How to Change Video Format (6 Ways) (2023)

How do I change the video format? (6 ways available)

Sometimes you get a video file that won't open on your computer. It could be a file from a phone, or a file you downloaded online, or a file someone sent to your phone. The video player on your computer or phone may say it can only format "XYZ" or just say it can't open the file. So here are some of the top reasons someone would need to change the file format

  1. The person you send the data to cannot play the MOV files on their computer.
  2. Reduce video file size. Some video formats are smaller compared to others.
  3. Email video files, but large files cannot be attached.
  4. When uploading files to YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter, smaller videos load faster.

Here the question arises: how to change the video format? How do I change a file format to MP4? What should I convert my video to?

In this post, there are six ways to change video format. Includes free software for Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android users. The list also consists of an online tool that works on any device and platform.

How to change video format in Windows for free

If you are a Windows user and prefer a free method to change a video format, a free tool is preferable. Here you can try itEaseUS Video-Editoror use the Photos app for help.

Method 1. Change video file type with EaseUS Video Editor

EaseUS Video Editor is a free software that allows you to change video format on Windows for free. You can just drag and drop the video to the timeline and bulk convert videos to almost any size. Here is the complete list for which you can change video format:

  • MP4, AVI, WMV, MKV, MOV, GIF
  • YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, Vimeo and more

Free download

Windows11/10/8/7

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EaseUS Video Editor offers a user-friendly interface. Besides converting videos, it also offers a professional editor that allows you to create movies for any occasion. Birthdays, weddings, family trips, whatever.

The editor also offers six types of effects including text, filters, overlays, transitions, elements, and music. Some of your results will appear at the top of videos, while others may appear between two clips. Overall, these effects and the powerful editing features of the video editor will help you create professional and beautiful videos that can be uploaded or shared in any video format.

Method 2. Manually change video format with Photos app

Windows 10 has a built-in phone and video editor that can convert videos from one format to another. It offers full editor, linear timeline, option to split, merge, speed up, add multiple videos and combine. The best part is that it can convert videos to HD MP4 format that can be played on almost any device. It's one thing to change the video format manually. Some files work when renamed to another format, but not all. Therefore a converter is required.

Step 1. Import video

Open the Photos app and go to the video project sections. Then click New Video Project and import the video file by clicking the Add link. Once the video is imported, drop the files onto the timeline.

Step 2. Edit and Export

The obvious next step is to edit the file and remove what you don't want. Then click the Finish Video link and save the file in HD or 720P resolution. Photos app only exports videos in MP4 format.

How to Change Video Format (6 Ways) (1)

Change video file type on Mac

iMovieis a free video editor that comes preinstalled with macOS. It is one of the best editors out there that can not only change video format from file types like MOV to 0 MP4 but also create trailers, movies, add effects and more.

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Step 1. Import video and edit files

Open iMovie with the spotlight and click the down arrow on the menu to import the files. You can import from a connected phone, SD card or any external storage device. Once here, make sure to edit the file to remove unnecessary parts of the video. This will shorten the overall length of the video once the format is changed.

Then you can enhance the video by adding various features. Contains

  • Add audio, titles, backgrounds and transitions
  • Slow motion, fast forward, instant play, rewind and freeze frame
  • Stabilize videos, appropriate color correction, skin tone correction and white balance

All this ensures that your video will look good after conversion as well.

Step 2. Export and convert video file type

How to Change Video Format (6 Ways) (2)

The final step is to convert the video file and export it to the storage device. Click on the File menu and then on Share followed by the file option. Finally, you can choose the resolution, quality and compression type of the video. If you want better video quality, make sure you don't choose faster compression; Instead, choose Best Quality from the drop-down menu.

High-quality output means more time to render the final video. Make sure you don't use your Mac during the conversion, especially skip video playback or GPU related work for faster output.

Change video format online

conversionis an online tool that can change video format online. The best thing about using this online tool is that you can convert to more formats unlike the Windows and macOS app. Formats include MOV, MPEG, MP4, FIVX, M4V and more.

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The other option includes the ability to convert only part of the video by specifying the start and end points, as well as options for video and audio. Here is the list of things you can configure

  • Video:Codec, quality, resize, frame rate, rotate and flip. In the Quality section, you can choose between 240P and 4K UHD.
  • Audio:Codec, bitrate, audio channels, frequency and volume.

It's impressive to see that an online tool offers so many options, including bulk conversion and integration with online storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive.

