Easily and Free Change Video Format for Better Playback

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How to Change Video Format on PC and Mobile Devices? | 6 Free Solutions

Updated on Oct 12, 2024

Want to change video formats for playback, uploading, sharing, editing, etc. with no format compatibility issues? This article shares six simple and free methods to help you change the format of videos on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. Keep reading to learn how to change video formats in specific steps!

Tips. Get the best free video file type converter to convert video formats easily and efficiently on Windows:

https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/download/hd-video-converter.exe hd-video-converter.exe

※ Why Do We Need to Change the Format of Videos?

※ How to Change Video Format with 6 Free and Simple Methods

--- WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory Pro (Windows)

--- VLC Media Player (All Platforms)

--- HandBrake (Windows & Mac)

--- iMovie (Mac & iOS)

--- Video Converter, Compressor (Android)

--- CloudConvert (Online)

※ FAQs

Why Do We Need to Change the Format of Videos?

Nowadays, it is common and closely associated with people's daily life to change the format of videos, like convert videos to AVI, MP4 or any other common formats for better playback. Try to imagine whether you have encountered the following video playback problems.

1. Failed to play downloaded videos, movies and dramas on televisions, mobile phones, and tablets?

2. The HD-recorded video cannot be edited because of incompatible format?

3. Failed to upload videos due to an unsupported file type?

The above are common issues people may encounter, and changing format of videos is a quick way to fix such kind of problems. So how to change video format? Don’t worry. Here are three easy methods to help you change video format in simple steps without any cost. Read on to get some practical video reformatting skills!

How to Change Video Format with 6 Free and Simple Methods

Changing video formats is not just simply changing the suffix name of a video file. Format changing involves video transcoding or video remuxing. It may seem a little bit difficult, but you can easily reformat videos with the help of some free video file changers. I will recommend 5 simple and free video format changers to help you change a video file type as below.

Method 1 – How to Convert Video Format on Windows with the Best Free Video Converter

WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory is a free yet powerful video format changer which supports all video format input and offers 600+ output formats and devices for easy and fast conversion. With its help, you can change format of video to any type you want in simple clicks.

It can also be used to change audio formats, edit video and audio files, extract audio from video, modify video/audio parameters, download YouTube videos, etc. Now, let’s download this format converter and see how to change the file type of a video below.

Guides on How to Change Video File Type

Before starting to change movie formats, please free download free download the video file converter software.

Step1: Add Files for Video Format Change Preparation

Run WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory and open Converter, then click the "Add Files" button to load videos or directly drag and drop them to the program.

Step2: Set the Output Format

Click the "Click to change output format" area on the right of the program and choose one video format under the "Video" tab that you want to change to.

Step3: Start to Change the Format of a Video

Set the output destination by clicking the inverted triangle icon at the bottom and lastly click the "Run" button to start the format conversion.

Also see: MP4 to Xvid | MKV to MP4 | PDS to MP4 | TREC to MP4

Method 2 – How to Change Video Format on Various Devices with VLC Media Player

how to change the format of a video

If you have already downloaded and installed VLC media player before, you can also use it as a video format changer/VLC converter to help change video file types. Check how to convert video files with VLC below.

Tips. VLC is compatible on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS operating systems. The following guide takes Windows as an example.

Step1: Run VLC player, click Media > Convert/Save on the menu bar, or you can directly use the keyboard shortcuts "Ctrl + R".

Step2: Click the "Add" button to import a video and then click the "Convert/Save" button.

Step3: Click the "Profile" drop-down list and select the format and codec you want to change to. Experienced users also can edit parameters or add a new customized profile yourself.

Step4: Set the output destination and click the "Start" button.

Method 3 – How to Convert Video Format with Handbrake on Windows and Mac

how to change video file type

Handbrake is a famous and free cross-platform video file changer with strong functions, such as adding subtitles, batch conversion. However, it may be a little bit complex for new users because its operation interface may not be so intuitive and clear. In addition, we have talked about how to extract audio with Handbrake before, here we share with you how to change the format of videos with it.

