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Converting between MOV and other popular formats

Edited by Ben Jacklin

April 1, 2025

21,149

Got lots of MOV videos you'd like to watch on your mobile device or a DVD player? With the right program such as Movavi Video Converter, you'll be able to change the file format quickly and easily. We will show you how to use our app for converting MOV files to various video formats, such as AVI, MP4, MPG, or AVCHD. You can also use Movavi Video Converter to convert video to MOV or even extract music from a movie and save the audio track in MP3 or another popular audio format.

In this article, we’ll cover three major areas: the file conversion process, a comparison between some of the most popular video formats, and frequently asked questions. Just click one of the links below to get to the appropriate section.

How to convert MOV files to various formats and vice versa
MOV, AVI, MPG, AVCHD, MP4 formats: A comparison
Frequently asked questions

How to convert MOV files to various formats and vice versa

The process of conversion is very easy with Movavi software. You don't need to be familiar with programming, video formats, or settings – just run the software, choose your video, select a preset, click Convert and that's it!

Download the program and read this quick guide to find out how to convert MOV videos.

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Step 1. Download and install the program

After the download is finished, install the program.

Step 2. Open the video you wish to convert

Launch Movavi Video Converter. Click the Add Media button and then Add Video to add videos. The file names will appear in the list of source files.

Step 3. Choose a preset

At the bottom of the program interface, select the desired output video format or device preset. You can find the most popular format presets under the Popular or Video tabs. If you want to convert MOV to WAV or any other audio format to extract sound from your video, choose the desired audio format from the Audio tab.

Step 4. Convert your MOV files

Click Save to in the lower portion of the converter to specify where the software should save your converted files.

Finally, click Convert.

Step 5. Transfer the converted video to your mobile device

After having finished conversion, you can minimize or close the program and transfer the videos to the mobile device. Turn it on and connect to the computer. Start the uploader, which will guide you through the uploading process.

Please note: uploading may take some time depending on the size of your video files.

And that's all there is to converting MOV video with our fast and easy MOV converter! Now, whenever you want to convert to the MOV format and vice versa, just run the program and repeat these steps.

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MOV, AVI, MPG, AVCHD, MP4 formats: A comparison

With Movavi software, you can convert your MOV files to many different formats with the many built-in presets. We selected some well-known formats and created a comparison chart which may help you to choose the one that will best suit your needs.

Comparison parameter

MOV

AVI

MPG

AVCHD

MP4

Around since

1991

1992

1993

2006

1998

Developer

Apple

Microsoft

MPEG

Sony and Panasonic

MPEG

File extension

.mov, .qt

.avi

.mpg, .mpeg

.mts, .m2ts

.mp4

Video codecs

H.263, H.264, Apple ProRes, Apple Pixlet, others

H.264, MPEG‑4, DivX, Xvid, others

MPEG-1, MPEG-2

H.264

H.263, H.264, H.265, MPEG‑4, others

Audio codecs

AAC, ALAC, MP3, others

Almost any

MP1, MP2

AC‑3

AAC, MP3, AC‑3, others

Support

Mainly Apple; limited support for other systems

Windows PCs

Most non‑mobile devices

Blu‑ray, DVD, HD TV

Almost any device

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert an MOV file on Mac?

You can convert files on Mac as easily as on Windows. Follow this short guide:

1. Get the Mac version of Movavi converter here:

Download Movavi Video Converter for Mac

2. Install the program and launch it.

3. Add your MOV files to the app by clicking Add Media and then Add Video.

4. Choose a preset from the Video tab: MP4, AVI, or something else.

5. Click Convert, wait for a short while, and you’re done!

Can you upload MOV to Instagram?

Yes, but success will depend on the codecs used to compress the data in your file. The video codec should be H.264 or H.265 (HEVC), and the audio codec should be AAC, otherwise you may encounter an uploading problem. And if you want to use your video for IGTV, make sure the file is in MP4 format. Generally, MP4 is better for Instagram than MOV.

What is an MOV format video?

MOV is a wrapper that can contain multiple tracks: video, audio, and text. This format was developed by Apple, so it is mainly supported on Apple devices like iPhones and Macs.