Convert Video to M4V Format – Free & Effective Ways
Summary: Are you also searching for different ways to convert video to M4V? So, now you don’t have to go anywhere else. In this dedicated blog post, you will see what can be the reasons for having this video conversion & also various manual methods to complete the process. We will list some complications which come and provide you with an automated solution for this too.
How smoothly your media works on other devices will depend on the type of video files you are playing. The one which we are talking about is M4V. It is usually used for Apple products and iTunes due to its versatility and DRM (Digital Rights Management) compatibility. If you’ve had issues in the past where videos won’t play properly on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, re-encoding your videos to M4V can help.
Wondering how to convert video to TS format? Head over to our step guide for easy video conversion.
Reasons to Export Video to M4V Files
In this particular section, you will see some of the listed points to convert video to M4V.
- M4V file is for the Apple ecosystem. This way you can play seamlessly in various Apple apps.
- And to keep up with the Apple contents, a lot of our movies and tv shows from iTunes are DRM PR packaging as M4V.
- M4V is great for high quality media in smaller file sizes due to H.264 compression.
- It can handle embedded subtitles, chapters and metadata like cover art.
- This video file is designed for Apple platforms, but it can still be used on Windows or other operating systems with the right player.
Convert Video to M4V Format – Manual Solutions
From this heading, you will see how you can manually change your video file to M4V. Let’s begin with the steps.
Method 1. Export Using VLC Media Player
VLC is more than a media player, which can also convert video to M4V
- Open VLC Media Player > Click on Media > Convert/Save.
- Upload the video that you want to convert.
- Click on Convert/Save → choose output format as Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4).
- Change the output file extension to .m4v.
- Go ahead and convert and then wait for VLC to transcode your video.
Note: VLC does not have a native “M4V” profile. But instead creates a file with an MP4 extension that can be simply renamed to .m4v.
Method 2. Use FFmpeg For Quick Video to M4V Conversion
This is the method where users should have command line experience to proceed with the steps to convert video to M4V.
1. Example command:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.m4v
2. Install FFmpeg.
3. Copy the command and run it in your terminal/command prompt.
4. Now, the result is in a transcoded M4V file.
Drawbacks of Following Manual Approach
The above methods which you have followed have some disadvantages. Have a look into it:
- There are tools that may compress videos slightly, which tends to lower the quality.
- When it comes to video, bigger files mean longer processing times.
- Programs such as FFmpeg also need a certain level of command line skill.
- It is a bit hard to batch convert video to M4V by the help of VLC method.
- Subtitles, chapters, and cover art might not remain if restored manually.
Best Way to Convert Video to M4V – Smart Solution
Although you can use manual tools like VLC, or FFmpeg. These tend to have technical and slow processing, or compatibility problems. If you want a super fast and easy way to export any video to M4V, then using SysTools Video Converter Offline Software is a great choice. It supports various video formats and gives you high quality output. With its user-friendly interface, anyone can convert batch video files to M4V easily without worrying about input data or losing precious data.
Export Video to M4V File Format – Complete Tool Steps
1. Start by downloading & running our video to M4V converter.
2. Now, click on the Select Files button to upload your video files.
3. You are able to add multiple videos into the software in order to convert them at one time.
4. And then, choose the M4V format and check it.
5. Click on the Browse button to browse for your final file path.
6. So, now you see your video file is uploaded.
7. Simply press the Convert button to start the conversion to convert video to M4V format.
8. So, now the computer does some work on the video.
9. Now it pops up a box on screen to inform me that the conversion is finished. Then press the OK button.
10. Finally, simply download and verify your converted file from there.
Manual Vs Automated Tool – Which is Better?
Read both points of these approaches to get an idea what is best for you.
| Feature | Manual Methods | Automated Tool |
| Ease of Use | Requires technical steps | Simple, user-friendly interface with direct M4V output |
| Batch Conversion | Limited or not supported | Supports bulk video conversion |
| Conversion Speed | Slower for large files, may freeze | Optimized for faster processing |
| Output Quality | Possible compression or quality loss | Maintains original video quality |
| Format Support | Works with a few formats only | Supports a wide range of video formats |
| Metadata & Subtitles | Not always preserved | Ensures metadata and subtitles remain intact |
| Device Compatibility | Depends on settings and manual steps | Directly optimized for Apple devices and iTunes |
| Difficulty Level | Medium to High (especially FFmpeg) | Low – ideal for non-technical users |
Final Say
Some users just need to convert video to M4V, so they may play smoothly on Apple gadgets or support iTunes. There are free tools described above like VLC, FFmpeg or iTunes. But, it can be a slow process and might decrease the video quality while moving with the process. If you have only a small amount of video files, either of the free options will work. But if you have videos in bulk to export and want a speedy process, it is best to use our dedicated video converter utility. That way you get quality, speed, batch conversion and a lot less problems.