Forum Discussion
How can I convert MTS to MP4 on Windows 11?
I recently copied several video recordings from my camcorder to my Windows 11 PC and noticed that all the files are saved in MTS format. I am not very familiar with video formats, and some of my media players and editing programs either cannot open the files or play them with problems.
How can I convert mts to mp4 on Windows 11? I am a tech newbie and hope someone could suggest a good way to do this.
Thank you
10 Replies
- OliverDavisIron Contributor
You can use the Photos app to save a video in the MP4 format without downloading any MTS to MP4 converter tools.
- FabrumIron Contributor
Any2VID
- AgoopiaTin Contributor
Magic Converter (Open Source) – This is a newer, free tool found on GitHub that specifically works as an mts to mp4 converter. It gives you both a simple graphical interface (GUI) and a command-line version, which is nice if you're not a fan of typing commands. It uses FF mpeg under the hood to do the heavy lifting, so you'd need to have FF mpeg installed on your system first.
If you go with the open-source Magic Converter, here's what you can expect:
1. Batch Conversion: You can convert a single file or process an entire folder of MTS videos all at once.
2. Quality Preservation: It uses a "copy mode" that maintains the original video quality without re-encoding, which saves time and keeps your footage looking sharp.
4. Flexible Interface: Choose between a point-and-click GUI or the command line, depending on your mood.
The open-source Magic Converter is a solid choice if you're comfortable with the idea that it needs FF mpeg to work. It's basically a user-friendly wrapper around FF mpeg, which makes it a convenient mts to mp4 converter for folks who want a GUI without diving into the command line.
If you're comfortable with a little extra setup, Magic Converter is a solid choice. It essentially gives you the power of FF mpeg but with a more user-friendly face, making it a decent mts to mp4 converter for Windows 11. Just be prepared for a slightly more involved installation than your typical one-click app.
- DeBertrandIron Contributor
This is a surprisingly simple and completely free "method" that uses no software at all. It works by taking advantage of how some media players handle file formats.
MTS files are usually recorded by camcorders. They contain video and audio streams (often H.264 video and AAC audio) inside a container format that’s not very friendly with Windows 11. By renaming the file extension from .MTS to .MP4, you’re not actually converting the video data — you’re just telling Windows and your media player to treat the file as a different container type.
Now, if the internal video and audio streams are already compatible with MP4 (which they often are), many players will open it just fine. In that case, you basically just used a MTS to MP4 converter that doesn’t exist — but it works!
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Find your MTS file in File Explorer.
Step 2: Right-click on the file and select Rename (or press F2).
Step 3: Change the extension from .MTS to .MP4. For example, rename video.MTS to video.mp4.
Step 4: Windows 11 will pop up a warning: “If you change a file name extension, the file might become unusable.” Just click Yes.
Step 5: Double-click the newly renamed file and see if it plays.
If your video plays without issues, congrats — you’ve just used the laziest MTS to MP4 converter ever invented. This works best when the original MTS file uses H.264 video and AAC audio, which are standard for MP4.
- JosefaouTin Contributor
FF mpeg is a fantastic, completely free MTS to MP4 converter for Windows 11! It's a powerful command-line tool that puts you in full control, and it's perfect for processing camera footage.
First, you'll need to get FF mpeg set up on your system. Here’s the quick version:
- Download: Grab a Windows build from a trusted source like gyan.dev (the "essentials" build is perfect for this).
- Extract: Unzip the downloaded file to a simple folder, for example, C:\ff mpeg.
- Add to PATH: This is the key step that lets you run FF mpeg from anywhere. Search for "Environment Variables" in the Windows start menu, find the "Path" variable, and add the path to your bin folder (e.g., C:\ff mpeg\bin).
- Verify: Open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window and type ff mpeg -version. If you see version info, you're all set!
Once it's installed, the core command to use FF mpeg as your MTS to MP4 converter is beautifully simple. Navigate in the terminal to your folder with the .MTS files and run:
bash
ff mpeg -i input.MTS output.mp4
This tells FF mpeg to take input.MTS and create output.mp4.
To splice multiple MTS files: If your camera split a long recording, you can combine them into a single MP4 using the concat demuxer.
bash
ff mpeg -i "concat:file1.MTS|file2.MTS|file3.MTS" -c copy output.mp4
Give it a shot! It's a super handy tool to have in your back pocket once you get the hang of it. If you run into any error messages, just paste them here and we can figure it out.
- DevinZhangIron Contributor
Avidemux is an open-source video editor that you can use as an convert mts to mp4, but although it supports lossless stream copying, its interface is outdated.
It allows you to convert a single MTS video to MP4 while preserving the full original quality without re-encoding, but this tool does not support batch conversion of multiple files.
First, click File > Open to select the target MTS file. Set the video output to “Copy” for lossless video stream conversion, set the audio output to “Copy” to preserve the original audio track, select MP4 as the output format, and click File > Save > Save Video to export the converted file.
This allows you to transcode MTS files to standard MP4 files without any loss of quality. This tool is suitable for everyday single-video format conversions and organizing your local video library.
