Free online H265 to H264 converter

Some older TVs, phones, editing programs, and web platforms accept H.264 video but cannot decode H.265. Converting the video to H.264 can make it usable on those devices, though the conversion may increase file size or reduce quality.

What H.265 is

H.265, also called HEVC, is a video compression standard used to store high-resolution video efficiently. Phones, action cameras, camcorders, and screen-recording or editing software may create HEVC files, often in MP4 or MOV containers. Support depends on the device, operating system, and installed codecs.

What H.264 is

H.264, also called AVC, is a widely supported video codec used for web video, camera recordings, and MP4 exports. Choose it when a device or application does not support HEVC. H.264 usually needs more data than H.265 for similar visual quality, so the converted file can be larger.

How to convert H.265 to H.264

Online on 101convert.com

1. Upload the H.265 video on the converter page. A per-file size limit is shown there.
2. Select H.264 as the output format and start the conversion. The conversion runs on the site's server with FFmpeg.
3. Download the converted file when it is ready.

Offline with desktop software

FFmpeg is a free command-line option for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Run this command, replacing the input filename as needed:

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mp4

The command encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC in an MP4 file. The -crf value controls quality; lower values produce larger files. Adjust the input extension to match your source.

HandBrake is a free desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Open the video, choose MP4 in the Format setting, select H.264 (x264) in the Video tab's Video Encoder setting, choose a quality level, then click Start Encode.

Quality and compatibility

Transcoding re-encodes the video, so it is lossy and cannot restore detail already lost in the source. A lower FFmpeg CRF or a higher HandBrake quality setting generally retains more detail at the cost of a larger file. H.264 improves compatibility, but some older devices also have limits on resolution, frame rate, profile, or bitrate.

H.265 sources may use 10-bit color or HDR, while common H.264 encoders output 8-bit SDR by default. If the source is HDR, check the encoder's color and HDR settings; a basic conversion may alter brightness or color appearance.