FormatDrop
How-To Guide

How to Convert MOV to MP4 on Android

MOV files from iPhones often won't play on Android, or have no sound because of the HEVC codec. Converting MOV to MP4 on your Android phone takes a few minutes with the right app.

Open MOV to MP4 Converter

Step-by-step instructions

  1. 1

    Check if the MOV already plays

    First open the MOV in your Android gallery or Google Photos. If it plays fine, you may not need to convert — just rename it from .mov to .mp4 (though this is a container trick, not true conversion). If there's no audio or it won't play, proceed with a proper conversion.

    Go to converter
  2. 2

    Convert with Video Converter app

    Install 'Video Converter & Compressor — MP4' (free) from the Play Store. Tap Convert → select the MOV file → choose MP4 output → tap Start. The app re-encodes the video and audio to H.264+AAC in an MP4 container. For HEVC MOV files from modern iPhones, this also converts HEVC to H.264 for maximum Android compatibility.

  3. 3

    Use an online converter from Chrome

    Open Chrome on Android → go to formatdrop.com → Video Converter → upload your MOV → select MP4 → convert and download. Best for MOVs under 500 MB with a fast Wi-Fi connection.

  4. 4

    Batch convert on PC

    For multiple MOV files: connect phone → copy MOV files to PC → run ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -movflags +faststart output.mp4. The -movflags +faststart moves metadata to the front for fast streaming. Copy the MP4s back to your phone.

Why convert MOV to MP4?

Android devices support MP4 natively across all apps. MOV files, especially those with HEVC video from iPhones, often fail on Android. MP4 with H.264 video is the universal safe choice.

Your files never leave your device

FormatDrop runs the conversion engine entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly. No file upload. No server. Nothing stored. You can verify this by opening DevTools → Network tab and watching: zero upload requests.

Frequently asked questions

Why does iPhone MOV have no sound on Android?
iPhones default to HEVC (H.265) video since iOS 11, which some Android apps struggle with. The audio is usually AAC which Android supports fine — the issue is typically the video codec. Converting with H.264 output fixes playback on all Android devices.
Can I just rename MOV to MP4 on Android?
Sometimes this works if the MOV contains H.264 video and AAC audio — both are valid inside MP4 containers. But for HEVC MOV files from modern iPhones, renaming doesn't re-encode, so it may still not play. Always test after renaming; convert if playback fails.
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