Video format
The MP4 format
MP4 is the video container that plays on everything, usually holding H.264 video and AAC audio. MP4 became an ISO standard in 2003, built on Apple’s QuickTime design, and is now the default video format of phones and the web.
When to use MP4
Use MP4 whenever a video has to be sent, uploaded or played somewhere you don’t control.
It is best for sharing video anywhere, and it opens on every phone, browser, TV, editor, chat app and upload form.
How to open it: Every device plays MP4: double-click it, or drag it into a browser tab.
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .mp4 |
| MIME type | video/mp4 |
| Introduced | 2003 |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | H.264 or HEVC video with AAC audio |
| Support | Opens everywhere |
| Typical size | 1080p phone video runs roughly 60–130 MB a minute |
Good at
- Plays on every device and platform
- Good quality per megabyte
- Accepted by WhatsApp, Gmail, Discord and every social network
Not so good at
- Long, high-resolution clips are still large
- Two MP4s can hold very different codecs, so one plays and another doesn’t
The common mistake
An MP4 that won’t play is rarely broken; it usually holds a newer codec such as HEVC or AV1 that the player doesn’t support.
Convert MP4 to another video format
Save the sound of an MP4 as
Compare MP4 with
Questions
What is an MP4 file?
MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the video container that plays on everything, usually holding H.264 video and AAC audio. MP4 became an ISO standard in 2003, built on Apple’s QuickTime design, and is now the default video format of phones and the web.
How do I open an MP4 file?
Every device plays MP4: double-click it, or drag it into a browser tab.
How do I convert MP4 to another format?
Pick the target on this page, or open the Video Converter, drop the MP4 file and choose a format. It converts in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.