Summary :
Videos in M4V formats are not compatible for viewing on certain devices. If you’re looking for an M4V converter to convert your M4V file to any other formats for easy playback, then you’re in the right place. This post collects the best M4V converters on the market, including MiniTool Video Converter.
How to use M4V to MP4 Converter. Step 1 - Upload M4V file. Select M4V file from your computer using the browse function. Step 2 - Choose to MP4. Choose.MP4 destination format. We support most video formats. Step 3 - Download your converted MP4 file. Download your converted MP4 file immediately. 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. Go to this free M4V to MP4 converter online, and click Add Files to Convert button to download the converter launcher on your computer. It is one of the best free M4V to MP4 converter that is compatible with working on windows Mac OS. This version can help you convert both video and audio files in over 1,000 formats like MP4, AVI, MKV, DVD, and others to iOS compatible devices (like iPhone, Apple TV, iPad, Apple Generic, and others). Steps on how to convert m4V to MP4 using VLC Media Player: Step 1: Launch the VLC media player and click on 'Media from the menu bar of the software. Select 'Convert/Save' option from the listing that appears. A pop up named as 'Open Media' window will appear. Here click on the +Add File button to browse and load the M4V videos to be converted.
What is M4V?
The M4V file format is a video container format developed by Apple, which is very similar to the MP4 format. The main difference is that you can choose to protect M4V files with DRM copy protection.
Apple uses M4V to encode video files in its iTunes Store and unauthorized reproduction of M4V files may be prevented using Apple’s FairPlay copy protection. That’s to say, M4V files protected by FairPlay can only be played on a computer authorized (using iTunes) with the account that was used to purchase the video.
However, if you are not using a device with a particular iTunes account, you may need to convert the M4V files to a more device-friendly format. Don’t worry. Below are the top 9 best M4V converters. Choose the one you prefer!
1. MiniTool Video Converter
When talking about the best free M4V converter, MiniTool Video Converter is definitely worthy of the name.
With a user-friendly and intuitive interface, it is the best video converter to convert M4V files easily on Windows and enables you to make almost all M4V video files compatible with your devices.
This freeware supports 1000+ conversions between popular video and audio formats and it will save all converted videos to the folder you pre-designated for quick access and management.
Apart from converting video and audio files, it also enables you to download online videos, audio tracks, playlists as well as subtitles from YouTube.
Just give it a try!
Pros:
- Completely free
- No ads, bundles, or watermarks
- Various format supported
- Batch conversion
- Large file processing
- Fast conversion speed
- Optional output quality
- Import a whole folder
- A library of mobile presets
- No Internet required
Cons:
- Only available on Windows
- No edit tools
2. TunesKit M4V Converter
TunesKit iTunes Video Converter is the fastest M4V converter that can convert protected M4V videos to universal MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV, MPG, MP3, etc. at 30X faster speed while retaining lossless HD quality, audio tracks, and subtitles.
Besides, it enables you to change the output video settings, such as video codec, video bitrate, video size, and audio codec, audio channel, etc. With the help of the built-in video editor, you can edit the video by trimming, cropping, or adding watermarks, subtitles, as well as effects.
Pros:
- DRM removal
- Convert at 30X faster speed
- Retain original data
- Fully customizable output video settings
Cons:
- Expensive
- Personal use only
- iTunes required
3. Any Video Converter
Any video converter is another excellent M4V video converter tool. This intuitive video conversion program is easy to use and supports almost all video and audio formats. Besides, the software also allows you to burn video to DVD and download videos and audios from 100+ online video streaming services.
If you need more features, Anvsoft Inc. also provides two more advanced versions, Any Video Converter Pro and Any Video Converter Ultimate. The latter even allows you to remove the DRM protection from videos.
Pros:
- No ads, spyware, or malware
- 100% lossless quality
- URL converting
- Optional output device
- Useful video-editing tools
Cons:
- Request to upgrade when converting
- Limits on video length in the free version
4. Noteburner M4V Converter
When it comes to the professional M4V converter, NoteBurner M4V Converter may come into your mind. With this M4V converter, you can legally remove DRM from M4V files and convert them to MP4 and other media formats at 20X faster speed.
Besides, this program also allows users to customize the settings for the output videos, like bitrate, video size, duration, etc. What’s more, it supports converting M4V videos with multilingual subtitles and all audio tracks kept, including the 5.1 audio track.
Pros:
- 20X faster speed
- Keep AC3 5.1 audio track and preserve subtitles
- Customized conversion
Cons:
- Expensive
- Personal use only
- Not support Mac OS X 10.13 or later currently.
5. M4VGear iTunes Media Converter
Another well-known M4V converter is M4VGear iTunes Media Converter. It is an all-in-one M4V converter that is compatible with Mac and Windows. However, M4VGear is a home edition and it’s only for personal use.
With this professional tool, you can convert iTunes movie purchases, Rentals, TV Shows, and music videos to unprotected video and audio formats like MP4, M4V, MOV, and MP3 at up to 20X faster conversion speeds. Besides, all the multilingual audio tracks and subtitles can be preserved.
