<p>I'm new to ffmpeg, but if you want the codecs to remain the same and the data wrapped in mp4 instead of mov, I believe the following will work:</p>

<pre><code> ffmpeg -i video.mov -c copy video.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>The command you posted may have worked just fine, but your computer is having trouble playing the video data. This is almost always a codec issue.</p>

<p>You can compare the data in the mov input with the mp4 output using ffprobe. Compare the output of the commands <code>ffprobe video.mov</code> and <code>ffprobe video.mp4</code>. If the above command works as expected, then the data should read the same under the codecs. Only the container related data should be different.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-25T04:21:30.903Z
2017-01-27T18:53:36.687Z
2017-01-27T18:53:36.687Z
user3643
<p>MP4 file format is based on QuickTime file format. Usually, renaming the file suffix to <code>.mp4</code> just works.</p>

<p>The spec are here</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html" rel="nofollow">ISO/IEC 14496-12:2015</a></li>
<li><a href="https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/QuickTime/QTFF/QTFFPreface/qtffPreface.html" rel="nofollow">QuickTime File Format(QTFF)</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-25T00:11:16.007Z
That is false information. While ideas were taken from QuickTime, they are different formats and simply renaming a file doesn't convert it into a mp4 file. As it also says in the second link you posted.
timonsku
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-25T07:05:34.440Z
Container structure is the same and often renaming can work. FFmpeg has the same demuxer for `mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2`. But QT allows lot more codecs than the official MP4 format, So a player coded as per the spec to vet streams will refuse to play a MP4 with e.g. PCM audio or just won't play the audio, just like ffmpeg won't create such a MP4. But nothing technical prevents PCM in MP4. Sony's cameras produce such MP4s. ----------- **TL;DR** difference between MP4 and MOV is administrative rather than technical. The viability of renaming MP4/MOV depends on the app the file is to be used in.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-27T15:25:30.757Z
Renaming would work for VLC (anything would work for VLC) but not for players like QuickTime.
Macindows
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-30T11:32:20.863Z
2016-03-30T11:32:20.863Z
Akagi201
<p>I need to convert quicktime (.mov) video file recorded by iphone, into mp4 format using ffmpeg in php.</p>

<p>I tried several commands but it did not work for me.</p>

<p>I tried following command that converted into .mp4 but just audio was there. No video was playing.</p>

<pre><code>exec("ffmpeg -i input.mov out.mp4");
</code></pre>

<p>Any help in this case will be appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T22:49:54.990Z
What is the ffmpeg output when you execute the command. Also post some more info about the file. Preferably a MediaInfo or ffprobe output.
timonsku
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T10:15:06.593Z
Have you tried just renaming the .mov extension to .mp4 ?
Adam Mann Pro
<video><ffmpeg>
ffmpeg: How to convert quicktime (iPhone) video to mp4 format?
user2899728
# ffmpeg: How to convert quicktime (iPhone) video to mp4 format?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-17)

I need to convert quicktime (.mov) video file recorded by iphone, into mp4 format using ffmpeg in php.
I tried several commands but it did not work for me.
I tried following command that converted into .mp4 but just audio was there. No video was playing.
exec("ffmpeg -i input.mov out.mp4");

Any help in this case will be appreciated.
Thanks

**Tags:** video, ffmpeg

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What is the ffmpeg output when you execute the command. Also post some more info about the file. Preferably a MediaInfo or ffprobe output.  
> **username_2**: Have you tried just renaming the .mov extension to .mp4 ?  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-01-25. Score: 1

I'm new to ffmpeg, but if you want the codecs to remain the same and the data wrapped in mp4 instead of mov, I believe the following will work:
 ffmpeg -i video.mov -c copy video.mp4

The command you posted may have worked just fine, but your computer is having trouble playing the video data. This is almost always a codec issue.
You can compare the data in the mov input with the mp4 output using ffprobe. Compare the output of the commands ffprobe video.mov and ffprobe video.mp4. If the above command works as expected, then the data should read the same under the codecs. Only the container related data should be different.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-03-30. Score: 0

MP4 file format is based on QuickTime file format. Usually, renaming the file suffix to `.mp4` just works.

The spec are here

* [ISO/IEC 14496-12:2015](http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html)
* [QuickTime File Format(QTFF)](https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/QuickTime/QTFF/QTFFPreface/qtffPreface.html)

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That is false information. While ideas were taken from QuickTime, they are different formats and simply renaming a file doesn't convert it into a mp4 file. As it also says in the second link you posted.  
> **username_5**: Container structure is the same and often renaming can work. FFmpeg has the same demuxer for `mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2`. But QT allows lot more codecs than the official MP4 format, So a player coded as per the spec to vet streams will refuse to play a MP4 with e.g. PCM audio or just won't play the audio, just like ffmpeg won't create such a MP4. But nothing technical prevents PCM in MP4. Sony's cameras produce such MP4s. ----------- **TL;DR** difference between MP4 and MOV is administrative rather than technical. The viability of renaming MP4/MOV depends on the app the file is to be used in.  
> **username_6**: Renaming would work for VLC (anything would work for VLC) but not for players like QuickTime.  

---

