Quick answer: To convert M4V to MP4, add the file and press Convert. M4V files almost always hold H.264 video and AAC sound, which are copied into the MP4 unchanged, so it takes seconds and loses nothing. Copy-protected iTunes Store purchases cannot be converted. Nothing is uploaded.
M4V is Apple's flavour of MP4. Some players, editors and upload forms only accept files ending in .mp4, so this re-packs your M4V as a standard MP4, usually in seconds.
M4V to MP4 at a glance
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit |
|---|---|
| Accepts | M4V |
| Largest file | 2 GB per file, several files at once |
| Where it runs | In your browser: files are never uploaded |
| Works on | Chrome and Edge, Safari 17+, Firefox 130+ on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Send the result | Download it, or send it free with a link or by email (up to 20 GB) |
How to convert M4V to MP4
- Choose one or more M4V files.
- Keep “Plays everywhere” (H.264) unless you know the file holds HEVC you want to keep.
- Press Convert M4V to MP4 and wait a few seconds.
- Download the MP4 files, as a ZIP if there are several.
M4V and MP4: almost the same file
M4V is the MPEG-4 container that Apple uses for iTunes videos and that HandBrake and some Apple apps can write. Inside it is usually exactly what an MP4 holds: H.264 video and AAC sound, sometimes with chapter markers or an AC-3 surround track. Converting mostly means writing the same streams into a file that says MP4, which is why it is fast and lossless.
Why not just rename the file?
Renaming .m4v to .mp4 often works, but not always: M4V files can carry Apple-specific extras that strict players, smart TVs and editing tools reject. Re-packing writes a clean, standard MP4 with just the main video and sound track, so it opens everywhere.
Protected iTunes videos
Films and TV shows bought or rented in the iTunes Store may be protected with Apple's FairPlay DRM. Those files cannot be decoded outside Apple's apps, so no browser tool can convert them, and this one will tell you it cannot read them. Your own videos, HandBrake rips of your own discs and exports from Apple apps convert normally.
How this compares
| This tool | Online converters (e.g. Clideo, FreeConvert or CloudConvert) | Desktop apps (e.g. HandBrake) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your file is uploaded | No | Yes, to their servers | No |
| Install or account | None | Account for some features | Install needed |
| Watermark or daily limits | None | Common on free plans | Depends on the app |
Plans of other services change; check their sites. More video tools.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting M4V to MP4 lose quality?
No, when the video is H.264, which is almost always the case: it is copied unchanged into the MP4.
Can I convert iTunes movies?
Not copy-protected purchases or rentals. Only M4V files without DRM can be read.
What happens to chapters and extra audio tracks?
The main video and the first sound track are kept. Chapters, subtitles and extra audio tracks are not carried over.
Is it safe for private videos?
Yes. The conversion runs in your browser; the files are never uploaded.
Need to send a big file?
Send files up to 20 GB with a download link or by email. Free, no account needed, original quality.
Send large files free