Convert iPhone HEVC Video to MP4 (H.264) — Plays on Windows
iPhones record in HEVC (H.265) MOV by default. Windows 10 needs a paid codec, Chrome refuses outright, and many editors stutter. Convert to H.264 MP4 once and the file plays everywhere.
Step-by-step
Open the file in the Converter
Drop your iPhone .mov or HEVC .mp4 into the Video Converter. The tool detects the HEVC codec and shows a warning if the browser cannot decode it natively.
Select H.264 + AAC output
Choose MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. CRF 23 keeps quality visually identical to the source.
Download and verify
Open the new file in any Windows player or Chrome to confirm it plays smoothly. Optionally run the Metadata Cleaner to strip GPS and device fingerprints first.
Recommended settings
| Source codec | HEVC (H.265) |
|---|---|
| Target codec | H.264 (AVC) |
| Container | MP4 |
| Default CRF | 23 (visually lossless) |
Check before you publish
- Open the converted file in the app that rejected the original. That is the only proof the conversion did what you needed.
- Check the duration and the audio match the source. HEVC files from an iPhone sometimes carry a second audio track or a timed-metadata track that does not survive conversion.
- Compare file sizes. H.264 at CRF 23 typically lands larger than the HEVC original — that is expected, and it is the price of playing everywhere.
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FAQ
Will I lose quality?
At CRF 23 the visual difference is unnoticeable for typical viewing. The file gets ~1.5–2× larger because H.264 is less efficient than H.265.
Will the GPS data be removed?
Not by the converter alone. Run the Metadata Cleaner afterward (or before) to strip GPS, device model, and creation timestamp.
Does this run in my browser?
Yes — every step in this guide uses an in-browser FFmpeg WebAssembly tool. Your video never uploads to a server and never leaves your device.