Pros:
- Support various output formats and presets
- Preserve 100% original quality
- 20X faster speed
Cons:
- Not support iTunes 12.10 currently
- Only for personal use
6. TuneFab M4V Converter
TuneFab M4V Converter is another advanced M4V converter that can convert iTunes M4V movies/TV shows/music videos to MP4 format while maintaining the original quality. Additionally, it preserves the original Dolby Digital 5.1 track, multilingual subtitles, and so on in the output MP4 files by default.
To provide you with the best visual experience, this software lets you record and save iTunes movies and TV shows (rented or purchased) as high quality 1080p Full HD or 720p HD video based on the quality of your source video file.
Pros:
- A user-friendly interface
- Batch conversion support
- Multi-language support
Cons:
- Expensive
- Export to MP4 format only
7. Zamzar
Zamzar is another online media converter for DRM-free M4V files. It works with multiple modern web browsers on any operating system without any download and installation. Using it, you can easily convert M4V files to any available format.
Moreover, it supports more than 1200 file formats – image, audio, video, eBook, and other types of documents. And the converted file link can be sent to the email address you provided. However, each uploaded file cannot exceed 50 MB.
Pros:
- Free to use
- An easy-to-use interface
- Remarkable conversion speed
Cons:
- Only support DRM-free M4V files
- File size limitation
8. Media.io
Media.io, also known as Online UniConverter, is the best free M4V converter online to convert DRM-free M4V files to your desired format and vice versa. A maximum of 2 files at a time can be added for conversion. And you can download your converted M4V file directly or save it to Dropbox.
Apart from M4V, the site also supports the most popular video formats including MP4, MOV, WMV, 3GP, and more. You can use it totally free without any watermarks on the output video. However, it only supports files no more than 100MB. And the conversion speed depends on the network connection.
Pros:
- Free of cost
- No ads or watermarks
- No download and installation required
Cons
- Convert DRM-free M4V files only
- Convert files under 100MB each
9. ConvertFiles
The last tool we'd like to introduce is ConvertFiles, which supports an array of formats, including M4V. It provides you with a free online solution to convert DRM-free M4V files to your desired format easily, such as MP4, 3GP, ASF, AVI, and other common formats.
It is one of the top-rated online conversion tools that has a simple interface. You can either add the M4V file from your PC or by pasting its online URL. A maximum of 250MB files can be added to the program for conversion.
Pros:
- Free of cost
- Easy to use
- Support multiple output formats
Cons:
- Ads pop up frequently
- Lack of powerful features
10. CloudConvert
CloudConvert is a feature-packed online tool that supports more than 200 different audio, video, document, ebook, archive, image, spreadsheet, and presentation formats for conversion. M4V files for conversion can be added from PC, URL, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, and then be converted to the most popular file formats for free.
The site also lets you edit video codecs, video aspect ratio, video resolution, and other parameters. You can also trim the unwanted parts of the video using the tool. Batch processing and folder monitoring are additional features.
Also read: Is CloudConvert Safe
Pros:
- Handle 218 different formats
- High-quality conversions
- Batch converting is supported
Cons:
- Support up to 25 free conversions per day
- Slow conversion speed
Bottom Line
So many M4V converters are described in detail above. Which one is the best? There is no definite answer. The choice depends on many factors – the frequency of converting files, the amount of M4V files to convert, as well as the length and size of M4V files.
If you want to convert small M4V files or single files, or do not change the video format frequently, online M4V converters are more suitable. On the contrary, if you need to perform format conversion every day, then the best way is to obtain a flexible and stable desktop program, such as MiniTool Video Converter.
Convert Mac Video To Mp4
If you have any questions or suggestions about converting M4V files, please let us know via [email protected] or share them in the comments section below.
M4V Converter FAQ
- Launch VLC on your PC.
- Go to Media > Convert/Save.
- Click Add to import your M4V file.
- Click the Convert/Save button.
- In the Profile drop-down menu, select Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4).
- Specify the output folder and the file name, and click Start.
- Allow iTunes to share iTunes library XML with other applications.
- Run DVDFab DRM Removal for Apple.
- Go to Launchpad and click DRM Removal for Apple.
- Select For Video.
- Add the M4V file to the program.
- Specify the output folder and click Start.
Want to convert iTunes M4V videos to MP4 for playing on non-Apple devices? Have some DRM-protected M4V files that you want to remove DRM? In this article, you will learn how to convert M4V to MP4 on Mac with 2 different solutions! Let's dive right in...
What is M4V
M4V file format is a video container that Apple developed to encode videos, movies, and other content in its iTunes store. It is very close to the MP4 file format, but is occasionally protected by FairPlay DRM copy protection and thus accessible to only Apple devices.
What is MP4
MP4 stands for MPEG-4 and is one of the most widely used container formats that allowing a combination of audio, video, subtitles, and images to be held in one single file. and it can be played on most of the popular devices.
Free M4v Video Converter For Mac Os
Why Convert M4V to MP4 is Recommended?
