Convert ISO to MP4

Phones, smart TVs, browsers, editors, and sharing services usually expect a video file rather than a disc image. Converting a video ISO to MP4 extracts a selected title, removes disc navigation and unused extras, and creates a smaller file for playback, editing, or distribution.

What the ISO format is

An ISO is a complete image of an optical disc, not a video codec or ordinary movie file. DVD authoring software, Blu-ray backup tools, disc-burning utilities, and operating systems create ISO images. A video ISO can contain menus, multiple titles, chapters, subtitles, audio tracks, bonus material, and structures such as VIDEO_TS or Blu-ray BDMV.

Non-video ISOs may contain software, documents, or arbitrary data; they cannot be meaningfully converted to MP4. Commercial DVDs and Blu-rays may also be encrypted or copy-protected.

What the MP4 format is

MP4 is a media container, commonly holding H.264 or H.265 video and AAC audio. H.264/AAC MP4 has broad support across phones, tablets, smart TVs, browsers, editors, and social platforms.

MP4 normally stores one selected video title rather than the original disc menus and navigation. Conversion can greatly reduce size, but it does not preserve interactive menus, every title, or every disc feature unless those items are converted separately.

How to convert an ISO to MP4

Use HandBrake for an unencrypted DVD ISO

1. Download HandBrake from handbrake.fr and avoid unofficial repackaged installers.
2. Open HandBrake, choose File → Open Source, and select the ISO. HandBrake may take time to scan the disc titles.
3. Select the main feature by its running time. Short titles are often menus, previews, or extras.
4. Choose Fast 480p30 for a standard-definition DVD, or a suitable HD preset only when the source is actually HD.
5. Under Summary, select the MP4 format, choose the audio and subtitle tracks, set a destination such as movie.mp4, and click Start Encode.

For command-line use, an equivalent preset command is:

HandBrakeCLI -i movie.iso -o movie.mp4 --preset="Fast 480p30"

HandBrake can read unencrypted DVD sources, but it does not decrypt copy-protected DVDs or Blu-rays. Use its title, chapter, audio, and subtitle controls when the image contains multiple versions of the film.

Use MakeMKV before HandBrake for Blu-ray images

1. Install MakeMKV from makemkv.com and open the ISO with File → Open files, or mount the image and open its disc structure.
2. Select the playlist matching the feature length and choose an output folder. MakeMKV produces an MKV by remuxing the selected title without re-encoding it.
3. Open that MKV in HandBrake, select an MP4 preset, confirm the audio and subtitle tracks, and start the encode.

This workflow is suitable for Blu-ray structures that HandBrake cannot open directly. MakeMKV performs the extraction or remux; HandBrake performs the lossy H.264 or H.265 encoding. The original ISO remains available as the archival copy.

Use FFmpeg with an extracted title

FFmpeg generally does not interpret a DVD or Blu-ray ISO as a complete movie source. Mount or extract the image, obtain a playable title with a disc-aware tool, then encode that title. For an extracted MKV or other normal video input, use:

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 20 -c:a aac -b:a 160k -movflags +faststart output.mp4

On Windows, right-click the ISO and choose Mount. On macOS, double-click it. On Linux, mount it with sudo mount -o loop movie.iso /mnt/iso. Selecting individual files from VIDEO_TS may omit DVD title logic, menus, or correct audio and subtitle tracks, so a DVD-aware extractor is preferable.

Online conversion services

Online converters are practical only for a small, unencrypted, non-sensitive image when the service explicitly lists video DVD or Blu-ray ISO as a supported input. Check the current input-format list, maximum upload size, retention period, privacy policy, and output settings before uploading; many general services accept ISO as an archive but cannot parse its video titles. Desktop tools are preferable for large images, protected content, private footage, or title and subtitle selection.

Quality and compatibility limits

Encoding cannot restore detail absent from the source. DVD video is normally standard definition, so selecting a 1080p output size enlarges the frame but does not create genuine HD detail. In HandBrake, an H.264 constant-quality value around RF 18–22 is a practical range; lower values preserve more detail at the cost of larger files.

For the widest compatibility, use H.264 video with AAC audio, usually stereo or a device-compatible surround format. H.265 can produce smaller files at similar visual quality but may fail on older TVs, browsers, hardware players, or editing software. Enable Web optimized in HandBrake or +faststart in FFmpeg when progressive playback from a web server is required.

Keep the ISO if it is an archival master. MP4 conversion normally discards menus, copy-protection metadata, unused titles, some subtitle formats, and original disc navigation. Bypassing encryption or copy protection may be restricted by copyright law or licensing terms in your jurisdiction.