<p>Yes.</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4V" rel="noreferrer">M4V</a> is a slight extension to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14" rel="noreferrer">MP4</a> container format. M4V is Apple's version, which adds optional DRM-encryption.</p>

<p>So if the video is DRM-protected (i.e. came from the iTunes store) it should stay as m4v (and will open by default in iTunes). If it's not, it can be used with either extension, and many players will be happy either way. By default, .m4v files will open with iTunes, which may be convenient.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-24T20:55:37.520Z
Didn't Apple stop providing content with DRM years ago?
mcont
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-27T04:58:36.357Z
Yes. This Q&A is from years ago.
drfrogsplat
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-10T07:39:53.213Z
2014-02-10T07:39:53.213Z
drfrogsplat
<p><strong>Yes</strong>, this simple conversion should work fine. Both files are technically mp4 files anyways.</p>

<p>Notably, certain older Apple products, like older versions of appleTV for example, require it to be in m4v format so <strong>don't forget to switch it back if you're switching between a Mac and a PC if you are using older mac products.</strong></p>

<p>By default, m4v files will always open in iTunes vs other programs.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2012-10-02T17:24:08.263Z
2019-06-12T15:01:06.883Z
2019-06-12T15:01:06.883Z
Travis Crum
<p>Be aware that you are not changing anything. If I call you Bob, you are still Jac and even then you are probably posting under a different name. If you have software that naively trusts the filename instead of examining the actual binary headers of the file, this can work for you. If the actual format or encoding is wrong then no name change will fix that.</p>

<p>It is possible that some embedded systems do rely on the filename to filter a list of possible files and provide no way get around the default filters. Renaming the file can be your solution.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-02T18:02:18.820Z
2012-10-02T18:02:18.820Z
horatio
<p>I need to change an .mp4 (h264, AAC-Audio) to an exactly same .m4v. Can I just rename it from "X.mp4" to "X.m4v"? By renaming, I mean clicking on it in Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Win) and renaming it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-02T12:59:27.257Z
Why don't you try it and see if it works? This suggests it could work: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=441377
mbx-mbx
<mac><mp4>
Can I manually change an .mp4 to .m4v by changing the extension in the Finder (mac) or explorer (win)?
Jac
# Can I manually change an .mp4 to .m4v by changing the extension in the Finder (mac) or explorer (win)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-10-02)

I need to change an .mp4 (h264, AAC-Audio) to an exactly same .m4v. Can I just rename it from "X.mp4" to "X.m4v"? By renaming, I mean clicking on it in Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Win) and renaming it.

**Tags:** mac, mp4

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why don't you try it and see if it works? This suggests it could work: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=441377  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-02-10. Score: 7

Yes.

[M4V](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4V) is a slight extension to the [MP4](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14) container format. M4V is Apple's version, which adds optional DRM-encryption.

So if the video is DRM-protected (i.e. came from the iTunes store) it should stay as m4v (and will open by default in iTunes). If it's not, it can be used with either extension, and many players will be happy either way. By default, .m4v files will open with iTunes, which may be convenient.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Didn't Apple stop providing content with DRM years ago?  
> **username_2**: Yes. This Q&A is from years ago.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2012-10-02. Score: 3

**Yes**, this simple conversion should work fine. Both files are technically mp4 files anyways.

Notably, certain older Apple products, like older versions of appleTV for example, require it to be in m4v format so **don't forget to switch it back if you're switching between a Mac and a PC if you are using older mac products.**

By default, m4v files will always open in iTunes vs other programs.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2012-10-02. Score: 3

Be aware that you are not changing anything. If I call you Bob, you are still username_0 and even then you are probably posting under a different name. If you have software that naively trusts the filename instead of examining the actual binary headers of the file, this can work for you. If the actual format or encoding is wrong then no name change will fix that.

It is possible that some embedded systems do rely on the filename to filter a list of possible files and provide no way get around the default filters. Renaming the file can be your solution.


---

