Free online MP4 to TS converter

A broadcast encoder, IPTV system, set-top box, or video-ingest tool may require MPEG Transport Stream instead of an MP4 file. Converting can change the container without re-encoding the audio and video when their codecs are compatible with the target system.

What the MP4 format is

MP4 is a multimedia container based on the ISO Base Media File Format. It commonly stores H.264 or H.265 video with AAC audio, and can also contain subtitles, chapters, metadata, cover art, and timed data.

Phones, cameras, screen-recording software, video editors, and export tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and HandBrake commonly create MP4 files. MP4 is widely supported by browsers, televisions, media players, and mobile devices, but some broadcast and network-video equipment expects MPEG-TS instead.

What the TS format is

TS, usually called MPEG Transport Stream or MPEG-TS, stores audio and video in fixed-size transport packets, normally 188 bytes each. Periodic program tables identify the streams, allowing a receiver to begin decoding during continuous delivery rather than relying on one index at the end of a file.

MPEG-TS is used for digital television, satellite and cable broadcasting, IPTV, live contribution, and video ingest. Its packet structure and repeated tables help receivers recover after transmission errors, although lost packets can still produce visible or audible corruption. TS can carry H.264, H.265, MPEG-2 video, AAC, MP2, AC-3, and other streams; the receiving device determines which codec combinations, resolutions, frame rates, and profiles it accepts.

How to convert the file with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is the most controllable desktop option. Open a terminal in the folder containing the source file and run:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c copy -f mpegts output.ts

Replace input.mp4 and output.ts with the actual filenames. -c copy remuxes the existing streams, so it avoids generation loss and is much faster than re-encoding. The mappings select the first video stream and an audio stream if one exists; this avoids sending MP4-only subtitle, cover-art, or data tracks to the TS muxer.

For H.264 video, equipment that explicitly requires Annex B formatting may need:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -f mpegts output.ts

For H.265/HEVC, use the corresponding filter:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c copy -bsf:v hevc_mp4toannexb -f mpegts output.ts

These filters convert the MP4-style length-prefixed video format to the start-code format commonly used in MPEG-TS. FFmpeg's MPEG-TS muxer may apply the necessary conversion automatically, but specifying it can help when a particular decoder requires Annex B.

When re-encoding is necessary

Remuxing cannot make an unsupported codec compatible. If the target accepts only a particular H.264/AAC profile, or the source contains incompatible codecs, timestamps, frame rates, or audio parameters, encode a new TS file:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 23 -c:a aac -b:a 192k -f mpegts output.ts

A lower CRF value such as 18 generally preserves more detail and produces a larger file; 23 is a common general-purpose starting point. Use the codec, profile, level, frame rate, resolution, audio format, and bitrate specified by the receiving system rather than relying on default settings.

Using a graphical application

VLC can perform a basic remux through Media → Convert/Save → Add → Convert/Save. Select an MPEG-TS profile, set a destination ending in .ts, and start the process. VLC's profiles and stream handling vary by version, so FFmpeg is preferable when precise stream selection or broadcast compliance matters.

You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software: upload the MP4, select TS, start the conversion, and download the result.

Quality and compatibility limits

With -c copy, the audio and video samples are not recompressed, so their quality does not decrease. Re-encoding introduces generation loss and may change the bitrate, frame timing, or audio quality.

TS output is often slightly larger than the source because transport packets and program tables add overhead. Seeking and metadata support may be less reliable in desktop players. MP4 chapters, cover art, some subtitle formats, and other container-specific metadata may be discarded.

TS is a container, not a guarantee of device compatibility. Test the output with the intended encoder, receiver, player, or ingest system, especially when it specifies a required MPEG-TS profile, codec, PID layout, audio format, or constant bitrate.