HEVC to H.264 — in your browser
iPhones, GoPros and newer Android phones record HEVC (H.265). Premiere, DaVinci Resolve (free), older players and a lot of upload boxes still want H.264. Drop your file here to convert it locally. Nothing uploads.
drop a HEVC / H.265 video here
or click to choose — .mov, .mp4, .mkv, .hevc
Why HEVC video won't import into Premiere or DaVinci Resolve
HEVC (also called H.265) is the codec your phone records in to keep files small. It's roughly twice as efficient as H.264 at the same visual quality. The catch: HEVC patents are licensed separately from H.264, so a lot of software either ships without HEVC support or paywalls it.
The most common pain points:
- DaVinci Resolve free edition — HEVC support is in Resolve Studio only. The free version refuses to import iPhone HEVC on Windows.
- Adobe Premiere Pro — usually works, but 10-bit HEVC from iPhone Pro models or GoPro causes choppy playback and export errors.
- Older smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV (older models) — don't play HEVC at all.
- Web upload boxes — many still reject HEVC even if the file says .mp4.
The fix: re-encode to H.264
Converting HEVC to H.264 puts the video in a container every editor and player accepts. We use libx264 with CRF 18 by default — visually lossless. The output file is larger (typically 1.5–2×) than the HEVC original because H.264 compresses less aggressively. That's the trade-off you make for universal compatibility.
iPhone HEVC, specifically
Since iOS 11, iPhones record in HEVC by default in the "High Efficiency" setting. The files end in .mov but contain HEVC video. AirDropping to a Mac keeps the HEVC. Sending to a non-Apple device often fails or produces black frames. Convert it here, then send.
GoPro & Sony 10-bit HEVC
HyperSmooth recordings on GoPro Hero 10+ and Sony A7 footage are usually 10-bit HEVC. Premiere and Resolve can be picky about 10-bit. If you're getting green frames or refused imports, also check our 10-bit to 8-bit converter — many editor issues are bit-depth, not codec.
Why convert in the browser?
Your raw footage often contains personal moments, location data in metadata, identifiable faces or business-confidential content. Uploading it to a converter site means a stranger's server holds a copy. Here, the bytes never leave the tab — the conversion runs in WebAssembly on your own CPU. Load the page, turn off wifi, drop a file: it still works.
FAQ
Is HEVC the same as H.265?
Yes. Two names for the same codec, used interchangeably.
How big will the H.264 file be compared to my HEVC original?
About 1.5–2× bigger at the same visual quality. That's the cost of using a less efficient codec. If size matters, lower the quality preset or use our compressor after conversion.
My HEVC file plays in Resolve free now but exports fail. Will this fix it?
Almost certainly yes. Most "exports fail at HEVC" problems disappear once your source is H.264.
Can I convert multiple HEVC files at once?
One at a time on this page — the worker runs sequentially. Drop the next file after the first finishes.
Does this work on iPhone Safari?
Yes. Open this page in Safari, pick a video from Photos or Files, hit Convert, then save the H.264 MP4 back to Files.
What about audio? Does that change?
We re-encode audio to AAC 128 kbps, which is universally supported. The audio is bit-identical to your phone's recording at that bitrate.
Does the file get uploaded anywhere?
No. Open this page, turn off your wifi, then try a file — it still works. That's the test.
Related tools
- Convert 10-bit HEVC to 8-bit H.264 — for iPhone Pro / GoPro / Sony 10-bit issues
- MOV to MP4 — if your file is .mov but already H.264
- iPhone screen recording to MP4 — shrink huge iOS recordings
- Compress video — after converting, make the file smaller