This tool cannot convert multiple MTS files at once, so it is only suitable for users who need to process just one video file at a time.
If you prefer not to use a paid media transcoding tool, you can try this convert mts to mp4. Its interface is somewhat outdated and lacks intuitive prompts, so you’ll need to carefully verify the video and audio settings before exporting the file.
- HenryRobinsonIron Contributor
Shutter Encoder is an open-source multimedia tool. As a powerful mts to mp4 converter, it offers a wide range of codec options and consistent output quality.
How to Use an MTS to MP4 Converter
- After installing the software from the official website, launch the program.
- Drag and drop your MTS video files directly into the main program window.
- Open the Options menu and select H.264 to export the video in MP4 format.
- Adjust the output save directory as needed.
- Click the Start button to begin converting the video.
Disadvantages
- Without media knowledge, it is difficult to master advanced encoding parameters.
- There is no one-click lossless preset copying; streaming copies require manual adjustments.
This lightweight, open-source program can convert MTS-format videos to standard MP4 files with satisfactory video quality. It runs smoothly on multiple operating systems and meets everyday personal media conversion needs.
ps
- Do not close the software window until the conversion process is complete.
- Please prepare two separate folders, one for the original MTS files and one for the converted MP4 videos.
- Unless you have specific professional media processing needs, please skip the advanced codec settings.
- FabianLiuIron Contributor
XMedia Recode is a video transcoding tool that allows you to convert mts to mp4 without watermarks. It supports batch processing and fully preserves the original video and audio quality.
Instructions: Open the software, click “Add” and select all MTS video files. From the output format drop-down menu, select MP4 as the target format. Switch to the “Video” tab and set the mode to “Copy” to ensure a lossless video stream. Open the “Audio” tab and set the mode to “Copy” to preserve the original audio track. Confirm the output folder, then click the “Encode” button at the top to start the conversion.
Its advantages include: no hidden fees or watermarks; lossless stream copying to prevent quality loss; support for batch processing of multiple video files; and full preservation of original media parameters during transcoding.
Its disadvantages include: the multi-panel interface may seem complex to beginners; it only supports Windows systems; and the advanced codec options are relatively complex, which may lead to playback errors if configured incorrectly.
Notes
- Do not close the program during encoding, or the resulting MP4 file may be incomplete or corrupted.
- Please organize all MTS files into a single folder first to speed up the batch import process.
- Carefully verify the output folder path before clicking “Encode” to prevent the converted files from being lost.
This allows you to quickly convert mts to mp4 without any loss of video quality. It is suitable for everyday bulk video format conversion tasks as well as lossless organization of local media storage.
- Nobel_BaynesSteel Contributor
Clipchamp. Since Windows 11 ships with Clipchamp pre-installed, it's a genuine "no download needed" option.
It is a free video editor built into Windows 11, owned by Microsoft. Since you're editing rather than just converting, it's technically repurposing an editor as a converter — but it works.
Why it's good for mts to mp4 conversion:
No install needed — it's pre-installed on Windows 11, so there's zero setup friction. CreatorStackClub
The free plan exports videos in up to 1080p resolution with no watermarks, and there's no time limit on videos and no restricted features for basic editing. ClipchampCreatorStackClub
Processing happens locally in the browser rather than requiring a software download, and it has a simple drag-and-drop timeline.
How to convert .mts to .mp4 on Windows 11 free:
1. Open Clipchamp (search it in the Start menu, or via clipchamp.com).
2. Sign in with a Microsoft account.
3. Create a new project → import your .mts file → drag it onto the timeline.
4. Click Export → choose MP4 (resolution up to 1080p on the free tier).
- DylanTaylorIron Contributor
HandBrake is an open-source video converter that does not add watermarks. It is widely used to convert mts to mp4, offers consistent output quality, and provides a wide range of device presets. It also supports batch processing.
How to Convert MTS to MP4
Step 1: Download and install the software from the official website.
Step 2: Open the software and click the “Open Source File” button.
Step 3: Select your MTS video files. Hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple files for batch conversion.
Step 4: Open the preset panel in the right sidebar.
Step 5: Select an appropriate preset:
- For Full HD quality, select General > Fast 1080p30
- If you need a smaller file size, select Fast 720p30
Step 6: Click the Browse button next to Save As to set the save location for the output files.
Step 7: Click the green Start Encoding button at the top to begin the conversion.
Finally, wait 1 to 3 minutes for each file until the encoding process is complete.
After conversion, the original MTS file will be transformed into a standard, high-quality MP4 file that is compatible with virtually all devices, including smartphones, TVs, and computers. Converting a 10-minute video takes only about 2 minutes.
Pros
- Open-source, no watermarks
- Built-in professional presets for different devices ensure playback compatibility.
- High-quality video output after transcoding.
- Supports batch conversion, allowing multiple MTS files to be processed simultaneously.
Cons
- Encoding speed depends on computer performance and video file size.
- Advanced parameter settings are relatively complex.
- Subtle differences in video quality cannot be previewed in real time during the conversion process.