The QuickTime is the stock video player on macOS, and it’s one of the least popular apps that Apple has developed. So, That said, up until Sierra, it had one saving grace; it could convert a MOV file to an MP4 file. This feature is gone now, so if you are running a macOS version that is Sierra or later, you don’t have an easy way to convert a MOV file to MP4. You’re going to have to use iMovie.
It comes pre-installed on most recent macOS versions, so you should already have it on your system. Unfortunately, it isn’t elementary to use so much so that it might be enough to send you looking for an alternative. Now, Here is how you can use iMovie to convert a MOV file to MP4.
Convert File MOV to MP4
So, Open iMovie & create a new project. To add the MOV file to the project’s library by dragging & dropping it on to the My Media area. Well, Once added, drag & drop it onto the timeline. This is all you need to do.
Well, You can now export the File as an MP4 file. Now, Go to File>Share>File.
In this panel that opens, select a resolution and quality for the video. So, Do not choose ProRes because you’ll end up with a MOV file again. All other attributes will give you an MP4 file. Then, click Next and give your File a name and save it wherever you like.
This process isn’t complicated, but iMovie is hardly intuitive to use. That feature lets you convert a file to an MP4 file hidden under a ‘Share’ option. You wouldn’t expect to find a save feature there.
Now, MOV files can be converted using online apps, but you will change the quality freely and select any resolution you want if you explore the export option. However, You get an estimate of the output file’s size, and it will change to match the quality you’ve set. This is handy if you need the File to be below a specific size. So, As for the ‘Compress’ option, you can choose whatever you want. This won’t change the format.
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- Print Screen on Mac
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Final Words :
Though, As to why you need to convert MOV files precisely to MP4 files, it’s because the built-in screen recording utility on macOS saves the recordings as MOV files. These MOV files aren’t as universally supported as MP4 files, and in fact, they don’t even come close. Further, these files tend to be larger, and if you have a size limit to be careful about, the MOV file can be a problem.