Compares with MP4 files, M4V videos are FairPlay DRM protected. Thus, M4V can only be played on authorized Apple's products. In other words, outside of the Apple ecosystem, you can do nothing with these files. MP4, on the other hand, is absolutely the most widely used video format. Almost all TVs, computers, portable players, and devices can recognize MP4. It is also the default format for streaming and broadcast as it loads faster.
How to Convert DRM-free M4V to MP4 on Mac
There mainly two types of M4V videos, one is DRM-encrypted and the other is DRM-free. As .m4v and .mp4 files using the same video and audio codecs (H.264), they are all technically mp4 files anyways. So for DRM free M4V videos, we can simply rename “XXX.m4v' to “XXX.mp4”. Once done, it can play on any unfriendly devices and software.
However, the video format is too complicated to just rename the file. Even if you rename the .m4v to .mp4, its file structure is still unchanged. To get an actual MP4 file, you need a video transcoder to convert M4V to MP4 on Mac.
Cisdem Video converter is always worth mentioning. It’s able to make video and audio conversion between over 300 formats, including MP4, MKV, FLV, MP3, FLAC, iPhone, iTunes, iMovie, PSP, Twitter, and so on. You can also edit the video by cropping, watermarking, trimming, as you like before conversion. The software allows you to export files to M4V format. But to import M4V, you have to rename it to a non-DRM format like MP4 first.
Steps to Convert M4V to MP4 on Mac Using Video Converter:
To convert video from M4V to MP4, first, download and install Cisdem video converter on Mac.
Step 1. Add M4V files
Rename .m4v to .mov, .mkv, .mp4, etc., and then open files in the software by clicking the 'File' > “Add File(s)” button or just drag-n-drop. You can convert multiple files simultaneously using the batch conversion function.
Note: If the M4V videos are on your iPhone or iPad, just connect the device to the computer, and drag and drop to directly input the target videos there.
Besides, feel free to modify files before M4V to MP4 conversion, if necessary. Press the pen icon in the top right corner of the file name to crop, trim, deinterlace, watermark, or add subtitles to the video.
Step 2. Set MP4 as the output format
Click the output format option, and then select MP4 as the output file format. If you want to convert video for a particular mobile device, just plug the device into your computer and the program will detect and choose the right format for you. Press “Convert” to start the batch conversion task. When done, the folder containing the converted files will open automatically.
How to Convert DRM-ed M4V to MP4 on Mac
Using the above method, many people can easily change DRM-free M4v to MP4. However, when it comes to iTunes DRM protected M4V files, things get a lot more difficult even though we have already purchased it. If the video is DRM-protected it should stay as m4v, and you can’t change its extension to play it. In this case, we’ll need to strip the video of its DRM.
TunesKit is the app that can losslessly remove DRM encryption from rented and purchased iTunes movies, and convert it from M4V to MP4, MOV, MKV, and other formats in very fast speed and high quality. and is compatible with both Mac and Windows.
Convert To Mp4 Mac
- Open iTunes
- Then, install and launch Tuneskit. Drag and drop the DRM videos from the iTunes folder to TunesKit.
- Hit “Convert” to convert the DRM protected iTunes M4V movies.
- When the process is done, click the “Converted” button to get the files you need.
Note that TunesKit is only compatible with an iTunes version lower than 12.6.2. If you have the latest version of iTunes, please use the first method.
FAQ
Can Requiem Convert DRM M4V to MP4 on Mac
Requiem is the no.1 talked free app that can remove DRM from songs, videos on iTunes. However, Requiem hasn’t updated since 2012 Version 4.1, and can only support iTunes 10.7 or earlier, also, it can not work with Mac OS X 10.8 or above. which is a very old fashioned way, and most of the tutorials on the web are all using the Windows version of Requiem to convert DRM protected files to MP4, which is very complicated so we advised you don’t use Requiem to convert M4V to MP4 on Mac.
Can I Convert M4V Videos to MP4 with Handbrake?
“Can I use handbrake to remove DRM from iTunes M4V movies' is a commonly asked question by most Mac users. Though as a well-known free video converter and DVD ripper, handbrake can convert M4V format, in the official site, it states clearly that it can’t convert any files that are DRM protected, Therefore, quite obviously, you can’t turn DRM protected M4V videos to MP4 with Handbrake. If someone told you that you can convert M4V to MP4, they are only restricted to the non-DRM M4V video types.
Can VLC Convert M4V to MP4?
VLC is a very popular Mac video player that also has the ability to convert videos, Though VLC works perfectly to convert the M4V files to other formats. But when it comes to copy-protected iTunes movies, that's a totally different story, as it is unable to remove DRM (eg: convert m4v to mp4). If you add an iTunes M4V video to VLC, it will not recognize it, let alone convert it.
Conclusion
The above two methods are tested by us and can help you convert M4V to MP4 on Mac. Each of them has their own unique advantages and disadvantages, Regardless of which method you ended up following, I hope one of the methods above will help you turn M4V movies to MP4 If you have other methods that work please leave it in the comment below.