How to Convert MOV to MP4 and HD MP4 Using Quicktime Pro 7

Although QuickTime 7 Pro is no longer available for purchase, you can still convert MOV files to MP4 format using various methods. The easiest way to convert most MOV files is simply by renaming the file extension to MP4. If you have QuickTime 7 Pro, you can use the Export feature. If not, there are still other free programs that can quickly convert files.

Open the folder containing the MOV file. The quickest way to convert a MOV file to MP4 is by changing its file extension. MP4 is a subset of MOV, so you don’t necessarily need to perform an actual conversion.

• This method works on all operating systems and doesn’t require additional software. Since QuickTime 7 Pro is no longer available, this free approach is quite convenient.

Make sure file extensions are visible (only on Windows). Windows can hide file extensions by default. The extensions need to be visible for you to make changes.

• On Windows 8 and 10 – Click the 'View' tab at the top of the Explorer window and check the 'File name extensions' box.
• On Windows 7 and earlier – Open the Control Panel, select 'Folder Options,' click on the 'View' tab, and uncheck 'Hide extensions for known file types.'

Right-click the MOV file and select 'Rename.' This option will allow you to rename the file, including its extension.

Change the file extension from .mov at the end of the file name to .mp4. Once you press ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return, your computer will ask if you want to change the extension.

Confirm that you want to change the file extension. The system will warn you that changing the file name may make it unreadable. You can ignore this warning and proceed.

• On macOS, click 'Use .mp4' in the pop-up window.
• On Windows, click 'Yes' in the pop-up window.

Check the file. Double-click the renamed file to verify if it opens in a media player. The file is now MP4, which can be played on any compatible media player or device.

• You can always change the extension back to .mov to revert the file to its original format.
• This method works for 99% of MOV files you encounter. If not, check the other methods below.

Install QuickTime 7 Pro. QuickTime Pro can no longer be activated through the built-in QuickTime Player on macOS. You will need to download the older QuickTime 7 version and enter the Pro registration key to unlock advanced features.

• Download QuickTime 7 from Apple and install it. You can download it here.
• Open the Utilities folder and launch QuickTime Player 7.
• Click the 'QuickTime Player 7' menu and select 'Registration.'
• Enter the Pro registration key to unlock the Pro features.

Open MOV files in QuickTime 7 Pro. To ensure that the MOV file opens in QuickTime Player X by default, right-click on the file, click 'Open With,' and select QuickTime 7 Pro.

Click on the 'File' menu and choose 'Export.' This feature requires the registered QuickTime Pro version.

Click on the 'Export' menu and select 'Movie to MPEG-4.' This allows you to save the video in MP4 format.

Click 'Save' to create an MP4 copy of the file. The file will export in MP4 format, and this process may take several minutes due to the larger size of the MP4 movie file.

Download and install Adapter from Macroplant. This is a free, ad-free program that can convert video files to other formats. You can download the version available for both Windows and Mac at macroplant.com/adapter/.

• After downloading the installer, run it to install Adapter. You can keep the default program settings, but make sure the 'FFmpeg' installation option is enabled as it is required for video conversion.

Launch Adapter after installation. The program will be located in the Start menu (on Windows) or the Applications folder (on Mac). Adapter may automatically launch once the installation is complete.

Drag the MOV file into the Adapter window. The file will be added to the conversion queue. Alternatively, you can click the 'Browse' button on Adapter and navigate to the file.

• Occasionally, Adapter may display an 'Error' message when adding a file. In this case, simply right-click the file and select 'Remove,' then try adding it again. The issue is typically resolved.

Click the dropdown menu at the bottom of the Adapter window. You will be able to choose a different format for conversion.

Select "Video" → "General" → "Custom MP4". Alternatively, if you are converting a file for a specific device, you can select it from the Video menu.

Choose custom quality settings. After selecting Custom MP4, various options will appear in the right panel of the window. You can change the 'Quality' dropdown in the 'Resolution' section to 'Very High (Lossless)' to preserve the original video quality.

Click 'Convert' to convert the MOV file to MP4. The time it takes depends on the size of the original video file. By default, the new file will be saved in the same folder with the same name as the original, but with the MP4 extension. The original file remains unchanged.