How to Convert DAT to MP4 [12 Best Ways]

To convert DAT files to MP4, follow these simple steps:

  1. Download and launch Movavi Video Converter.

  2. Add files to the program.

  3. Choose MP4 as the output format.

  4. Convert your files.

Edited by Ben Jacklin
13 830

Not sure of how to convert DAT to MP4? In this article, we'll help you to choose a video converter – free or paid – that will help you to convert a DAT file to an MP4 format.

What is a DAT file?

Program

OS

Best for

Download

Windows, macOS

All-in-one video conversion and editing

2. VLC

Windows, macOS, Linux

Can play nearly any video file format

Windows, macOS

Short video conversions with the free trial

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  • We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.

12 best DAT to MP4 converters – online and free tools

The programs below are free – or free trial – DAT video converters available to help you change DAT files to MP4 and make your videos viewable. The list includes DAT-to-MP4 converters online that allow you to change video formats right in your browser.

Best for: All-in-one video conversion and editing

OS: Windows, macOS

G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5, 2 reviews

If you want to convert DAT to a more accessible format so you can play your file on an iOS or Android device or transfer it to DVD, try Movavi Video Converter. This fast and easy-to-use software supports all popular video, audio, and image formats, including AVI, MOV, MKV, WMV, MPEG, MP3, FLAC, JPEG, PNG – the list goes on. Apart from changing the format, you can also change the video resolution and size. The app provides simple editing tools, like trimming, rotating, color adjustment, and stabilization. 

Conversion:

  1. Download and install Movavi Video Converter on your computer. 
  2. Open the program and go to Add Media > Add video. Select the files for conversion.
  3. To convert DAT to MP4, choose MP4 as the target format. 
  4. Hit Convert

Read the detailed step-by-step guide

Pros:

  • The app supports a wide range of formats, offers advanced output settings, and simple editing tools

Cons:

  • Can’t import videos using URLs

2. VLC

Best for: Playing nearly any video file format available

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

CNET rating: 4.6 out of 5, 37 reviews

VLC is one of the most widely used media players available and understandably so. It has the ability to play just about all video file formats – with no additional downloads, and it’s completely free.

The media player can also optimize playback for different devices, has streaming capabilities, and the ability to convert .dat to .mp4 with video files. But most importantly, VLC is open source, so there are a nearly infinite number of plugins available that add additional features to the player.

Conversion:

  1. First, download the player and install it.
  2. To convert DAT to MP4 using VLC, open the media player and click Media on the tabs at the top of the window, and then select Open File. Find your DAT file and click Open. Next, click Media again and select Convert / Save from the drop-down menu. You can also hit Ctrl + R.
  3. Click the drop-down menu located next to Profile and select the MP4 option from the list that reads Video H.264 + MP3 (MP4). After that, choose a destination file for the conversion by clicking the Browse button in the window.
  4. Finally, click Start at the bottom of the window to begin the process. The amount of time the conversion will take is based on the size of the file.

Pros:

  • 100% free and open-source program that plays nearly all file formats and can be easily customized through various plugins

Cons:

  • Can be tricky to edit metadata in video files

Best for: Short video conversions with the free trial

OS: macOS, Windows

Trustpilot rating: 4.8 out of 5, 117 reviews

MacX Video Converter Pro is a straightforward video conversion tool that allows you to convert videos of all types – including DAT to MP4.

The software uses a de-interlacing engine and works with hardware accelerators within popular graphics cards to output video conversions quickly, efficiently, and with high quality. Plus, the interface is very user-friendly.

The company markets the software as being able to convert videos 5x faster than other conversion tools on the market, and most reviewers agreed that it is indeed very fast.

Conversion:

  1. To use MacX Video Converter Pro’s DAT-to-MP4 converter capabilities, download and install the app on your device.
  2. Open the program and click the button that reads Video with a film strip and plus sign next to it.
  3. Select your DAT file from the browser and click Open. An Output Profile window will open. Select the recommended MP4 Video from the menu and click OK. Then click the Run button located just below the viewer.
  4. You can change your destination file at the bottom of the window before running the software if you want, but otherwise it will go to the software’s default folder.

