How to convert HEVC to H.264
- Drop your video in. “Maximum compatibility” is already ticked, which forces H.264.
- Check the details: the video is re-encoded at high quality.
- Press “Convert to MP4” and save.
Why HEVC videos won’t play
Since 2017, iPhones have recorded in HEVC (also called H.265) by default, and many Android phones do too. It saves space, but it isn’t supported everywhere: many Windows PCs need a paid add-on to play it, older TVs and editors refuse it, and some social platforms and forms reject it or fail to upload it.
H.264 is the older, universal codec. Converting to it is the most reliable fix when a video plays on your phone but nowhere else.
File size
H.264 is less efficient than HEVC, so the converted file is often larger. If you need it smaller as well, use the video compressor, which also outputs H.264.
Stop it happening on iPhone
On an iPhone, go to Settings, Camera, Formats and choose “Most Compatible”. New videos will be recorded in H.264.
Questions
Is H.265 the same as HEVC?
Yes. HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) and H.265 are two names for the same codec.
Why is the H.264 file bigger?
HEVC compresses about twice as efficiently. To keep quality the same, H.264 needs more data.
Is there a watermark?
No. The video you save is exactly what the encoder produced: no watermark, no logo, no sign-up.
Is my video uploaded anywhere?
No. The tool runs inside your browser and uses your device’s own video encoder. Your file is read from your device, processed there and saved back. You can confirm this in your browser’s network panel: nothing is sent while a video is processed.
Which browsers does it work in?
It works best in Chrome and Edge on a computer. It needs a browser feature called WebCodecs. If your browser doesn’t have it, the page tells you before you start.