6 Easy Ways to Convert MP4 to MOV on Mac (incl. Free)

MOV format is widely supported by many Apple devices and apps including Mac, Apple TV, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, Adobe Premiere Pro, etc. Thus, even MP4 is a highly compatible video format, sometimes Mac users still want to convert it to MOV. How to convert MP4 to MOV on Mac? 6 ways are outlined in this article.

 Cisdem Video Converter

The Best MP4 to MOV Converter for Mac

• Easily convert files between over 600 multimedia formats
• Convert MP4 file to MOV, MPEG2, WebM, WMV, MP3, WAV, iTunes, iMovie, Apple TV, iPhone, etc.
• Quickly convert multiple MP4 files to MOV
• Save multiple MP4s as one MOV by merging them together
• Trim, crop, add watermarks & effects, etc. to MP4 before converting to MOV
• Turn SD, HD, UHD MP4 videos into MOV with original quality
• Extract audio from MP4, MOV, or any video file
• Extract audio or video files from homemade and commercial DVDs
• Download video, audio from YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, etc., 1000+ websites included
• Also available for Windows PC

Free Download macOS 10.13 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7

Will converting MP4 to MOV enhance video quality or increase file size?

MOV is usually used to store high-resolution videos, special effects, animations, etc. with less compression. In general, MOV video is of better quality and larger than MP4.

Nevertheless, converting MP4 to MOV won't affect the video's size or quality much if no parameters are changed. MP4 and MOV are container formats for encapsulating video, audio, metadata, subtitles, etc. Keeping the video's encoding, resolution, and bitrate the same after conversion just means saving the video from one container to another.

Will the metadata change If you convert MP4 to MOV?

There are more metadata options in MOV than in MP4, including timeline, user data, time code, color space, reel number, etc. These metadata can provide more information and options for video post-production and editing. Although converting MP4 to MOV on Mac does not automatically add more metadata, it does preserve current metadata and also improves their management and preservation.

Use the Best Software to Convert MP4 to MOV on Mac in Batches

Cisdem Video Converter consistently earns top marks among MP4 to MOV converters for Mac. It supports converting nearly all video formats, from MP4 to MOV, from MOV to MP4, and many more. With options such as codec, bitrate, resolution, and more, you can customize both the output quality and the size. In case you are not familiar with these parameters, you can also use the default options. The software has already set the optimal values for you to ensure you convert MP4 to MOV without losing quality.

In addition to changing MP4 files into MOV, it has features for editing & compressing & playing videos, extracting videos from DVD/Blu-ray discs, and downloading videos.

1. Download Cisdem MP4 to MOV converter to your Mac.
   Free Download macOS 10.13 or later
   Then install and open it.
2. Add MP4 videos to Cisdem.
   Drag and drop MP4 files from your native folder into the software's converting interface. You can import multiple MP4 files.
3. Choose MOV as the output format.
   Click "Convert all tasks to" box to open the format drop-down list, go to “Video” > “MOV”and select a video resolution.For professionals, you can tweak the parameters of the output MOV video in the "Setting" window by clicking the gearwheel button.
4. Click the "Start" button in the bottom right corner to begin converting MP4 to MOV on Mac.

Convert MP4 to MOV on Mac with Freeware

QuickTime Player (Built-app media player for Mac)

QuickTime 10 can convert MP4 video to MOV format in 4k, 1080p, 720p, or 480p, and it can also encode video in HEVC(H.265) for smaller file size. MOV and M4A are the only output formats it supports. In QuickTime 7 Pro, there are more than 15 output formats available. But the software was discontinued in 2016 and no longer keeps upgrades. As of now, it is only included with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and earlier versions.

How to convert MP4 to MOV using QuickTime X:

1. Open your MP4 video with QuickTime Player..
2. Click "File" in the menu bar and select "Export As."
3. Choose a resolution option.
4. Enter a file name and choose a destination folder. For 4k or 1080p video, you can also check the “Use HEVC” option.
5. Click “Save”.