Pros:

  • Fast conversions and basic video-editing features wrapped in a clean, simple interface

Cons:

  • You must download the full version to convert more than 5 minutes of video

Best for: Balancing resolution and size

OS: Windows, macOS

Trustpilot rating: 4.2 out of 5, 158 reviews

WinX Video Converter is Digiarty Sofware’s Windows-focused alternative to the MacX Converter Pro – even though both programs run on both operating systems. With the WinX Video Converter, you’ll get basically the same features and service as the MacX Converter Pro.

This program works well with taking high-quality videos and compressing them into small file sizes.

Conversion:

  1. To use WinX Video Converter as a DAT file converter, download the app.
  2. Open the program and, at the top left, click the Video button. It has a film strip and plus sign next to it.
  3. Find your DAT file in the browser and click Open. A window that reads Output Profile will pop up. In the menu, select MP4 Video – it has a green > Recommended message – and then click OK. Last, click the Run button below the viewer to begin the DAT to MP4 conversion.

Pros:

  • Fast, lightweight program with an intuitive interface

Cons:

  • Importing files is a bit slow and you must download the full version to convert more than 5 minutes of video

Best for: Those who want to take a step beyond video conversion

OS: Windows, macOS

Capterra rating: 4.4 out of 5, 12 reviews

VideoProc is Digiarty’s upgrade from the WinX and MacX converters. The program adds a ton of editing features to the existing conversion capabilities, and it has a built-in media downloader.

Overall, it’s a lightweight video editor and converter for those who aren’t ready to make the jump to a professional video editing program like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut.

Conversion:

  1. To use VideoProc as a DAT video file converter, download and install the program.
  2. Open the program and click Video to open the video processing window. Click the next Video button on this screen – it has an icon with a film strip and a plus sign next to it – and then browse to find the DAT file you wish to convert. Click Open.
  3. Next, select the MP4-H264 button at the bottom of your screen to select it as your target output format. Look to the right of your screen, and just below the viewer, you can select your source folder for the output by clicking Browse.
  4. With everything set up, click the blue Run button on the bottom right of the window to run the conversion.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-learn, user-friendly interface, loads of output formats, and fast conversions

Cons:

  • Free trial only allows for 5 minutes of video conversion, limited sharing possibilities

Best for: Converting videos to fit many devices

OS: Windows

CNET rating: 3.8 out of 5, 14 reviews

If you’re looking for a solid DAT-to-MP4 converter for free online, then the WonderFox HD Video converter could be a viable option as long as your video is short.

The program offers some great features like cut and crop options so you can resize videos to fit them on any device. It also offers a wide range of output options.

Conversion:

  1. To use WonderFox HD Video Converter as a free DAT converter, download the program.
  2. Open the program and click the Converter icon at the bottom of the window.
  3. Next, you’ll need to add your DAT file to the converter using one of these two options:

    Click the Add Files button at the top of the window, find and select your file, and click Open.

    Drop and drag your DAT file into the center of the window – the dropbox has a large plus sign in the middle.

  4. After adding your file, look to the right side of the window and click the button just below the text that reads Click to change output format. Select the MP4 icon from the menu.
  5. At the bottom of your screen, click the Run button to run the conversion.

Pros:

  • The program allows you to convert videos to fit multiple devices, includes cropping and cutting tools, and supports batch conversions

Cons:

  • Free version limited to 5 minutes of video, 5 downloaded files, and doesn’t allow the program’s ‘Lightning Mode’

Best for: Quick, simple no-frills conversions

OS: Any

Trustpilot rating: 3.7 out of 5, 134 reviews

If you want to convert DAT to MP4 online, this is an easy free tool you can use to get the job done. It’s not the fastest software out there, but it’s free and easily accessible on any browser and through any OS.

Just download the launcher, select your file and convert. This tool will convert an unlimited number of files with no size limits.

