MP4 is one of the video formats that is compatible with most devices. By knowing how to convert videos to MP4, you can make things easier because videos can be played on any device. There are several ways you can do to convert a video format to MP4, and all of them are free!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Convert YouTube Videos to MP4
Step 1. Copy the URL of the video
Go to the video page on YouTube. Copy the full video URL from the address bar.
You can use this method for other free video sites. This method doesn't work for video services like Netflix or Hulu
Step 2. Visit the YouTube video download site
There are various sites that can download YouTube videos. Some of the popular YouTube video download sites are keepvid.com, savefrom.net, and clipconverter.cc.
Step 3. Paste the video address into the URL field
Click the "Continue" or "Download" button.
Step 4. Select "MP4" as the video format
There are various options available.
Step 5. Choose the quality you want
Select the video quality you want to download. 720p and 1080p are the highest quality to choose from. For 1080p video, you must download the audio and video recordings separately. In 720p video, audio and video recordings are combined.
Step 6. Wait for the video to finish downloading
The length of time it takes to download a video depends on the length of the video, the quality of the video, and the speed of your internet connection.
If you downloaded the video version 720p or lower, the process is completed here. If you downloaded the 1080p version of the video, read the guide to unifying the audio and video files
Step 7. Download the audio file (1080p only)
You will also need to download an MP3 file for 1080p video. The separate audio file will be combined with the video file.
Step 8. Download and install ffmpeg (1080p only)
ffmpeg is a command line processing tool that can be used to combine audio and video files for 1080p quality video. The following steps will guide you through installing ffmpeg on Windows and putting the two files together. ffmpeg can be a little confusing, so take a look at its user guide if you need more details.
- Download the ffmpeg file from https://ffmpeg.org/download.html. ffmpeg can be used on all operating systems.
- Try extracting the ffmpeg file into the directory labeled ffmpeg on your C: disk.
- Press Win+Pause, then click "Advanced system settings". Click the Environment Variables… button.
- Find the "Path" variable inside "System variables". Select the variable, then click Edit….
- Add;c:\ffmpeg\bin to the end of the "Variable value" line, then click OK. This step completes the ffmpeg installation process on Windows.
Step 9. Start concatenating audio and video files (1080p only)
You will need to use the Command Prompt to merge the two files. Put both files in the User directory.
- Press Win+R, then type cmd to launch Command Prompt. Command Prompt will start with in the User directory. Type cd X:\path\to\files to open another directory if needed.
- Type ffmpeg -i fileAudio.mp3 -i fileVideo.mp4 -acodec copy -vcodec copy outputFile.mp4, then press Enter. Rename the files with the actual audio and video file names. Rename the output as you wish. This way, the two files will be combined into a new video file in the same directory. The unification process may take a few minutes to complete.
Method 2 of 4: Converting Video Files with Handbrake
Step 1. Download and install Handbrake
Handbrake is a free, open-source program that allows you to convert videos on any operating system. You can download Handbrake from handbrake.fr. You can use Handbrake to convert almost any video format to MP4.
Step 2. Use Handbrake to open the video file
Launch Handbrake, then click the "Source" button. Select "File", then find the video file of your choice.
Step 3. Select "Normal" from the "Presets" panel
Click the "Presets" menu, then select "Show Preset Panel" if the Presets panel does not appear. The "Normal" preset works on all computers.
You can select a specific device in the "Devices" list
Step 4. Click the "Browse" button to manage the files resulting from the conversion
You will need to name and save the file you want to convert before you begin. Make sure that you save the file where it can be found.
Make sure that "mp4" is selected in the "Save as type" menu
Step 5. Click "Add to Queue", then click "Start"
Handbrake will start the process of converting the video format to MP4. The conversion process may be completed in minutes or up to more than an hour.
Method 3 of 4: Convert Video Files using VLC Player
Step 1. Download and install VLC Player
VLC Player is a free, open-source program that lets you play videos of any format. VLC Player can also convert video file formats to MP4. You can download VLC from videolan.org. VLC Player is available for any operating system.
Step 2. Click the "Media" menu in VLC Player, then select "Convert / Save"
The converter tool will launch.
Step 3. Click the button
Add… and select the video you want to process in the conversion.
You can load almost any video format. Click Convert / Save once you have selected the file.
Step 4. Select "Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)" from the "Profile" menu
This option will tell VLC to convert the file format to MP4. You can click the Settings button to adjust the settings. Most users leave these settings as they are by default.
Step 5. Click the button
Browse… , then save the resulting file from the conversion.
The file obtained is the final result of the conversion. Make sure that you provide a name that will make it easier for you to identify the file.
Step 6. Click the button
Start , then wait.
The length of time it takes for the conversion process to complete is the same as the length of the original video. This is because VLC plays the original video and re-records it in MP4 format.
Method 4 of 4: Convert Video to MP4 via Website
Step 1. Consider the restrictions that apply
If you're converting videos via a website, you'll need to upload the video first. Even if a video conversion website doesn't have a size limit (and most do), the upload process alone can take several hours. If you want to convert a long video file, consider using Handbrake or VLC.
Step 2. Visit the video conversion website
Here are some popular sites:
- video.online-convert.com
- files-conversion.com
- zamzar.com
Step 3. Upload your video file
Click the button provided to select the file stored on the computer. Some sites may allow you to select files stored in Dropbox or Google Drive.
The upload process may take a while to complete
Step 4. Select the converted file format
Most video conversion websites allow users to choose the type of format from several available options. Make sure that you select the "MP4" format.
Step 5. Wait for the video to finish converting
After you upload the video, you have to wait for it to finish converting. The time it takes to convert a video on each site varies. The size of the video will affect the time it takes for the conversion process. A download link for the conversion will be provided to you immediately, or perhaps a link will be emailed after the conversion is complete.
