Video Compressor

Compress MOV files

Turn a big MOV from your iPhone, Mac or camera into a small MP4 that plays everywhere.

About MOV files

MOV is Apple’s QuickTime format. iPhones record MOV, Macs save screen recordings as MOV, and many cameras use it too. Inside is usually H.265 (HEVC) or H.264 video: iPhones use H.265 unless the camera is set to Most Compatible, and professional cameras may record ProRes, which is huge. Because phones and cameras record at a high bitrate, MOV files are often far bigger than they need to be for sharing.

Whatever is inside, you get back an MP4, with H.264 video by default or H.265 if you choose it. Windows, Android, browsers and chat apps all play it, which isn’t true of every MOV. MOV and MP4 hold the same kinds of video, so the change of format itself costs no quality. The picture is scaled down only when the size you ask for is too small to keep the original resolution.

iPhone 12 and later record HDR video by default. Browsers can’t convert HDR colors properly, so an HDR MOV is always compressed on our server, which turns it into standard (SDR) video whose colors look right on any screen. Other MOV files are compressed in your browser when it can decode them; ProRes and other codecs it can’t read go to our server too.

Why compress MOV here

  • HDR handled properly

    HDR iPhone videos are converted on our server to standard colors, instead of coming out grey and washed out.

  • An MP4 for every device

    Not only Apple devices: Windows, Android, browsers and chat apps all play the result.

  • The right way up

    The rotation your phone recorded is applied to the picture, so portrait videos stay portrait in every player.

  • Location removed

    iPhone videos record where they were filmed. The compressed MP4 carries no location or other metadata.

How to compress a MOV file

  1. 01

    Add the MOV

    Drop it on the page, drag it from Finder on a Mac, or pick it from your photo library on an iPhone.

  2. 02

    Choose the size

    Pick a preset, or type the exact size in MB that your app or site allows.

  3. 03

    Download the MP4

    Compare it with the original and save it. It plays on any device, not just Apple’s.

Questions

Can’t find your answer? Write to feedback@videocompressor.xyz.

Is the result still a MOV?

No, you get an MP4. It holds the same kind of video as a MOV, but more apps and devices play it, including Windows, Android and chat apps. Keep the original if you need it for editing; the compressed MP4 is for sharing.

Why did my iPhone video go to your server?

Most likely because it’s HDR, which iPhone 12 and later record by default. Our server converts HDR to standard colors so the result looks right everywhere; in the browser it would come out washed out. Videos your browser can’t decode, like ProRes, go there too. The reason is shown under the switch between This device and Our server.

Can I keep HDR?

No. The result is always standard dynamic range (SDR), which every screen shows correctly. HDR only looks right on HDR screens and in apps that support it, while standard colors look the same everywhere, which matters most once a video is shared.

How much smaller will my MOV get?

As small as you ask. Phones and cameras record MOV at a high bitrate, so the Balanced preset (50% smaller) usually still looks close to the original. For a hard limit, type the size in MB instead.

What about ProRes and screen recordings?

Mac screen recordings are ordinary H.264 or H.265 MOV files, which browsers can usually decode. Browsers can’t decode ProRes, so it goes to our server, which takes files up to 1 GB; ProRes reaches that quickly, so export a shorter clip if yours is bigger.

How big can a MOV be?

In your browser, as big as your device can handle. On our server, where HDR videos go, up to 1 GB, 60 minutes and 4K (3840×2160), and 5 videos a day. A long 4K iPhone video can pass 1 GB; trim it first if yours does.

Will the MP4 play on my iPhone and Mac?

Yes. iPhones and Macs play H.264 and H.265 MP4 files in Photos, Files, QuickTime and Safari.

Does compressing change the frame rate?

No. The video keeps its frame rate, so 60 fps iPhone footage stays smooth. Only the old-device option under Advanced lowers it to 30 fps, for players that can’t handle more.

More ways to compress video

Make your video smaller now

Free, with no sign-up and no watermark.