Convert MOV to 3GP
Convert an MOV into a 3GP right here on the page. 3GP is the small, low-resolution video that old mobile phones recorded and sent by message. Your file never leaves your computer.
Need the other direction? Convert 3GP to MOV
How to convert MOV to 3GP
- 1 Drop your MOV .mov or .qt file onto the page, or click to browse for it.
- 2 Set the quality, or leave the default, which keeps the file small without anything showing.
- 3 Convert. The work happens on your own machine, so how long it takes depends on your computer and the file.
- 4 Download the 3GP, or add more files and do the whole set in one go.
Why convert MOV to 3GP
- Very small files suited to constrained networks.
- Structurally MP4, so conversion is straightforward.
- Video recorded on older mobile phones.
- MOV: proRes masters are very large compared to delivery formats.
MOV compared with 3GP
How the two formats differ on the things that decide whether a conversion is worth making.
| Property | MOV | 3GP |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .mov | .3gp |
| Compression | Lossy or lossless | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Typical file size | Depends on mode | Smaller |
| Browser support | Some browsers | No browser support |
| Introduced | 1991 | 2001 |
| Developed by | Apple | 3GPP |
| Standard | Proprietary | Open |
Quality and what changes
3GP stores the same content under a different set of rules, so what matters here is compatibility rather than picture quality. Convert once from the best source you have rather than through a chain of intermediate files.
- One 3GP limitation to keep in mind: low resolution and heavily compressed by design.
Questions about MOV to 3GP
Can I open a 3GP in a browser?
No. No mainstream browser renders 3GP natively, so it will download rather than display. That is fine when the file is heading into desktop software or an archive, and a problem if it is going on a web page.
Is my MOV file uploaded anywhere?
No. The whole thing runs inside the browser tab you already have open. Your MOV is read straight from your own disk, converted on your machine and handed back as a 3GP. Nothing is sent anywhere, nothing is stored and there is no account.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no server-side limit because no server sees the file. The real ceiling is your device memory, since the input and the output both have to fit in the tab. A few hundred megabytes is usually fine on a desktop machine and considerably less on a phone.
Can I convert several MOV files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like and they are processed one after another, then offered as separate 3GP downloads or as a single ZIP. Speed depends on your own processor rather than on a queue.
Does the converter work offline?
Yes, after the page has loaded once. The engine is cached by the browser, so you can disconnect, reload and keep converting. That falls out of doing the work locally rather than being a separate mode you switch on.