3GP to MP4 Converter for Old Phone Videos
Convert 3GP to MP4 and bring clips from early camera phones back to life. ProMedia decodes the H.263 or MPEG-4 video and AMR voice audio those phones used, then saves H.264 with AAC, which every phone, computer and TV plays. 3G2 files from CDMA phones work too, and newer 3GPs that already hold H.264 are copied without loss. Nothing is uploaded.
- Runs on your device
- FFmpeg
- WebCodecs · GPU
- Works offline
Updated
Drop your videos here
How to convert 3GP to MP4
Step 1: Drop your 3GP or 3G2 files on the box above; a whole folder from an old memory card is fine.
Step 2: The FFmpeg engine (about 31 MB) loads once for the old phone codecs.
Step 3: Press Convert. Balanced quality is plenty for these small clips.
Step 4: Download the MP4 files, or all of them as one ZIP.
Good to know
Settings explained
- Quality
- Only used when a stream has to be re-encoded. Compatible streams are copied with no quality loss.
- Faster: Smaller file, quickest export
- Balanced: Good quality at a sensible size
- Best quality: Largest file, slowest export
- Video codec
- Automatic copies the original video stream when the new format can hold it, so there is no quality loss.
- Automatic: Best codec the format and your device support
- H.264 (AVC): Plays everywhere
- H.265 (HEVC): About 35% smaller, newer devices
- VP9: Web / WebM
- AV1: Smallest files, slowest to encode
- Always re-encode
- Off: compatible streams are copied instantly and losslessly. On: every stream is re-encoded, which can fix playback glitches.
Formats
Batch-friendly: add many files and they are processed one after another — if one fails, the rest still finish.
How it runs
- FFmpeg (when needed)
- Older formats and a few filters use FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. It downloads once (about 31 MB) the first time it is needed and is cached for offline use.
- Hardware video engine
- Video is decoded and encoded by your device’s media hardware through WebCodecs — usually several times faster than real time.
3GP vs MP4: is 3GP the same as MP4?
From the outside, nearly: both use the same ISO base media file structure. The difference is inside. 3GP was designed for phones on 2G and 3G networks, with tiny resolutions and codecs such as H.263 and AMR that modern devices dropped, while MP4 carries H.264, HEVC and AAC.
| Feature | 3GP / 3G2 | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Defined by | 3GPP (3GP) and 3GPP2 (3G2) for mobile phones | MPEG, for video in general |
| Typical video | H.263, MPEG-4 Part 2, later H.264 | H.264, HEVC, AV1 |
| Typical audio | AMR-NB voice codec, AAC | AAC |
| Typical resolution | 176×144 or 352×288 | Anything up to 4K and beyond |
| Plays on today’s phones and PCs | Often not | Yes |
What is a 3GP file?
A 3GP file is a video container defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for mobile phones, built to keep files small enough for early handsets and networks. 3G2 is the sister format from 3GPP2, used by CDMA phones. Clips from the 2000s usually hold H.263 video and AMR audio, a codec tuned for voice calls, which is why modern galleries and media players often show an error instead of the video.
Does converting 3GP to MP4 lose quality?
Practically no. The originals are small and heavily compressed, and H.264 at Balanced keeps everything that is there. Clips stored with non-square pixels are scaled to square pixels during the re-encode, so faces are not squashed. A 3GP that already holds H.264 and AAC is copied into the MP4 with nothing changed at all.
Convert 3GP to MP4 on Windows, Mac or a phone
Windows 10 and 11
Copy the clips off the old phone or memory card, open this page in Chrome or Edge and drag the folder’s files onto the drop zone.
Mac
Drop the files into Safari or Chrome. The MP4s open in QuickTime and can go straight into Photos.
Android and iPhone
Open the page in Chrome or Safari, tap the drop zone and pick the 3GP files from your downloads or the Files app. Short clips convert quickly on a phone.
Tips & troubleshooting
Grainy picture? After converting, denoise video smooths the noise typical of early phone sensors.
Washed-out colours? Video color correction can lift contrast and saturation.
Want just the voice, as an MP3? Use extract audio from video; it reads 3GP and AMR audio too.
Keep the originals: an MP4 copy is for watching and sharing, the 3GP is the untouched source.
3GP to MP4 Converter FAQ
Is 3GP the same as MP4?
No, though they are close relatives. Both use the same basic file structure, but 3GP files usually contain H.263 video and AMR audio that modern phones and players no longer decode. Converting to MP4 swaps those for H.264 and AAC.
How do I convert a 3GP file to MP4 for free?
Drop it on this page and press Convert. It is free, needs no app or account and adds no watermark. Conversion runs in your browser, so old family clips are never uploaded anywhere.
Can I convert MP4 to 3GP?
Not with ProMedia. It writes MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM but has no 3GP output. Most phones that needed 3GP are long retired; if one still does, use a desktop converter that offers a 3GP preset.
How do I convert 3GP to MP3?
Use extract audio from video with MP3 selected. It decodes the AMR or AAC voice track and saves it as an MP3 at the bitrate you choose.
Is the AMR voice audio kept?
Yes. AMR is decoded and saved as AAC, which every modern device plays. AMR was designed for phone calls, so the sound stays as narrow as it was recorded; conversion cannot add missing treble.
Are your clips uploaded anywhere?
No. Your clips are processed by your own browser on your own device. There is no server that receives files, so nothing is uploaded, stored or shared. You can even switch to airplane mode once the page has loaded.