What is an M4V file?
M4V is the Apple version of an MP4, and the two are close enough that converting between them is quick and costs no quality. Purchased, copy-protected M4V files are the exception and cannot be converted. You can convert M4V files here, both into the format and out of it.
Specification
| Full name | iTunes Video |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .m4v |
| Media type | video/x-m4v |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Transparency | — |
| Animation | — |
| Multiple pages | — |
| Colour depth | — |
| Size limits | — |
| Introduced | 2005 |
| Developed by | Apple |
| Standard | Proprietary |
| Browser support | Some browsers only |
What M4V is used for
- Video purchased or rented through iTunes and the TV app
- Content exported from older Apple software
- Apple ecosystem playback with chapters and subtitles
Strengths and limitations
What M4V does well
- Essentially MP4, so converting is fast and costs nothing
- Supports chapters and multiple audio tracks in Apple players
Where M4V falls short
- FairPlay protected files cannot be converted
- Non-Apple players may refuse the extension even when the file is fine
Convert M4V to
Every target this format can be written out as, each on its own page.
Convert to M4V
Everything that can be turned into a M4V file.
Tools that accept M4V
Questions about M4V
What is a .m4v file?
M4V is the Apple version of an MP4, and the two are close enough that converting between them is quick and costs no quality. The extension .m4v identifies it, and its media type is video/x-m4v.
How do I open an M4V file?
Browsers do not display M4V natively, so you either need software that understands it or you convert it to something more common first. Converting is usually the faster route when you only need to look at the contents once.
Is M4V lossy or lossless?
Lossy. That means detail is discarded during encoding and each re-save compounds the loss, so keep an untouched master where quality matters.
What is M4V good for?
Essentially MP4, so converting is fast and costs nothing. Supports chapters and multiple audio tracks in Apple players. In practice that makes it a good fit for video purchased or rented through iTunes and the TV app, and Content exported from older Apple software.
What are the drawbacks of M4V?
FairPlay protected files cannot be converted. Non-Apple players may refuse the extension even when the file is fine.