Step1: Run Handbrake, click "File" to import video.

Step2: Select the output destination and output container. Currently, it only includes MP4, WebM and MKV format.

Step3: Choose the format and codec you need in the right "Preset".

Step4: Finally click the upper "Start Encode" to begin to change format of video.

Method 4 – How to Change a Video Format with iMovie

iMovie

For Mac users who want to change their video file formats, there is a built-in application - iMovie. It is an easy-to-use video editor for Apple devices that can also handle video conversions. However, it only supports a few video formats like MPEG-4, MPEG-2, AVCHD, MOV, DV, etc. With it, you can change the video format to MP4 or QuickTime MOV formats.

Let's see how to use iMovie to convert video formats on Mac.

Step 1. Open the iMovie app on your Mac computer.

Step 2. Click "New" to create a video and choose "Movie" or "Trailer" to add your video to the storyboard.

Step 3. Go to the "File" option on the top menu bar and select "Share" > "File".

Step 4. Select the required video settings and format and click "Next" to specify other settings.

Step 5. Now, click "Save" to start the video conversion.

Tips. iMovie is also a mobile app that is available on iPhones. You can also convert videos to MP4 or other formats on your iPhone. The conversion steps are similar to that of the Mac version.

Method 5. How to Change A Video Format on Android with Video Converter, Compressor

Video Converter, Compressor

If you are an Android user, you can search Video Converter, Compressor in the Google Play Store, and install it to change video formats on your Android devices. It provides not only the basic video conversion feature but also video compressor, video to audio conversion, video merger, cutter, etc. features.

Let's see how to use this Android app to convert video formats.

Step 1. Search and install this Android app on your device.

Step 2. Launch it and select the "Video Converter" module from the homepage.

Step 3. Import your video files and choose the desired output format under the "Format" category.

Step 4. Export the converted files to your device.

Method 6 - How to Change a Video File Type Online with CloudConvert

how to change the format of a video

Besides using desktop video converters, online video converters can also help you change a video file type without installing any third-party software on your device. And many of them are simple and free to use for limited file sizes. This post takes CloudConvert as an example to show you how to convert video file formats online. With it, you can convert video to MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, WebM, FLV, and MKV. It also allows you to modify the video and audio settings with simple clicks. Here is a detailed guide for how to use it to change video file types.

Step 1. Go to CloudConvert on the web browser and click "Select File" to import your video files.

Step 2. Open the box beside "Convert to" and select a video file format.

Step 3. Hit "Convert" to start the conversion.

When it finishes the conversion, a preview window will pop up, click the three-dot icon to download the converted file to your device.

At last...

The above six free and online methods can change the format of videos on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and online to help you play, share, and edit videos with better compatibility. Of course, other online video converters also allow you to change video format without installing anything. However, I don’t recommend it since online conversion is always limited by file size, annoying pop-ups, unstable server, upload and download speed, etc. For me personally, I like to use the offline WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory because besides the video format conversion, it will also help me with other video and audio processing, like video/audio editing, compression, merging, etc. You can also free download the software to have a try!

Hot search: Change Video Codec | Change Audio Format of a Video | TSV to MP4 | BIN to MP4 | DAV to MP4

FAQs

Q1. How do I convert video formats?

To convert video formats, you need a video converter tool that is compatible with your device. Then you can launch the app/tool and import your videos, select a desired output video format, and then start the conversion to export the converted video file to your device.

Q2. How to convert video to MP4 format?

To convert a video to MP4 format, you need a video converter tool that supports the source video file format and the MP4 output format.

Take WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory as an example:

1. Launch the app and open the "Converter" module.

2. Click "Add Files" to import the video you want to convert.

3. Open the output format list and choose "MP4" format.

4. Click "Run" to start the conversion.

Q3. Which video format is best?

Generally, MP4 is the best video format, known for its best compatibility among most devices and platforms. If you want to convert a video for playback, sharing, editing, etc. MP4 video format with H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec is the best choice.

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