Forum Discussion
How can I convert HEVC to MP4 on Windows 11 without losing quality
My GoPro camera records the videos in HEVC format and when I exported the videos on my PC, the Windows Media Player is unable to play the HEVC videos. So I thought it was a good practice to convert .hevc to more widely supported .mp4 format.
What is the correct app to let me easily convert hevc to mp4 on windows 11 without losing quality?
9 Replies
- JadeookbIron Contributor
Any2VID
- ZiaoikIron Contributor
Alright, so you want to use a script-based approach to convert hevc to mp4 without losing quality. The good news is that it's actually pretty straightforward, and the secret weapon is using a tool called FF mpeg with the right commands.
The core idea for a script that can convert hevc to mp4 without losing quality is to tell FF mpeg to just "copy" the video and audio streams instead of re-encoding them. This is called a remux, and it's basically just repackaging the video data into a new container without touching the actual quality. Here's a super simple example of a batch script (you can save this as a .bat file on Windows):
batch
for %%f in (*. mkv) do ff mpeg -i "%%f" -c copy "%%~nf. mp4"
What this does is look for every .mkv file in the folder (you'd change that to whatever your HEVC files are, like .mov or .m4v), and remux it into an MP4 container. The -c copy part is the magic keyword that tells FF mpeg to copy everything—video, audio, subtitles—without re-encoding, which means zero quality loss and it's super fast. If you're converting files from a Mac or iPhone, there's also a neat package called iphone-to-pixel that uses this exact concept to remux HEVC files to MP4 while preserving quality and metadata. Just keep in mind that sometimes the resulting MP4 might not play perfectly on every device, and you might need to add a tag like -tag:v hvc1 to the command for better Apple compatibility.
- ThatcherwIron Contributor
Format Factory is a versatile media tool that serves as a reliable convert hevc to mp4. The software can transcode nearly all video, audio, and image formats within a single program, allowing you to process HEVC videos and output standard MP4 files with just a few clicks.
First, launch the software.
- Click the Video tab and select MP4 as the target format.
- Click Add File to import the source HEVC video.
- Click OK to confirm the file list.
- Then click the Start button to begin the conversion process.
The software helps you perform batch media transcoding and seamlessly handles convert hevc to mp4 for everyday media processing tasks.
You can convert incompatible HEVC video files to the widely compatible MP4 format without having to purchase paid software. This feature is particularly useful for general users who frequently perform multi-format media conversion, batch video compression, and basic file transcoding on Windows desktops.
Cons
- The software's overall interface looks outdated and old-fashioned.
- Pop-up ads appear during startup and while the program is running.
- Additional bundled software recommendations pop up during installation.
- JoohneiTin Contributor
Hana Media Encoder is a free, open-source tool that acts as a friendly front-end for a powerful media processing backend. It's perfect for when you want to convert HEVC to MP4 on Windows 11 without having to mess with the command line yourself.
Here's the Casual Step-by-Step
Step 1: Install the Gear: Once you have the prerequisites, you can download and install Hana Media Encoder from a site like Softpedia. The current version is 1.5.1.
Step 2: Point It to FF mpeg: This is the only "techy" step. After you launch Hana Media Encoder, go to the Options menu and set the path to your FF MPEG/bin folder. This tells the app where its engine is.
Step 3: Add Your Files: Load your HEVC video using the "Add" or "Open" button. The program can even handle batch processing if you have a bunch of files to convert.
Step 4: Set the Output: Now for the main event! On the main interface, find the video codec settings and select the output for your video. To convert HEVC to MP4 on Windows 11, choose a codec like H264 or H265 and make sure the output container is set to .mp4. Hana Media Encoder officially added support for "MP4 and AAC media file extensions" back in version 1.3.1.
Step 5: Tweak Your Settings (Optional): The tool gives you plenty of control over your video and audio codecs if you want to get fancy. For example, you can pick MP3 or AAC for your audio output.
Step 6: Hit Convert: Once everything looks good, click the encode button and let it do its thing.
So to wrap it up, to use Hana Media Encoder to convert HEVC to MP4 on Windows 11, just make sure you have FF MPEG installed on your system first and set it up in the app's options. After that, it's smooth sailing!
- BransonTaylorIron Contributor
Avidemux is an open-source program that serves as a reliable convert hevc to mp4. Its core stream copying feature allows you to repackage videos without re-encoding, thereby fully preserving the original video quality without any loss. It is undoubtedly the best choice.
How to Convert HEVC to MP4
- Download and install the software from the official website.
- Launch the software.
- Click File > Open, then select the target HEVC video file to load it.
- Set the video output option to Copy to enable lossless stream repackaging.
- Set the audio output option to Copy to preserve the original audio.
- Select MP4 as the final output format.
- Click File > Save > Save Video to export the finished MP4 file.
Disadvantages
- The program's overall interface looks outdated, and the layout is old-fashioned.
- There are no ready-made, one-click presets for beginners; all parameters must be set manually.
- Complex advanced editing features make it difficult for new users to learn.
This tool can directly encapsulate HEVC video data into a standard MP4 container without any loss of video quality. It is ideal for users who simply need to perform fast, lossless format conversions and basic, lightweight video editing on low-performance computers.
ps
- Copy mode works only when the original video and audio codecs are compatible with the MP4 container.
- If playback errors occur, switch the video output to re-encoding mode.
- You can load multiple HEVC files one by one for individual conversion; the software does not support native batch processing.