Conversion:

  1. Learning how to convert a DAT file to MP4 with the Apowersoft Free Online Video Converter is easy. Simply go to the website and click the blue button at the top of the page that reads Select Files to Start. If this is your first time, the site will prompt you to download a launcher to help the site find your files.
  2. After you download the launcher, click the Select Files to Start button again and when prompted, select your DAT file and click Open. The interface window will launch automatically. From here, select MP4 from the menu at the bottom of the page just above Format and then click Convert.
  3. The interface will then prompt you to select an output folder. Click OK when you’ve selected a folder. The program should run the conversion and the file will appear in the folder you selected.

Pros:

  • The software is completely free, converts to tons of file types, and has no limit on the file size

Cons:

  • Not the fastest conversion available

Best for: Small files below 200 MB

OS: Any

Scamadviser rating: 4.3 out of 5, 4 reviews

Aconvert is an all-in-one conversion site where you can convert ebooks, PDF files, images, icons, and many other types of files. On the video side, they offer an easy-to-use converter that can convert the DAT file format into MP4 and many other codecs as long as the file is under 200 MB.

Conversion:

  1. Don’t know how to convert DAT to MP4 with Aconvert? No worries! Simply go to the Aconvert website and click the Video button on the left side of the page.
  2. Under the Convert video online text, click the Choose Files button to select a video file directly from your hard drive. You can also click the dropdown menu to the left to upload a file from a website, DropBox, or Google Drive.
  3. The default target format for the conversion is MP4, but be sure you have it selected on the window below. Then click the Convert Now! button at the bottom right.
  4. Your converted file will appear in the section below titled Conversion Results. On the right side below the Action text, click the Save icon. This will open another tab on your browser and give you options to download or save your file.
  5. Just remember that the file will be deleted from Aconvert’s server in 2 hours.

Pros:

  • Aconvert offers a lot of import options and simple editing tools

Cons:

  • Files are automatically deleted from their server after two hours, and file size is limited to 200 MB

Best for: Small files 100 MB and under

OS: Any

Trustpilot rating: 3.5 out of 5, 14 reviews

Online-convert.com is another site that offers tons of conversion options for various file types – including DAT files. For video files, there’s a file size limit of 100 MB, but you can pay for the ability to convert larger file sizes.

The online software comes with a lot of options to alter your video, but you’ll need to understand some video editing terminology to get exactly what you want.

Conversion:

  1. Go to the site and click the dropdown menu under the box titled Video Converter.
  2. Select Convert to MP4 from the menu and then click the green Go button.
  3. On the next page, you have three options to upload your DAT file.

    Click the grey Choose Files button, select your file, and click Open.

    Drag and drop your file directly into the green box that reads Drop Files Here.

    Click Enter URL, DropBox, or Google Drive buttons to upload your file from those sources.

  4. Once your file is uploaded, there are options below to change the settings on your conversion. But if you’re ready to convert, click the large green > Start Conversion button.
  5. After the file has been converted, you can upload it to a cloud location, download the file as a ZIP file, or just download it directly.

Pros:

  • Straightforward and self-explanatory interface, tons of presets to get exactly what you want from the conversion, drag-and-drop feature

Cons:

  • Slow uploading speed, 100 MB file size limit for the free version, confusing interface

Best for: Files up to 4 GB if you have the time to wait

OS: Any

Trustpilot rating: 3.8 out of 5, 2 reviews

Finding a DAT converter for free that will convert larger file sizes can be difficult, but the Online Video Converter by 123apps does the trick. It has a very easy-to-use interface with large buttons and simple instructions. However, this software is strictly for conversions. You won’t find any other editing tools in the software.

Conversion:

  1. Go to the website and click the large blue button that reads Open File.
  2. Find your file and click Open. You can also open your file from a URL, DropBox, or Google Drive using the buttons to the right.
  3. Once the file has uploaded, click the Video tab and select MP4 from the list of output options. If you want, you can change some of the resolution settings on the video. Once you’re ready, click the large blue Convert button at the bottom.
  4. After the conversion is complete, click Download to download the file directly to your hard drive, or you can also upload it to DropBox or Google Drive.

