Video conversion
Convert M4V to MP4
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is the video container Apple uses for iTunes movies, TV shows, and podcasts, and it's built on the same technology as MP4, just wrapped differently and sometimes locked to Apple's own apps. To convert M4V to MP4, open the file in a converter and export it as MP4. Doing this on your own computer keeps the video off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .mp4
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- The universal video format
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to MP4 on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to MP4
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file or a whole folder of them.
- Choose MP4 as the output format.
- Convert. The MP4s are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs MP4: what actually changes
| M4V | MP4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, mainly Apple's own apps and devices | Yes, plays in nearly any video app or device |
| File size | Same video underneath, just a different wrapper | Same, the conversion itself doesn't shrink or grow it |
| Quality | Same everyday video compression as MP4 | Same, since the video usually isn't re-encoded |
| Copy protection | Can be locked if it's a purchased or rented iTunes movie | None, works only on M4V files that aren't locked |
| Editing and upload support | Limited, many editors and sites don't recognize it | Wide, the format most editors and sites expect |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to MP4 when you want to play a video outside of Apple's own apps, drop it into a video editor, or upload it somewhere that doesn't recognize the M4V extension.
Leave it as M4V if it's a movie or show you bought or rented through iTunes, since those files are usually locked and won't convert anyway, and there's no reason to touch a file you only ever watch in Apple's own apps.
Why not just use an online converter?
M4V often holds personal footage, like a home video exported from an Apple editing app, not just store-bought movies. Uploading that clip to an online converter means it sits on a stranger's server while it processes. Converting it on your own computer means the video never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting M4V to MP4 lose quality?
Usually no. M4V already uses the same everyday video and audio compression as MP4, so converting is mostly a matter of changing the wrapper around it rather than re-encoding the picture.
Can I convert a movie I bought or rented from iTunes?
No, in most cases. Purchased and rented videos are locked to prevent copying, and no converter can legally get around that. This works for your own unlocked video files, like home movies or downloads without that restriction.
Why won't my M4V file open in some apps?
M4V was built for Apple's own ecosystem, so a lot of non-Apple software and some smart TVs and media players simply don't recognize the extension, even though the video inside is ordinary. Renaming or converting to MP4 usually fixes it.
Can I convert M4V to MP4 without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to travel over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts M4V, MP4, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.