HEVC to H.264 Converter (H.265 to MP4)
Convert HEVC to H.264 so iPhone, drone and action-camera videos play on Windows PCs without the HEVC add-on, on older TVs and in editors that reject H.265. ProMedia decodes the HEVC stream and re-encodes it as H.264 in an MP4, on your graphics chip where the browser allows it. Files are processed on your own device and never uploaded.
- Runs on your device
- WebCodecs · GPU
- FFmpeg
- Works offline
Updated
Drop your videos here
How to convert HEVC to H.264
Step 1: Drop your HEVC (H.265) videos on the box above: iPhone MOVs, drone or phone MP4s, or MKV files.
Step 2: Pick Quality. Best quality keeps the most detail; Faster keeps the file smallest.
Step 3: Press Convert. Any video that is already H.264 is copied instead of re-encoded.
Step 4: Download the H.264 MP4 files.
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
Formats
Batch-friendly: add many files and they are processed one after another — if one fails, the rest still finish.
How it runs
- Hardware video engine
- Video is decoded and encoded by your device’s media hardware through WebCodecs — usually several times faster than real time.
- 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.
H.264 vs HEVC: which is better?
HEVC is the more efficient codec: it keeps the same picture in fewer bits, which is why phones use it to save storage. H.264 is the better file to share, because it decodes on practically every device made in the last fifteen years, with no extra licence or add-on.
| Feature | H.264 (AVC) | HEVC (H.265) |
|---|---|---|
| Also known as | AVC, MPEG-4 Part 10; x264 is a popular encoder | H.265, MPEG-H Part 2; x265 is a popular encoder |
| Bits for the same picture | Baseline | About 35–38% fewer |
| Recorded by | Older phones, many cameras, screen recorders | iPhones set to High Efficiency, many Android phones, drones |
| Plays in Windows’ own apps | Yes, built in | Needs Microsoft’s HEVC Video Extensions on many PCs |
| Load on older computers when editing | Light | Heavier to decode |
What is HEVC (H.265)?
An HEVC video is compressed with High Efficiency Video Coding, the successor to H.264 standardised in 2013. HEVC and H.265 are the same codec under two names, just as x265 and x264 are encoders for H.265 and H.264.
HEVC is a codec, not a file type, so an HEVC video can sit in a MOV, MP4 or MKV. That is why re-wrapping a MOV as MP4 does not fix playback on its own: the HEVC stream travels along unchanged.
Do I need HEVC Video Extensions on Windows 11?
Only to play HEVC files in Windows’ own apps. Many Windows PCs ship without an HEVC decoder, and Microsoft supplies it separately as the HEVC Video Extensions add-on in the Microsoft Store. Converting the video to H.264 once avoids the add-on for everyone you send it to, not just on your own PC.
Does converting H.265 to H.264 lose quality?
A little, as every re-encode does, but the encoder works from the full-quality HEVC stream, not from a copy of a copy. ProMedia lets H.264 spend more bits than the HEVC source did, because it needs them for the same detail, so the file can grow at Best quality. A per-resolution quality target applies too, so high-bitrate phone clips often come out no larger than they went in.
| Preset | H.264 bitrate ceiling vs the HEVC source | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Faster | Up to about 1.6× | Smallest file; fine for phones and chat |
| Balanced | Up to about 2.3× | Default; visually close to the source |
| Best quality | Up to about 3.2× | Most detail; the file can grow noticeably |
Convert HEVC to H.264 on iPhone, Android or Windows
iPhone and iPad
Open this page in Safari and pick clips with Photo Library. To stop recording HEVC, set Settings → Camera → Formats to Most Compatible; new clips are then H.264 from the start.
Android
Many Android cameras offer HEVC as an option, often labelled “High efficiency video”. Convert existing clips here in Chrome, and switch the option off if friends cannot play your videos.
Windows
Drag the clips into Chrome or Edge. If the browser cannot decode HEVC on your PC, ProMedia switches to its FFmpeg engine, which includes a software HEVC decoder; it is slower but works on any machine.
Tips & troubleshooting
Not sure what codec a file uses? Media Info lists the video codec as “H.265 / HEVC” when the file needs this converter.
Also need the file under an upload limit? The video compressor outputs H.264 at an exact size in one pass, so skip this step.
Is the codec already H.264 and only the container wrong? MOV to MP4 copies it in seconds without re-encoding.
Editing on an older laptop? H.264 is lighter to decode than HEVC, so timelines tend to scrub more smoothly after conversion.
HEVC (H.265) to H.264 Converter FAQ
Is HEVC the same as H.265?
Yes. HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) is the name of the standard and H.265 is its ITU number; both describe the same codec. x265 is a widely used encoder that produces it.
Which is better, H.264 or HEVC?
HEVC gives better quality per megabyte, so it suits storage on your own phone. H.264 is better for sharing and editing because nearly everything plays it without add-ons. Convert when the people or apps receiving the video struggle with HEVC.
How do I convert H.265 to H.264 without quality loss?
A lossless conversion between two different codecs is not possible, but you can get very close: choose Best quality, keep the original resolution and frame rate, and convert from the original file rather than a copy that was already re-compressed.
Will the file get bigger?
It can. H.264 needs more bits than HEVC for the same picture, so heavily compressed HEVC clips grow, especially at Best quality. High-bitrate phone videos often stay about the same size because the bitrate is also capped at what the picture needs.
What if my browser cannot decode HEVC?
ProMedia falls back to its FFmpeg engine, which has a software HEVC decoder. It downloads once (about 31 MB), runs on your processor instead of the graphics chip and is slower, but it works on any device.
How do I convert HEVC to H.264 on Android?
Open this page in Chrome, tap the drop zone and pick the clips from your gallery. Press Convert and the H.264 MP4s are saved to Downloads. Long 4K clips convert faster on a computer.
Is your video uploaded anywhere?
No. Your video is 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.