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) |
Quality check before publishing
- Play the first and last three seconds to catch bad trims, black frames, missing audio, or a visible jump at the end.
- Confirm the exported file matches the important settings above, especially duration, aspect ratio, resolution, codec, and file size.
- Preview once on the target platform or device before deleting the original source file.
- If the clip will be reposted publicly, strip metadata first and verify no private names, GPS data, or device fingerprints remain.
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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.