HEVC to MP4
Convert HEVC to MP4 with H.264 video that plays almost anywhere. Free, no sign-up, no watermark, and nothing is uploaded.
- Free & unlimited
- No sign-up
- Files never uploaded
- No watermark
- Up to 2 GB per file
How to convert HEVC to MP4
The converter opens in Re-encode mode, which is what an H.265 file needs to play on more devices.
- 1
Pick your HEVC file
Drop an .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .hevc or .h265 file on the page. Its size, duration and resolution appear before you start.
- 2
Choose quality and resolution
High, Medium or Small file sets how much the H.264 copy may grow. Resolution can stay Original or go down to 1080p, 720p or 480p.
- 3
Convert and save the MP4
Click Convert to MP4 and keep the tab open while it works. The result shows the original and converted sizes side by side, with the same file name ending in .mp4.
Why use this HEVC to H264 converter
H.264 output by default
Re-encode writes H.264 video and AAC audio, the pairing Windows, older smart TVs, browsers and most editors open without an extra codec.
Settings you can see
High, Medium and Small file are x264 CRF 18, 23 and 28 with the veryfast preset. Audio is AAC at 192 kbps. Nothing is hidden behind a vague quality slider.
Your clip stays on your computer
The conversion runs inside the browser tab with FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. There is no upload queue and no copy left on someone else's server.
A fast rewrap when you only need MP4
Switch to Fast Copy to put compatible HEVC (8- or 10-bit 4:2:0) into an MP4 tagged hvc1 in seconds, with no quality loss. That fixes an HEVC MKV on Apple devices but keeps the H.265 codec.
Convert HEVC to MP4: browser, upload site or desktop app
Three ways people usually handle an H.265 file, and where each one fits.
| This converter | Upload converters | Desktop apps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install | None, runs in the tab | None | Download and set up |
| Where the video goes | Stays on your device | Sent to their server, kept as long as the service decides | Stays on your device |
| File size cap | About 2 GB | Depends on the service | Limited by your disk |
| H.264 encoder settings | CRF 18, 23 or 28, shown | Often unstated | Full control |
| Rewrap without re-encoding | Yes, Fast Copy | Usually not offered | Yes, with the right options |
| Speed of a full re-encode | About real time at 1080p | Upload plus queue time | Faster, can use all CPU cores |
| Batch of many files | One file at a time | Often yes | Yes |
When an HEVC to H264 conversion helps
iPhone clips on a Windows PC
Windows often refuses H.265 without the paid HEVC extension. An H.264 MP4 opens in the built-in player straight away.
Older TVs and USB sticks
Some TVs and media boxes made before H.265 was common play H.264 from a USB drive but show a black screen or sound only with HEVC.
Editors that reject the import
Some editing apps and older versions refuse H.265 or stutter on it. An H.264 copy imports and scrubs more smoothly.
Web pages and course platforms
Browser support for HEVC depends on the browser and the hardware. H.264 in MP4 is the safe choice for an embed or an upload form that checks the codec.
Sending a video to family
If the person on the other end has an older phone or laptop, an H.264 file saves a round of 'it won't open'.
Is HEVC the same as MP4?
No. HEVC, also called H.265, is a video codec: the method used to compress the picture. MP4 is a container: the file that holds video, audio, subtitles and chapters together. An MP4 can carry HEVC, which is why an iPhone .mov or .mp4 can still refuse to play on a PC.
What most players lack is the H.265 decoder, so changing the container alone rarely helps. Re-encoding to H.264 does, at a price: H.264 needs more data for the same picture, so at similar quality the MP4 usually comes out larger than the HEVC original. Medium is a sensible start; pick Small file or a lower resolution if size matters more than detail.
Common HEVC to MP4 mistakes
Mistake: Using Fast Copy and expecting the file to play on Windows or an old TV.
Do this instead: Fast Copy keeps the H.265 video. Use Re-encode to get H.264.
Mistake: Choosing High for a long 4K clip you only want to watch on a laptop.
Do this instead: Pick Medium or Small file and 1080p. The file stays smaller and the encode finishes sooner.
Mistake: Expecting a higher resolution to add detail.
Do this instead: The converter only scales down; sizes at or above the source are greyed out. Keep Original for full detail.
Mistake: Deleting the HEVC original right after converting.
Do this instead: Keep it as the master. Every re-encode loses a little, and at similar quality the HEVC file is usually the smaller one to store.
Where your HEVC video goes, and the limits
Nothing is uploaded
Your file is converted on your own device and is never uploaded to our servers. The first visit downloads the converter, about 32 MB from jsDelivr, once; later visits load it from the browser cache.
Free with no account
No sign-up and no watermark, and you can convert as many files as you like. They go one at a time; there is no batch queue.
Browser memory sets the size limit
That works out to about 2 GB per file. In our tests a 1.6 GB file converted and a 2.1 GB file stopped with an out-of-memory message. For bigger files or whole folders, a desktop app is the better tool.