VIDEO

Manual

1. What VIDEO does

   VIDEO converts video files (MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, AVI, and more) into MP4 (H.264) or WebM (VP9) — handy for shrinking file size or converting an unsupported format into a widely playable MP4 ("mov to mp4" style conversion, video compression).

2. How to use it

   (1) Drag and drop a video file onto the drop zone, or click it to choose one. Once loaded, its resolution, length and codecs are shown. (2) Pick an output format (MP4 / WebM), a resolution (original / 1080p / 720p / 480p) and a quality (high / standard / light). (3) Press the convert button; a progress bar tracks the encode, and once it finishes you'll see a download button plus a before/after file size comparison. You can cancel at any time while it's running.

3. Browser support and WebCodecs

   This tool uses the browser's built-in WebCodecs API to encode using your device's hardware (GPU), so conversion is noticeably faster than typical software encoding. It works in the latest Chrome, Edge and Safari. If your browser lacks WebCodecs support, you'll see guidance instead of the converter. Even in supported browsers, some codec combinations may be unavailable — those options are disabled automatically.

4. Choosing MP4 (H.264) vs WebM (VP9)

   MP4's biggest strength is universal playback — nearly every device and app can open it, so it's the safe default. WebM often produces a smaller file at the same visual quality, but some older devices and editing tools can't read it.

5. Resolution, quality, and bitrate cheat sheet

   Bitrate (data rate) is chosen automatically from quality and resolution. Lower resolutions and lighter quality both shrink the output file.

   Resolution	Quality	Video bitrate	Audio bitrate
   480p	Light	800kbps	96kbps
   480p	Standard	1200kbps	128kbps
   480p	High	2000kbps	160kbps
   720p	Light	1500kbps	96kbps
   720p	Standard	2500kbps	128kbps
   720p	High	4000kbps	160kbps
   1080p	Light	3000kbps	128kbps
   1080p	Standard	5000kbps	160kbps
   1080p	High	8000kbps	192kbps
   4K-ish (above 1080p)	Light	8000kbps	128kbps
   4K-ish (above 1080p)	Standard	15000kbps	192kbps
   4K-ish (above 1080p)	High	25000kbps	192kbps

6. Resolution is never upscaled

   Picking a resolution larger than the source clip keeps the original resolution instead — upscaling wouldn't improve quality, so it's never done.

7. Use case: shrinking a video to fit an email attachment limit

   When a video is too large for an email or chat attachment limit, converting it at 720p or 480p with "Light" quality can shrink the file dramatically. The Readout shows the size reduction so you can check it fits.

8. Use case: converting an old format to MP4

   Some older cameras and editing tools export video files that certain devices or apps can't play. Converting to MP4 (H.264) turns it into a widely playable format that works almost everywhere.

9. How it works: hardware encoding and privacy

   This tool uses the browser's built-in WebCodecs API to encode using your device's hardware (GPU), so conversion is noticeably faster than typical software encoding. Nothing is ever uploaded to a server — everything happens locally.

10. Limits and troubleshooting

    Long or high-resolution clips take longer to convert and use more of your device's memory. Clips over a few minutes can take anywhere from tens of seconds to a few minutes to finish. There's no fixed length limit, but a very large clip can fail to convert if your device runs low on memory.

11. FAQ

    Is anything uploaded?

    No — the video is processed entirely inside your browser and never sent to a server.

    Should I pick MP4 or WebM?

    Choose MP4 if playback and sharing compatibility matters most; choose WebM if you want the smallest file at the same quality. MP4 is a safe default if unsure.

    Conversion failed.

    The file may be corrupted, use an unsupported codec, or be too large for your device's available memory. Try a different clip, or lower the resolution and try again.

    Which browsers are supported?

    The latest Chrome, Edge and Safari. In browsers without WebCodecs support, you'll see guidance instead of the converter.

    Can I set a resolution larger than the source?

    No — upscaling wouldn't improve quality, so choosing a resolution larger than the source keeps the original resolution instead.

    Is there a limit on video length?

    There's no fixed length limit, but longer and higher-resolution clips use more processing time and memory, so a very large video can fail to convert on some devices.