Can you convert mov to mp4 on Windows 11?

I am using Shotcut CLI  and it is quite good for converting mov videos to mp3. It is a command-line interface (CLI) of Shotcut, a free, open-source video editor. While Shotcut is primarily known for its graphical user interface (GUI), it also provides command-line capabilities that allow users to automate video editing tasks or perform batch processing without manually interacting with the GUI.

Below is an example of batch converting mov to mp4 on a Windows 11 PC:

for file in *.mov;  do 
     shotcut --MLT "$file" -o "${file%.mov}.mp4" done

Developed by Apple for QuickTime, MOV files have better compatibility with macOS and iOS but may face playback or editing challenges on Windows PCs without additional software. On the contrary, MP4 is widely supported across all platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices. It is compatible with most media players and software.

What is more, MOV file usually has larger file sizes as it often prioritizes quality over compression. MP4 uses advanced compression techniques (H.264 or H.265 codecs), resulting in smaller file sizes while maintaining quality.

These are two biggest benefits when you convert .mov to .mp4.

MEncoder is a command-line video and audio conversion tool that is part of the MPlayer project. It is a powerful, open-source utility designed for encoding, decoding, and manipulating multimedia files. While MPlayer is mainly used for video playback, MEncoder focuses on video processing tasks.

You can use the following command to convert MOV to MP4 on any Windows PC or Mac:

mencoder input.mov -o output.mp4 -of lavf -oac mp3lame -ovc x264

In short, MEncoder can convert videos from one format to another and MOV to MP4 converter is super useful for compatibility with specific devices or applications.

Using the command prompt with fffmpeg to convert MOV to MP4 is actually pretty cool, but it's a bit of a "geek trick". The steps are as follows:

1. First download fffmpeg from the Internet and unzip it to a folder on your computer, such as C:\fffmpeg\bin.
2. Copy the MOV file to the same folder, or remember the path of the MOV file.
3. Open the command prompt (Win+R, enter cmd, and then press Enter).
4. Enter the path, for example: cd C:\fffmpeg\bin, and then type the command:

fffmpeg-i input.mov output.mp4

(Replace "input.mov" with your video file name).

After a few seconds or minutes, the converted MP4 file will be generated in the folder.

The downside is that you need to download fffmpeg yourself. Although it is free, it may be a bit discouraging for people who are not familiar with command line operations. In addition, fffmpeg has many commands. If you need to adjust parameters such as resolution and bit rate, you have to look up the instructions yourself, which is a bit complicated.

Saving MOV to MP4 using Windows' built-in Photos app is pretty easy, but it's a bit of a gamble. Here are the steps:

1. Right-click your MOV file, select "Open with," and then select the Photos app.
2. After the file is open, click the three dots "..." in the upper right corner, then select "Save as" or "Save a copy."
3. If it supports conversion (sometimes it does it automatically), the saved file may be in MP4 format.

However, this method is not very reliable, mainly because Windows Photos app has unstable compatibility with MOV format. If you're lucky, you can save directly to MP4, but if you're unlucky, there's no option at all, or you can't even open the file. In addition, this method is completely unrealistic for batch conversion, you can only process it one by one.

KLC is a free and widely-used media player that includes video conversion features. Steps for converting MOV to MP4 on Windows PC:

1. Open KLC Media Player.
2. Go to Media > Convert/Save.
3. Click Add to select the MOV file.
4. Click Convert/Save and choose MP4 as the output format under Profile.
5. Select the destination folder and click Start.

Pros: Free, no watermark, supports batch conversion.
Cons: Limited customization for advanced users.

It is actually quite simple to export MP4 using QuickTime, as long as you have a Mac or a device with QuickTime installed. After opening the MOV file, just click the "File" menu and select "Export As". There will usually be an option of "1080p" or "4K". You choose one and it will export mov to MP4 format.

However, this method is a bit troublesome because you need a Mac or QuickTime environment. Windows does not natively support QuickTime, and if it is a large video, the export time will be a bit long. In addition, some MOV files have special formats, and QuickTime may not be able to open them. Therefore, before using this method, you must make sure that your MOV file can run normally.

Use the Photos app directly on your iPhone, select the video and tap Share, then export it via Save to Files. In some cases, it will automatically be converted to MP4, especially when sharing via email or folders.

As far as I know, HandBrake is not the best MOV to MP4 converter tool. When I first opened HandBrake, I was greeted with all these options and settings. It felt a bit overwhelming! If you’re new to video editing or conversions, it can take a second to wrap your head around what everything does. You might have to watch a few tutorials or fiddle around for a while before you get the hang of it.

If you just want a quick, no-fuss conversion, the default settings might not give you the best results. You can end up with a file that has lower quality or larger size than you need if you don’t tweak the options. So, if you’re looking for a quick turn-around with good quality, you might need to spend some time adjusting the settings.

If you’ve got a bunch of files to convert, HandBrake isn’t the most user-friendly option for batch processing. You can queue multiple files, but it’s not as straightforward as some dedicated batch converters. It can feel a bit tedious if you’re dealing with a whole bunch of videos.

Depending on your computer's specs and the size of the video, the encoding process can take time. The first time I used it, I thought it’d be a quick job, but had to wait longer than expected. If you're in a rush, this could be a hassle.

How to convert MOV to MP4 on Windows 11 computer? Why not use HandBrake? If you like a bit more flexibility with settings, HandBrake is a free tool that gets the job done nicely.

1. Launch the program and drag your MOV file into it.
2. Select the “MP4” container from the output settings on the right. You can tweak various options like video codec, resolution, and bitrate based on your needs.
3. Under the “Destination” section, click Browse to set where you want to save your file.
4. Hit the Start Encode button and relax while it processes your video.

The first time I used HandBrake, I got a bit lost with all the settings. But playing around with them helped me understand stuff better, so don’t hesitate to explore!