Complete Guide to Converting Video: Effective Tools and Methods

Video conversion is an operation useful for adapting your videos to different devices or applications that do not support the original format. It may also be necessary to reduce file sizes or transform them into a different file type. This guide is aimed at anyone who needs to convert videos, whether for personal or professional use, and wants to do so in a simple and effective way.

Through this guide, you will discover various tools available for PC and Mac, online services, and apps for smartphones and tablets. These tools will allow you to adjust the format, quality, and other parameters of your videos, obtaining content suited to your specific needs.

• Free video conversion programs: Software available for PC and Mac that allows you to transform video files into numerous formats, adjusting resolution, quality, codec, and other parameters.
• Online video conversion programs: Services accessible directly from the browser that allow you to change the format of videos by uploading them to the Web, ideal for occasional conversions.
• Apps to convert videos: Applications for smartphones and tablets that offer video conversion features directly on mobile devices.
• Programs to convert videos to audio: Tools specifically designed to extract audio from videos and save it in audio formats such as MP3, WAV, etc.

Prerequisites

To convert videos using the programs and services mentioned in this guide, make sure you have the following hardware and software requirements:

• A computer with Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system.
• Internet connection to download programs and access online services.
• Sufficient disk space to save the converted video files.
• An updated browser to use online services.
• Any accounts on Google Drive or Dropbox if you wish to import files from these platforms.

Free video conversion programs

In this section, the steps to convert videos using free programs available for PC and Mac will be illustrated.

HandBrake (Windows/macOS)

• Go to the HandBrake website and click the Download HandBrake [version number] button.
• If you are using Windows, run the obtained EXE file and, if the User Account Control request appears, press the Yes button. Then, click the Next button twice in a row, on Install, and, at the end of the installation, on Finish.
• If you are using macOS, open the obtained DMG file and drag the HandBrake icon into the system's Applications folder. Then, launch the program by selecting its icon from the App menu. If macOS prevents its opening, go to the Applications folder, right-click on HandBrake, select the Open option from the menu, and press the Open button in the window that appears.
• When the HandBrake screen appears, select the video file you want to convert using the file selector proposed at startup or drag the content of interest directly into the program's window.
• Click the Presets button on Windows or the Presets button on macOS and, from the menu that appears, choose the profile or destination device most suitable for your needs, expanding the General, Devices categories, etc.
• Use the Format menu available in the Summary tab in the center of the window to choose the output container and adjust other settings related to the output file, such as those regarding audio and subtitles, by accessing the Size, Filters tabs, etc.
• Press the Browse button at the bottom to indicate the location where to save the new file and start the processing by clicking the Start Encode button on Windows or the Start button on macOS at the top of the screen.

Other free video conversion programs

Here are some other useful programs for converting videos:

• Shutter Encoder (Windows/macOS/Linux) — open-source software based on FFmpeg, supports codecs such as H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1, and ProRes and includes functions to cut videos, manage subtitles, perform batch processing, and perform various other operations.
• Any Video Converter Free (Windows/macOS) — program with an intuitive interface that allows you to perform video conversion operations supporting various formats, including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM. It also allows you to process multiple files simultaneously and integrates functions to compress and download videos, as well as some basic editing tools.
• Format Factory (Windows) — free program to convert videos to MP4 and many other formats. It also allows you to work with audio files and images and integrates tools to cut, join, split, and crop videos, extract their soundtrack, and perform various other operations on multimedia content.

Online video conversion programs

If you prefer to avoid downloading and installing new software on your computer, you can use online video conversion programs.

123apps Video Converter

• Visit the home page of 123apps Video Converter.
• Click the Choose File button and select the video file on your computer that you intend to convert. Alternatively, you can import the video from your Google Drive account, Dropbox, or specify its URL, using the appropriate options.
• Once the upload is complete, select the Video tab and choose the output format you prefer.

VERIFICATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING: How to test if it works and what to do if it fails

After completing the video conversion, it is important to verify that the resulting file has been created correctly and works as expected. Here's how to proceed:

• Verification of the converted file:
  • Open the converted file with a compatible media player (e.g., VLC Media Player).
  • Check that the video plays without interruptions and that the audio is synchronized.
  • Verify that the quality, resolution, and format settings are as desired.
• Common problems and solutions:
  • Unplayable video:
    • Check that the file is not corrupted by restarting the conversion.
  • Quality issues:
    • If necessary, repeat the conversion with different parameters.
  • Errors during conversion:
    • Check that the conversion software is updated to the latest version.
    • Verify that the operating system meets the software's minimum requirements.
• Additional resources:
  • Visit online support forums to ask for help from other experienced users.

Educational Summary and Practical Invitation

Each solution offers specific options to adapt your videos to your needs, adjusting format, quality, and other parameters.

• Programs for PC and Mac: HandBrake, Shutter Encoder, Any Video Converter Free, and Format Factory are excellent choices for advanced and customized conversions.
• Online services: 123apps Video Converter is ideal for occasional and quick conversions directly from the browser.
• Apps for smartphones and tablets: Tools like Video Converter Android and Media Converter are perfect for converting videos on the go.

Now that you know the available options, take a few minutes to explore the proposed solutions and choose the one best suited to your needs. Happy conversion and good luck with everything!