- To reduce file size, do not use copy mode; instead, select a specific encoder in the video output settings.
- MattGarciaIron Contributor
Shutter Encoder is an hevc to mp4 converter. It is open-source and not only supports lossless video transcoding but can also handle large volumes of HEVC footage.
Instructions: Download and install the software from the official website. Launch the program, drag and drop the target HEVC video file directly into the interface, open the “Select” drop-down menu and choose the H.264 output option, then click the “Start” button to begin the conversion process.
As an open-source tool, it requires no paid subscription, allowing you to quickly complete lossless HEVC transcoding using this hevc to mp4 converter.
Its advantages include being open-source, watermark-free, providing stable, high-quality video output, and supporting convenient drag-and-drop file import for fast operation.
Its drawbacks include a cluttered interface filled with numerous complex advanced professional settings; furthermore, the excessive number of adjustable parameters is a significant drawback.
The tool can losslessly convert original HEVC video files into widely compatible standard MP4 files. It is particularly useful for media creators who need to perform lossless video conversion, batch video processing, and professional format transcoding on Windows and Mac computers.
- FlpenceTin Contributor
here's how you can use XMedia Recode to convert hevc to mp4 without losing quality. The magic trick here is a feature called "Copy stream only," which basically just repackages your video into an MP4 container without re-encoding it—so the quality stays exactly the same and the process is super fast .
Here's the casual step-by-step:
- Open your file: Fire up XMedia Recode and click "Open File" to load your HEVC video .
- Pick MP4 as your output: Go to the "Format" tab and select "MP4" from the dropdown menu .
- Enable "Copy stream only": This is the golden ticket for preserving quality. In the video settings, look for the option that lets you copy the video stream without re-encoding it—this is usually found under the "Mode" setting, where you can choose "Copy" instead of "Convert" . This ensures you convert hevc to mp4 without losing quality because the video data isn't touched at all.
- Double-check the audio: While you're at it, you might want to do the same for the audio. On the Audio tab, set the mode to "Copy" as well. This avoids any weird audio issues and keeps the original audio quality intact .
- Add to queue and encode: Click "Add to queue" and then hit the "Encode" button. Since you're using copy mode, it should only take a few seconds to finish .
And that's it. No quality loss, no complicated settings to fiddle with, just a quick and clean container swap. If you ever need to tweak things later, you can play with the Preset settings (like "Slow" or "Very Slow") if you do end up re-encoding, but for lossless conversion, "Copy stream" is your best friend.
- LennonuiCopper Contributor
FastFlix is a free and open-source tool that acts as a nice graphical front-end for a powerful media processing backend. It makes handling video encoding much more approachable. If you want to convert HEVC to MP4 on Windows 11 using FastFlix, there's one small catch: it defaults to outputting MKV files. But don't worry—it's an easy fix.
1. Download and Install: Grab the FastFlix installer from its official website or a trusted download source. You can choose between a standard installer or a portable version, whichever you prefer.
2. Add Your Video Files: Open the app and click the "Source" button to import your HEVC video files.
3. Choose Your Encoder: In the video encoder dropdown menu, you can pick your preferred method. For example, you can use the CPU-based software encoder x265, or if you have an NVIDIA graphics card, you can select NVENC HEVC for super-fast hardware-accelerated encoding.
4. The Key Step: Set MP4 as Output: This is where you tell FastFlix to output an MP4. While the official documentation only "guarantees" MKV output, it also mentions that you can manually change the output file extension to .mp4 in the output file field. The resulting file will be a proper MP4 container. For best compatibility, set your video codec to H.264/H.265 and audio to AAC.
5. Start the Conversion: Set your output path, tweak any other settings you like, and hit the "Convert" button.
So, to convert HEVC to MP4 on Windows 11 with FastFlix, the main trick is to choose your encoder and then manually rename the output file extension to .mp4. Once you do that, you'll get a nicely compatible MP4 file without any fuss!
- AustinRomeroIron Contributor
HandBrake is a powerful, open-source hevc to mp4 converter. It can produce high-quality H.264 video output and supports batch processing of multiple files. With its built-in presets that work right out of the box, you can adjust video quality parameters to suit your everyday video conversion needs.
How to Use an HEVC to MP4 Converter
Step 1: Download and install the software from the official website.
Step 2: Launch the software and click the “Open Source File” button.
Step 3: Select the target HEVC file; hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple files at once.
Step 4: Open the Presets panel in the right sidebar, go to the “General” category, and select the “Fast 1080p30” preset to generate Full HD output.
Step 5: Click the “Browse” button next to “Save As” to set the output folder.
Step 6: Switch to the “Video” tab to customize quality settings: Set the encoder to H.264 and adjust the RF value to 18 for ultra-high quality, or set it to RF 20 to balance quality and file size.
Step 7: Click the green play-shaped “Start Encoding” button to begin the conversion.
Finally, it takes about 3–5 minutes for each file to complete encoding.
The software can export standard MP4 videos, which are compatible with virtually all media players and electronic devices. It is the best choice for users who need to convert HEVC videos from their phones, cameras, and screen recordings into a universal format for playback and storage.
Pros
- Open source; output videos are watermark-free
- Supports high-quality H.264 video encoding
- Built-in batch conversion capability that can process dozens of files simultaneously
- Offers a variety of ready-to-use presets, eliminating the need for complex manual parameter adjustments
Cons
- High-quality encoding modes require longer processing times
- Advanced settings are difficult to configure
- Does not support lossless stream copying; all source videos must be fully re-encoded