Note that all online converters have a file size limit. It worked fine for a file size of 100MB without signing up, but if you sign up you get more in the free tier. Here are the details:

  • The maximum file size allowed is 100 MB each
  • You can only convert ten files per 24 hours
  • Convert a maximum of two files at a time
  • OCR is limited to a maximum of 10 pages

Step 1. Add files to the list

Open the online converter and add files to the list. Click the Add more files button and you can add files from Dropbox and Google Drive or a URL that you can use to download files.

Step 2. Choose "Format & Convert".

How to Change Video Format (6 Ways) (3)

Once you have all the files in the list, select the format you want to convert to. You can choose the different file formats for each of the files, which makes this tool stand out from other online converters. Once the conversion is complete, you can download it to your computer.

Video format am Telefon ändern

If using a computer or laptop isn't your thing, there are apps on smartphones that can convert. Luckily, smartphones nowadays have become very powerful and can easily handle the video conversion.

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iMovie for iPhone

The same iMovie app that is available for free on macOS is also available for iPhone. You can use Hollywood-style trailers, choose from 8 themes, create a soundtrack, and support cross-device editing. Once this is done, you can convert the file to YouTube or MP4 format in 4K or Full HD.

Step 1.After importing the movie, you can edit it like on macOS.

Step 2.Export the video in the desired resolution. Please note that if the video is exported in portrait format, you can always change it using the rotation option available in the photo library.

InShotfor Android

It is a powerful mobile video editor in MP4 format and supports HD and Full HD resolution for export. As a mobile app, it can convert videos to a widely supported format.

Step 1.It's similar to iMovie and offers all the necessary editing tools. Once you've selected the file, you'll be given a direct option to cut it before proceeding. This makes it easy to cut the beginning or end of the tool.

Step 2.After completing the basic editing, tap the Save button and choose the output quality. You can also further customize it to set your own resolution.

How to Change Video Format (6 Ways) (4)

Diploma

Now that we've seen all the video editors, it's important to understand which tool is useful. While most of the video editors including iMovie, Windows and the ones on the phone only offer one output format, EaseUS video editor offers many more formats. You can also upload to YouTube and other social media sites and file storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. You not only get a video converter but also an easy-to-use video editor. It offers professional features that are not easy to find in such a simple free tool.

Free download

Windows11/10/8/7

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FAQs

How can I change the format of a video? ›

Here's a guide on how to convert videos to MP4 using this video conversion software.
  1. Download, install, and launch the MP4 files converter. Download Movavi Video Converter. ...
  2. Click Add Media and choose Add Video. Select the files for conversion and hit Open.
  3. Choose the appropriate output format.
  4. Click Convert.
Nov 11, 2022

How do I fix unsupported video format? ›

Installing Missing Codecs in Windows Media Player
  1. Launch the Windows Media Player.
  2. Go to the “Tools” tab and select “Options”.
  3. Click on the “Players” tab.
  4. Check the “Download codecs automatically” checkbox.
  5. Next, click on “OK”.
  6. Now, try playing the video file. ...
  7. Click on “Install”.
Dec 15, 2022

How do I change the video format on my phone? ›

Steps on how to convert MOV to MP4 on Android using Video Converter Android: Step 1: Open the converter app on your home screen. To browse and add MOV present on your device, touch the refresh icon on the top. Step 2: Move to the Convert tab and select MP4 from the codec list.

How do I change the video format on my TV? ›

Convert videos for TV, LCD and LED TV
  1. Add videos. Install and run free Freemake Video Converter. Add all videos you want to convert using "+Video" button. ...
  2. Choose video format. Click "to AVI" or "to MPEG". ...
  3. Convert video for TV. Click "Convert" button to start the conversion process.

What is the correct video format? ›

MP4. MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the most common type of video file format. Apple's preferred format, MP4 can play on most other devices as well. It uses the MPEG-4 encoding algorithm to store video and audio files and text, but it offers lower definition than some others.

How to change file format? ›

How to change file types on Windows 10 by choosing "Save as"
  1. Open the file on your computer. ...
  2. Select the appropriate option from the ribbon bar. ...
  3. Select "Save as" and choose the file type to convert your file. ...
  4. Select "Save" in the dialogue box.
Sep 29, 2021

What are the three types of video formats? ›

What are the different types of video files?
  • MP4. MPEG-4, also known as MP4, is the most common file type for videos. ...
  • MOV. The MOV file format was designed by Apple to support the Quicktime player and is used primarily for video editing. ...
  • AVI. ...
  • WMV. ...
  • AVCHD. ...
  • WebM. ...
  • FLV.

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