to MP3 on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert M4V to MP3
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file, or a whole folder of them, that you want to convert.
- Choose MP3 as the output format, and pick a bitrate if you want a smaller file.
- Convert. Morphjet pulls the audio track out of the M4V and writes it as an MP3 next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs MP3: what actually changes
| M4V | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains video | Yes, video and audio together | No, audio only |
| File size | Larger, because it includes the video | Much smaller, audio only |
| Quality | Lossy video and lossy audio | Lossy, and re-encoding the audio again means a small extra loss |
| Opens everywhere | Mostly Apple devices and apps tied to that ecosystem | Yes, plays on essentially any device or app |
| Metadata (chapters, artwork) | Can include chapter markers and cover art | Basic tags only, like title, artist, and album |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to MP3 when you only want the audio, like a lecture recording, a music video, a podcast episode, or a workout mix, and you don't need the picture.
Keep the M4V if you still want to watch the video part, since converting to MP3 throws the picture away for good.
Why not just use an online converter?
M4V files often hold personal footage, home movies, saved lectures, or downloaded events, not just something you'd want a stranger's server to see just to pull out the soundtrack. Converting on your own computer means that video, and the audio inside it, stay on your machine the whole time, with nothing uploaded anywhere. You end up with the MP3 you wanted without ever handing the video to a service you don't control.
Questions
Does converting M4V to MP3 lose quality?
A little. The audio in the M4V is already compressed, and turning it into an MP3 re-encodes it, adding a small extra loss. For spoken word, lectures, or casual listening it's not noticeable.
Can I convert a purchased M4V file to MP3?
Only if it isn't copy protected. Personal M4V files, like home videos or exports from your own apps, convert fine, but movies and TV episodes purchased or rented from an online store are usually locked with copy protection that no offline tool can remove.
Does the MP3 keep the M4V's chapter markers or artwork?
No. MP3 only supports basic tags like title, artist, and album, so chapter markers and any embedded video thumbnails get dropped.
Can I convert M4V to MP3 without uploading the video?
Yes. Morphjet converts on your own computer, so the file never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.