How to convert MP4 to MOV using QuickTime 7 Pro:

1. Open MP4 file via QuickTime 7 Pro.
2. In the menu bar, click "File" > "Export."
3. From the "Export" dropdown menu, select “Movie to QuickTime Movie”.
4. Customize the video and audio settings for the output format.
5. Select a location and name for the converted file.
6. Press “Save”.

iMovie (Mac's Built-in video editor)

If you need to edit the MP4 video before converting, iMovie is a great option. It can export video to four output formats – MP4, MOV, iTunes M4V, and JPG.

When you export as a “File”, the video will be saved in MP4 format by default. To get a MOV file instead, you need to select “Best (ProRes)” under the “Quality” menu, or export the video for Email or Facebook. 

1. Run iMovie app. Drag-n-drop your MP4 video into it.
2. If needed, edit the video by trimming, splitting, adding audio/titles/backgrounds/transitions, or others.
3. Click “File” > “Share” > “File” from the top menu bar.
4. Locate to the “Quality” and change the option to ““Best (ProRes)”.
5. Hit “Next…”, then name your video and click “Save”.

MPEG Streamclip (Third-party video player, editor, and converter)

MPEG Streamclip can also convert MP4 to MOV on Mac, as well as to AVI, MPEG-4, DV Stream, FLC, Image Sequence, etc., that's 14 formats in all. In spite of its ability to simply play, edit, and convert videos, it has stopped updating in 2012, so it is not compatible with macOS Big Sur and later.

1. Install MPEG Streamclip on your Mac and start it.
2. Head to “File” > “Open Files” to import an MP4 video.
3. Click “File” again, and choose “Export to QuickTime” to call up the “Movie Exporter” window.
4. If needed, adjust parameters like quality, sound, frame size, etc.
5. Click “Make Movie”.
6. Name the output file and choose a location where it will be stored. Click “Save”.

Change MP4 to MOV on Mac Using Terminal

This method helps you copy video and audio streams from MP4 containers to MOV containers without transcoding. In this way, the processing speed is faster, while the quality remains the same. But if the MP4 contains MOV incompatible codecs such as VC-1, DivX, Xvid, Theora, and Vorbis, re-encoding is required, or the encapsulated MOV video will not play.

1. Download FFmpeg project from https://ffmpeg.org/ and install it to your Mac.
2.  Open the Terminal app. And run the command ffmpeg –i yourinputfile.mp4 to check whether MP4 video contains incompatible codecs with MOV.
3. If no, remux MP4 to MOV on Mac by the command ffmpeg -i yourinputfile.mp4 -c copy youroutputfile.mov. If yes, re-encoding the video with another command ffmpeg –i yourinputfile.mp4 youroutputfile.mov.

Convert MP4 file to MOV Online with No Watermark

Online MP4 to MOV converters for Mac make conversion easy. No installation or payment is required, and the results come without watermarks. There are, however, also obvious limitations. Converting MP4 files to MOV online is not safe enough, and many of them limit the file size or can’t convert bulk MP4 files.

Onlineconverter.com is known for its convenience and efficiency. It enables you to change video, audio, images, e-books, and documents into another file format, including MP4 to MOV. But MP4 files can only be uploaded up to 200 MB and can’t be converted simultaneously.

1. Visit the website https://www.onlineconverter.com/mp4-to-mov.
2. Click “Choose File”and click “Open”to upload your MP4 video.
3. To cut your video, make sure the "Option" checkbox is selected, and then set the time.
4. Hit “Convert”.
5. Click “Download Now” to get the converted MOV file.

Final Words

Before converting MP4 to MOV on Mac, you should determine why you are converting. If you wish to improve your video quality, it is futile. But to ensure the video does not lose quality after conversion, it is critical to use the right approach. This article introduces 6 MP4 to MOV converters for Mac, each with its own benefits. Cisdem Video Converter excels in output quality, speed, versatility, and batch conversion. The other five tools are either free, online, or do not need to be installed.