How to Convert MPG/MPEG-2/MPEG-4 to MP4 on Windows?

Are you getting format errors, black screens or no audio when you try to open MPG, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 videos on your PC? It's unfortunate that many modern operating systems and devices do not support older MPEG codecs natively. But you can permanently fix these compatibility issues by converting your MPEG files to MP4.

Below, I will show you how to perform this conversion using three dedicated converter tools plus a media player. Each tool caters to different user needs, so you can choose the method that works best for you and get started.

XMedia Recode is a powerful video converter suitable for advanced users who want more control over encoding settings. Its interface is not intuitive. In fact, it appears somewhat complex due to lots of buttons and settings options, which may be daunting at first glance.

With it, you can achieve MPG to MP4 conversion while also adjusting the video tracks, filters, and tags. Follow the instructions below to see how to use it to convert MPG videos to MP4 format:

Step 1: Download XMedia Recode from https://www.xmedia-recode.de/en/ and run it.

Step 2: Click Open File. Locate your MPG video and click Open to import it to XMedia Recode.

Step 3: Under the Format tab, select MP4 in both Format and File Extension drop-down menus.

Step 4: Switch to other tabs to adjust video, audio, and subtitle tracks as you see fit.

Step 5: Click Browse to select an output folder.

Step 6: Click Add to queue, then Encode to start the conversion.

Online video converters are also great options if you're looking for a direct, one-off solution. It does not need you to install any software and can work right in your browser. Take Convertio as an example. It includes a dedicated MPG to MP4 converter to help you upgrade MPG footage to modern MP4 format online.

However, it does require you to have a stable internet connection so the file can be smoothly uploaded to the website for conversion. This also means there will be some waiting time during the upload process. While Convertio now supports uploading files up to 1GB, remember that the larger the file, the longer the processing time.

Convertio lets you perform 10 conversions per day, so it's a good choice if you only have a few MPG files to convert. Follow the steps below to start the MPG-to-MP4 online with Convertio:

🔔 Note: Do not upload personal files for security reasons.

Step 1: Visit https://convertio.co/mpg-mp4/.

Step 2: Click Choose Files to upload your MPG file to the website. You can also import the file from Dropbox or Google Drive.

Step 3: Ensure the output format is MP4 and click the Settings icon to adjust the parameters if needed.

Step 4: Click Convert to begin the conversion.

Step 5: Once the conversion is complete, download the converted file to your device.

As a powerful media player, VLC can play almost any video and audio. But many people don't know that it's also equipped with many more useful features, including video conversion capabilities. It can convert whatever you can play into formats like MP4, MOV, and AVI. It will take a few extra steps but is worth trying if you have already installed VLC on your computer. Let's see the steps in detail:

Step 1: Open VLC. Go to Media > Convert/Save.

Step 2: Click +Add to add your video and click Convert/Save at the bottom.

Step 3: Select Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4) from the Profile drop-down menu.

Step 4: Click Browse to set an output folder and ensure the filename ends with .mp4.

Step 5: Click Start to begin the conversion process.

🔔 Note: VLC may struggle to deal with large MPEG files and lose audio after export.

1. What is the difference between MPG, MPEG, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4?

MPEG/MPG: They are in essence the same, just with different extensions. MPEG is the standard specification name. Note that MPEG and MPG are only containers that typically use MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 codecs.

MPEG-2: This is a video codec used to compress and decompress video streams stored inside the MPEG/MPG container. In many cases, MPEG/MPG and MPEG-2 can be used interchangeably.

MPEG-4: MPEG-4 is a video codec and also part of the MPEG family but with much higher compression efficiency. It's often used interchangeably with MP4.

2. Why should I convert MPG to MP4?

Compared to the old MPG files, MP4 offers broader compatibility and smaller file size, which makes it easier to play and share. So it's recommended to convert MPG to MP4.

3. Why won't my converted MP4 video play?

MP4 is just a container like MPG/MPEG. The codec inside decides if the video can be played on your device. For example, if you use HEVC/H265 as the encoder in MP4, Windows cannot play it natively and requires you to install the HEVC extension. Make sure you use H264 as the encoder if you want to achieve universal compatibility.