LOCAL VIDEO TOOLS · APPLE TO EVERYTHING ELSE
HEVC to H.264 Converter
An iPhone records HEVC when High Efficiency is on. This page rewrites that file as H.264 so Windows, Android and older editors can open it.
Choose a file. It stays on your device.
How to convert an iPhone HEVC video to H.264
- 1
Add the HEVC file. MP4, MOV, MKV and raw HEVC streams are accepted.
- 2
Convert. The page checks that the first video track really is HEVC, then re-encodes it as H.264.
- 3
Open the MP4 on the Windows PC, the Android phone or the editor that refused the original.
HEVC works beautifully inside Apple's world
AirDrop between two Macs, playback in Photos, editing in Final Cut: HEVC behaves perfectly there, because Apple ships the decoder. The file leaves that world the moment you send it to a Windows PC, an Android phone, a Teams call or a five-year-old television.
Windows can play HEVC, but the HEVC Video Extensions package is a separate install and sometimes a paid one. Android support depends on the chip and the app. Conference tools, presentation software and older editors frequently decode H.264 only. The result is a file that looks broken to the person who received it.
Which setting produced the file
On iPhone, Settings, Camera, Formats decides it. High Efficiency records HEVC, Most Compatible records H.264. High Efficiency is the default because the files are roughly half the size, and it also enables 4K at 60 fps and HDR on supported models.
A MOV from an iPhone can therefore contain either codec. That is why this page inspects the first video track and refuses a file that is already H.264 instead of quietly re-encoding it for nothing.
H.264 will cost you space
HEVC reaches the same quality at roughly half the bitrate of H.264. Converting a two-minute 4K clip to H.264 at comparable quality can double the file. The conversion buys compatibility, not savings.
If the result is too heavy to send, compress it afterwards or drop the resolution to 1080p. For a clip that will be watched on a phone, 1080p H.264 is usually a better trade than 4K HEVC that nobody can open.
Sound, HDR and the fine print
The first audio track is re-encoded to AAC at 128 kbps, which every target device understands. Additional tracks and subtitles are not carried over.
HDR video in HEVC is converted to standard dynamic range H.264 without tone mapping, so very bright highlights lose detail. If the clip is an HDR master you care about, keep the original and convert a copy.
FAQ
How do I know if my video is HEVC?
On iPhone, the file came from High Efficiency mode. On a computer, the codec is listed as H.265 or HEVC in the file properties. This page also checks and tells you when the track is something else.
Is HEVC the same as H.265?
Yes, two names for the same codec. Apple labels it HEVC, encoders often call it H.265.
Does the conversion reduce quality?
It re-encodes, so it is not lossless. At a sensible bitrate the difference is hard to see on a phone; repeated conversions do add up.
Why did the MP4 get bigger?
HEVC is more efficient than H.264. Keeping the same picture quality in H.264 needs more bits, so the file grows.
Can I convert a HEVC file from a drone or a camera?
Yes, as long as it is inside MP4, MOV or MKV, or supplied as a raw HEVC stream. The first video track must be HEVC.
Does the audio stay?
The first audio track is converted to AAC. If the source is silent, the MP4 is silent.