Video conversion
Convert M4V to MPEG
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is the video format iTunes uses for movies and TV shows, while MPEG is an older format built for DVDs and broadcast equipment. To convert M4V to MPEG, open the file in a converter and export it as MPEG. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to be uploaded anywhere first.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .mpeg
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Broadcast, DVD
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to MPEG on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to MPEG
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file, or a whole folder of them, at once.
- Choose MPEG as the output format.
- Convert. The MPEG file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs MPEG: what actually changes
| M4V | MPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Mostly on Apple devices and iTunes-linked apps | Yes, widely supported by DVD players, broadcast gear, and older software |
| File size | Smaller, modern compression | Larger for the same visual quality |
| Quality | Good, efficient encoding | Good, with a small extra loss from re-encoding |
| Typical use | iTunes purchases and rentals, Apple devices | DVD authoring, broadcast systems, legacy hardware |
| Copy protection | Can carry FairPlay DRM on purchased videos | No DRM |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to MPEG when you need to bring a video into DVD authoring software, feed it to broadcast or editing equipment that expects MPEG, or open it on an older device that doesn't recognize M4V.
Keep the M4V if you're just watching on an Apple device or in iTunes, since M4V already plays there natively and MPEG will only make the file larger without adding anything.
Why not just use an online converter?
M4V files are often personal video, home movies, recordings, or purchased content tied to your Apple account, and some carry rights protection that ties them to your device. Uploading one to an online converter puts that file on a server you don't control. Converting on your own computer keeps the video, and whatever's in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting M4V to MPEG lose quality?
There's a small loss because MPEG re-encodes the video rather than just repackaging it. For most viewing and playback purposes it's not noticeable, but it does mean the MPEG isn't a pixel-perfect copy of the M4V.
Will a purchased iTunes video convert to MPEG?
If the M4V has FairPlay copy protection from an iTunes purchase or rental, it can't be converted until that protection is removed, which most converters, including Morphjet, don't do. Your own recordings and DRM-free M4V files convert without any issue.
Why would I need MPEG instead of M4V?
MPEG is the format DVD authoring tools, broadcast systems, and a lot of older video hardware expect. M4V is really an Apple-specific variant built for iTunes and Apple devices, so it doesn't work in those older or more specialized systems.
Can I convert M4V to MPEG without uploading the file?
Yes. Morphjet runs the conversion on your own computer, so the video file never travels over the internet. It works the same with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts M4V, MPEG, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.