How to Convert M4V to MP4
It is easy to open the M4V files in iTunes and QuickTime Player. However, when it comes to iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Android phone, Windows Media Player, VLC, etc., M4V files become incompatible.
To solve the problem, you need to convert M4V to MP4, the most popular format accepted by almost players and editors.
That’s what we shall talk in this post, 6 ways to convert M4V to MP4 with converters.
[Part 1. What Is M4V?
M4V, similar to MP4, is the video container developed by Apple to encode video files in its iTunes Store. A FairPlay-protected M4V file can be played on a computer authorized using iTunes via iTunes and QuickTime. The unauthorized M4V productions will be prevented from playing.
On the contrary, the M4V files can be opened with many players like VLC, Media Player Classic, MPlayer, etc.
Part 2. How to Change M4V to MP4
For playing M4V files on some video players that can recognize it, the easiest way is to change the extension from .m4v to .mp4.
Just right click the M4V video file name, and click Rename, after that, change the extension directly.
After that, just try the player to play the MP4 file directly.
Surely, if the video player does not recognize the extension of MP4, you need extra steps to convert M4V to MP4 in the next part.
Part 3. 4 Ways to Convert M4V to MP4
For those M4V files, you should find the M4V converter to turn M4V to MP4 for playing on VLC, Zoom Player, RealPlayer, etc.
Convert M4V to MP4 Online with Desktop Freeware
FVC FLV to MP4 Converter is an easy-to-use converter that allows you to convert M4V, FLV, MOV, or other common formats to MP4 quickly. It is totally free to use and it supports the batch conversion to save your time.
Step 1: Free download the software on your computer. After the installation, open it and then click the Add File(s) button to add your M4V files to the program.
Step 2: Go to the Output format field and choose the MP4 format from the General Video tab.
Step 3: In the end, hit Open Folder to choose the destinaltion for saving your converted file, and then click the Convert button to start the conversion from M4V to MP4.
Free Convert M4V to MP4 Online
The easiest way to convert M4V to MP4 is using the free online converter.
Free Online Video Converter is the free M4V to MP4 converting software online. It can transcode non-protected M4V files to MP4 videos in batch. Moreover, it lets you adjust the output video and audio codec and select the resolution for your device. Only 3 steps, you can finish the whole process on Windows and Mac computer.
Step 1. Go to this free M4V to MP4 converter online, and click Add Files to Convert button to download the converter launcher on your computer.
Step 2. In the pop-upped Open-Source window after the successful installation of the launcher, you need to pick up the M4V files on your computer.
Step 3. Select the checkbox of MP4 and click Convert to find the location to store the converted MP4 files, and it will start converting M4V to MP4.
While the conversion process is done, the converted MP4 files will be downloaded into your computer automatically.
Free Transcode M4V to MP4 via VLC
VLC is popular media player to play M4V files directly. Besides, it can be the M4V to MP4 converter to change the non-protected M4V files to MP4 on your computer.
Step 1. Download VLC on your computer. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, and you can download whatever version into your computer.
Click Media in the top menu, and select Convert / Save… option.
Step 2. Click the Add button to import the M4V files from your hard drive on your computer.
After that, select Convert from the drop-down option of Convert / Save option at the bottom.
Step 3. Select the MP4 as the output format from the drop-down list of Profile. Click Start to turning M4V into MP4 immediately in VLC.
You can check the progress bar in VLC to see if the M4V to MP4 conversions are done.
Free Convert M4V to MP4 with HandBrake
Another free M4V to MP4 converter for Mac, Windows and Linux computer is HandBrake.
HandBrake is the open-source DVD, Blu-ray and video converter. It can convert nearly any video into MKKV and MP4.
Step 1. Download the Handbrake software on your computer. By default, Open Source dialog launches while starting this software, which lets you select the M4V videos you want to open.
Step 2. Next, click the Summary tab and choose MP4 from the Format drop-down menu as the output format. Filters, video codecs, and other file parameters are optional for you to edit.
Step 3. Set the destination to store the converted MP4 files under the Destination section, and click Start button on the toolbar to start converting M4V into MP4.
You may notice that sometimes the converted files will be the extension of .m4v on Mac computer. Why does HandBrake save MP4 as M4V?
Part 4. How to Convert M4V to MP4
The above M4V to MP4 converters can solve the M4V conversion. Additionally, you can use the recording way to save the M4V files into MP4 videos or other popular file formats.
There are many online screen recorders that can record what is playing on your computer and export MP4 videos.
Here, take FVC Free Screen Recorder as the example to show you how to record M4V videos and export MP4 videos.
Step 1. Visit https://www.free-videoconverter.net/free-screen-recorder/ on your browser , click Start Recording, and it will pop up the launcher that you need to install.
Step 2. After the successful installation, you can see the main interface. Here, you need to select the recording area, enable the System Sound and disable Microphone to record the iTunes video audio only.
Click Settings to set hotkeys for recording, select MP4 as the output format, adjust the video quality, video codec, frame rate, etc., and set the destination to save the recorded MP4 video.
Step 3. While all the settings are satisfied, play the iTunes videos via QuickTime or iTunes, and just click REC button to start record the iTunes videos. While the stop button will discontinue the video recording and save the M4V video as MP4 file.
Part 5. FAQs of Converting M4V to MP4
What is M4V compatible with?
The DRM protected M4V files are only compatible with iTunes and QuickTime. For those non-protected M4V files, you can play them on Media Player Classic, K-Multimedia Player, RealPlayer, Zoom Player, VLC media player, MPlayer, DivX Plus Player, Nero Showtime, the web video player for use on the Palm Pre, and Palm Pixi smartphones and Android phone. The M4V videos produced by HandBrake can be played on PlayStation 3 with full Dolby Digital 5.1 surround support.
Is there a difference between M4V and MP4?
The primary difference between M4V and MP4 is that M4V files may be optionby DRM copy protection, while MP4 is not encrypted.
Can you upload M4V to YouTube?
Yes. YouTube allows you to upload the non-DRM protected M4V files, while the DRM protected M4V files are not accepted by it.
Why does HandBrake save MP4 as M4V?
By default, when you output MP4 files are encoded with AC3 and subtitled with SRT or enabled chapter markers, the extension of .mp4 will be changed into .m4v.
Conclusion
M4V files are DRM protected and you can only play them via iTunes or QuickTime player via the iTunes account authorization. Besides, the M4V file is not as popular as MP4. Converting M4V to MP4 is the smart idea to open the M4V files on any player or editor. This post shares 6 ways to convert M4V to MP4. You can change it directly online with the free online video convert. Moreover, you can download the desktop software to turn M4V to MP4 on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Which solution is your favorite?
Let me know by leaving your comments below.