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How-To Guide

How to Convert 3GP to MP4

3GP was the video format used by Nokia, Samsung, and other mobile phones in the 2000s and early 2010s. If you have old phone recordings from that era, they're probably in 3GP format — and many current players and editing apps no longer open them. Converting 3GP to MP4 makes these old videos playable everywhere and preserves memories before the files become inaccessible.

See what FormatDrop converts
FormatDrop doesn't convert 3GP to MP4 yet. The methods below use free tools that do. FormatDrop's own converters cover common image, audio, video and PDF formats, all in your browser.

Free desktop tools for 3GP to MP4

  1. 1

    HandBrake (free, Windows, Mac and Linux)

    Open HandBrake, click Open Source and choose the .3gp file. Pick the 'Fast 1080p30' preset. The preset only sets a maximum size, so a small 176×144 or 320×240 clip is not blown up. Check that Format says MP4, then click Start Encode.

  2. 2

    VLC (free, all platforms)

    VLC suits 3GP because it plays the old codecs these files use: H.263 and MPEG-4 Part 2 video, AMR audio. Open VLC → Media → Convert/Save (on a Mac: File → Convert / Stream) → add the 3GP file → Convert/Save → Profile: Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4) → set the output path → Start.

  3. 3

    FFmpeg (command line)

    One command covers H.263, MPEG-4 and H.264 clips: ffmpeg -i input.3gp -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -c:a aac output.mp4. FFmpeg detects the input codecs itself. If the clip already has H.264 video and AAC audio, copy the streams instead. That is instant and lossless: ffmpeg -i input.3gp -c copy output.mp4.

  4. 4

    Fix the date if it's wrong

    Old phones often had the clock set wrong, and some converters reset the date. ExifTool can write the recording date into the MP4: exiftool -CreateDate='2008:06:15 14:30:00' output.mp4. Many photo apps and media libraries sort videos by this date.

Why convert 3GP to MP4?

3GP was standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for use on 3G mobile networks. It used heavily compressed codecs (H.263 or MPEG-4 Part 2) to keep file sizes small enough to share over slow mobile data connections. Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and early Samsung phones created 3GP files as their primary video format. With the smartphone era and 4G+, 3GP was abandoned in favour of MP4. Support has faded since: Android made H.263 video optional in Android 7.0, and web browsers don't play H.263 at all. Converting your old 3GP files to MP4 (H.264 + AAC) is the surest way to keep them playable.

Frequently asked questions

Why do old 3GP videos look blurry?
3GP used heavily compressed video codecs (H.263 at very low bitrates) designed for slow mobile networks and tiny screens. A typical 3GP from 2005–2010 is 176×144 or 320×240 resolution at 10-15 fps, with very low bitrate. The video quality was limited by the technology of the era — converting to MP4 doesn't improve the resolution or quality, it just makes the existing low-quality video playable on modern devices.
Can I play 3GP files on iPhone or Android?
Android still lists 3GP as a supported format, but H.263 video, the codec in most old phone clips, has been optional since Android 7.0, so some phones refuse those files. iPhones often won't open old 3GP clips either. The free VLC app for iOS and Android plays nearly all of them. Converting to MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio makes the clip play in every phone's built-in player.
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