Upload your .m4v file and get a smaller, optimized MP4. Works with M4V files from any source. Free, no account required.
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Drag & drop your .m4v video file. We support files up to 500MB. No account needed.
SquishVideo converts and compresses your M4V to optimized MP4 H.264, reducing file size while preserving quality.
Get your compressed MP4 instantly. It's compatible with every platform, device, and browser.
M4V is Apple's variant of the MP4 format, primarily used by iTunes and Apple TV for purchased and rented content. It's essentially identical to MP4 but may include Apple's FairPlay DRM protection. Unprotected M4V files (from screen recordings, exports, etc.) can be compressed and converted just like MP4.
M4V files tend to be medium compared to optimized MP4. Converting from M4V to MP4 H.264 typically reduces file size by 40-80% while maintaining excellent visual quality. The resulting MP4 also plays on every device and platform without compatibility issues.
M4V was developed by Apple in 2001. It uses the MPEG-4 (Apple variant) container and typically contains H.264/MPEG-4 encoded video. Browser support is safari, limited elsewhere, and mobile support is ios native, android varies. For streaming, M4V offers itunes/apple tv capabilities.
Keep M4V if you're doing professional editing and need the original codec quality. Convert to MP4 when: you need to share the video online, upload to social media, send via email, or reduce storage usage. For 99% of sharing and consumption purposes, MP4 is the better format.
| Feature | M4V | MP4 (H.264) |
|---|---|---|
| Container | MPEG-4 (Apple variant) | MPEG-4 Part 14 |
| Typical Codec | H.264/MPEG-4 | H.264 / H.265 |
| File Size | Medium | Optimized (smallest) |
| Browser Support | Safari, limited elsewhere | Universal |
| Mobile Support | iOS native, Android varies | Universal |
| Streaming | iTunes/Apple TV | Yes, natively |
When you upload a M4V file, SquishVideo first analyzes the video stream to understand its codec, resolution, framerate, and bitrate profile. We then transcode the video to H.264 MP4 using optimized encoding parameters. The entire process preserves audio quality (re-encoded to AAC) and maintains the original resolution unless a lower resolution would provide a better quality-to-size ratio.
M4V files typically come from: iTunes purchases, Apple TV downloads, HandBrake exports, and iOS screen recordings.
SquishVideo supports 20+ video formats. Choose your input format:
Need your M4V video to fit a file size limit? Pick a target: