Video conversion
Convert M4V to WebM
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is the video format Apple uses for movies and shows, at home in iTunes libraries, Apple TV, and Mac apps. WebM is an open format built for the web, with smaller files that play natively in most browsers. To convert, open the M4V in a converter and export it as WebM. Doing this on your own computer keeps the video off any outside server.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .webm
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Web video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to WebM on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to WebM
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file, or a whole folder of them, to convert several at once.
- Choose WebM as the output format.
- Convert. The WebM file is written right next to the original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs WebM: what actually changes
| M4V | WebM | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens in web browsers | Not natively, needs a plugin or a separate player | Yes, plays directly in an HTML5 video tag |
| Opens on Mac and Apple TV | Yes, native format | Not natively, needs extra software |
| File size | Larger, built for local playback and syncing | Smaller, built for streaming over the web |
| Quality | High, lossy compression | Good, lossy compression tuned for lower bitrates |
| Transparency | No | Yes, can keep an alpha channel for see-through video |
| Copy protection | Sometimes, purchased or rented iTunes videos are locked | No, open format with no copy protection |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to WebM when you're embedding a video on a website, want a smaller file for streaming, or need something that plays natively in a browser without asking visitors to download anything.
Keep the M4V if it's a purchased or rented iTunes movie protected by copy protection, since those can't be converted at all, or if you only ever watch it on a Mac or Apple TV.
Why not just use an online converter?
Video files can be large and personal, home movies, screen recordings, or footage you don't want sitting on someone else's storage while it converts. Uploading to a web based converter means the whole file travels to a server you don't control before you get a WebM back. Converting on your own computer keeps the file, and everything in it, entirely on your machine.
Questions
Does converting M4V to WebM lose quality?
A little. Both formats are lossy, so the video is re-compressed on export. At a reasonable bitrate the difference is hard to notice, but very high-detail footage may show slightly more compression.
Can I convert a purchased iTunes movie to WebM?
No. If the M4V is protected by copy protection, like most movies and shows bought or rented from iTunes, it can't be converted by any tool. Only your own, unprotected M4V files, such as home videos or exports, will convert.
Will the WebM file play on my iPhone or Mac?
Not always. WebM has broad support in modern web browsers, but Apple's own apps don't play it natively, so you may need another app to view it on a Mac or iPhone outside a browser.
Why convert to WebM instead of MP4?
WebM tends to produce smaller files at a given quality and is a common choice for web video and clips that need transparency. MP4 has wider support outside browsers, so the right choice depends on where the video will be played.
Can I convert M4V to WebM without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so it never leaves your computer. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts M4V, WebM, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.