Pros:

  • Completely free, offers over 300 conversion formats, allows uploading files up to 4 GB

Cons:

  • A little slow on the upload and has no editing tools at all

Best for: Small conversions you want to share to social media

OS: Any

Scamadviser rating: 3.1 out of 5, 6 reviews

If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills converter for small video files to use on social media, this is the tool. With Online Converter, you can upload files up to 200 MB for free, convert, and share them directly to social media without downloading any software. It doesn’t have much in terms of tools, but you can resize and cut your videos.

Conversion:

  1. First, go to the site.
  2. Click the dropdown menu next to Convert, and select Video to MP4. Next, click the grey Choose File button, select your file, and click Open.
  3. Note that the Choose File window defaults to video files only. You may need to click the drop-down menu next to the File Name bar and select All Files to reveal your DAT file.
  4. Once the file has been uploaded, you can check the options box to cut the video clip or alter the frame size. When you’re ready click the gray Convert button.
  5. After the conversion, the page will redirect and you can click the link that reads Download Now to download your file. With Online Converter, you also have the ability to automatically share your converted file to a range of social media sites for free.

Pros:

  • Simple editing tools, simple sharing, easy to use

Cons:

  • Upload is very slow, 200 MB file size limit

12. Ezgif

Best for: Converting small videos into GIFs

OS: Any

WOT rating: 4.6 out of 5, 15 reviews

Although Ezgif is more known for converting videos into GIFs, you can also convert small video files – under 100 MB – into MP4 files very easily. In addition, the online program offers some useful tools to edit your video like crop, rotate, speed up, cut, resize, and subtitles.

The interface may seem daunting at first, but the buttons are all clearly labeled. Just upload the video and follow the instructions.

Conversion:

  1. Go to the site and click the Choose File button.
  2. Select the DAT file you want to convert and click Open. Then click the blue Upload Video! button at the bottom of the box.
  3. After uploading, the site will redirect you to the editing interface. From here, you can edit your video using any of the buttons listed at the top. When you’re ready to convert, click the blue Convert! button below the viewer.
  4. Your converted video will appear in the Output Video box below. To download the video, click the Save icon at the bottom right.

Pros:

  • Fast online program, offers tons of extra tools, every feature has clear instructions

Cons:

  • Only converts up to 100 MB

How to convert DAT files to MP4 with Movavi Video Converter

Step 1. Run the Movavi DAT converter

Open the setup file and install the converter following the on-screen instructions.

Step 2. Add the DAT files

In the program window, click Add Media then – Add Video and select the DAT files that you want to convert.

How to add files to the DAT converter from Movavi

Step 3. Select the output format

Choose the desired output video format (in this case it’s MP4) in the presets ribbon menu.

How to choose the output format to convert the DAT file video

Step 4. Start DAT to MP4 conversion

Click the Save to button to specify the folder in which the processed files should be saved. Finally, hit Convert.

How to convert DAT to MP4 or other format and save it

Summary: How to choose a DAT file converter

If you’re looking to convert a video from a DAT file format into MP4, any of the options listed in this article are viable for your needs. The desktop options convert at varying speeds, and some have limitations as a free trial version. Yet, any of the programs can do the job effectively. In case you don’t want to download a program to convert your video from DAT to MP4, use one of the online tools. Most are free and some have file size limitations, so be sure to check your file before using one of the programs.

  1. Movavi Video Converter – full video conversion package
  2. VLC – playing and ripping media
  3. MacX Video Converter Pro – best for short video conversions with the free trial
  4. WinX Video Converter – best for balancing resolution and size
  5. VideoProc – best for going beyond video conversion
  6. WonderFox HD Video Converter – best for converting videos to fit a range of devices
  7. Apowersoft Free Online Video Converter – best for quick, simple no-frills conversions
  8. Aconvert – best for small files below 200 MB
  9. Online-convert – suitable for small files 100 MB and under
  10. Online Video Converter by 123apps – suitable for files up to 4 GB if you have the time
  11. Online Converter – best for small conversions for sharing to social media
  12. Ezgif – GIF beginners

For converting videos to fit a range of devices

WonderFox HD Video Converter

Editor's rating

4.5
/5
Editor's choice

For all-in-one video conversion and editing

Movavi Video Converter

For small files below 200 MB

Aconvert

Editor's rating

4.6
/5

What is a DAT file?

Files with a DAT extension typically have information stored within the file that’s specific to an application. Opening one is usually a matter of identifying the original program the file came from and using it to open the file.

However, the problem is that the information can come from a wide variety of programs, and identifying the specific origin program may not be easy. You can use this table below to help identify some different DAT file formats and it may lead you in the right direction on how best to open and convert the file.

Text-based DAT files

Many text-based DAT files reveal themselves in the file name – look for Adobe or Microsoft. But if you’re not sure, you can use your PCs generic notepad to see which program to use to open it.

Video DAT files

If you’re sure a DAT file is video-based, the easiest solution is to use one of the programs listed above – like the Movavi Video Converter – to convert the file into a viewable MP4.

DAT email attachment

Sometimes email attachments form as a DAT file. As long as the attachment is from a trusted source, you can download the file and use an online converter to open it. They’re usually just images or documents.

Other DAT file formats

A variety of programs use DAT files ranging from Bitcoin programs to even computer games. The key is to identify the origin program and then use it to open the file.

Frequently asked questions

▶️ What is a .dat file?

A DAT extension or .dat file is a type of DATa file that contains information specific to the application where the file originated. DAT file formats can contain literally anything – text, videos, images, etc. – and they can originate from a variety of programs.

▶️ How do I open the .dat file?

To open DAT files, it’s best to identify the origin program for the file. If this isn’t possible, try to identify what type of file it is – text, video, image, etc.

From there, you can use a DAT file converter to change the file to a viewable format. Or, if the DAT file is text-based, you can use a DAT file reader to read a .dat file and possibly decipher the origin program of the file.

▶️ Is there a DAT-to-MP4 converter online for 500 MB files?

Yes, the Online Video Converter by 123apps will convert files up to 4 GB and the Apowersoft Free Online Video Converter has no file size limit.

▶️ How do I convert a DAT file to MP4 in Windows 10?

The programs listed above work as a DAT-to-MP4 converter for Windows 10. Read the summaries of their features and file size limits, choose the one that works best for your needs, and follow the instructions.

▶️ How do I convert a DAT file to MP4 using Windows Media Player?

It’s not possible to convert a DAT file to MP4 using Windows Media Player. Instead, review our list of DAT-to-MP4 converters above and use one of these programs to convert your file.

▶️ How do I open a .dat file on a Mac?

Opening a DAT file on Mac is similar to opening a DAT file on Windows. You’ll need to try to identify the origin program where the file came from.

If you think it’s a text file, use TextEdit on Mac instead of Notepad, and you should be able to identify the origin program from the text.

If the file is a video file, most of the conversion programs above are compatible with Mac. Simply convert the file to MP4 and use your video player to view the video.

▶️ How do I open a .dat file on an iPhone?

Again, opening a DAT file extension is always contingent on the origin program. However, there are some limitations on an iPhone, and you may need to download an app in order to open the file.

TNEF’s Enough is popular for opening Outlook attachments with .dat file extensions, and you may be able to read a .dat text file through the iPhone’s TextEdit app.

For video files, you may need to use your Mac or PC to convert the file first and then download them to the phone.

▶️ How do I open a .dat file on Android?

If you receive an email with a .dat file, you can use a .dat file reader for Android like the Winmail.DAT Opener app.

However, for video files, you’ll need to use your PC to convert the file first and then download it to your phone. Many of the programs listed above have settings that work well as a DAT file to MP4 converter for Android.

▶️ How do I convert a DAT file to a video?

DAT files come from their origin program. If the file isn’t a video file already, then it isn’t possible to convert it to a video.

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