
Do you need to change a WebM video file to MP4 format? Maybe you're having trouble playing a WebM file and need a format that works with your device. One way to get around this is to convert the WebM file to an MP4. In this article, we'll give you a quick overview of the WebM and MP4 formats, explain why you might want to convert to MP4, and show you how to do it for free. Let's take a closer look!
1 What is a WebM file?
Google introduced WebM, a media file format, in 2010. It is open source and completely royalty-free. The structure of WebM files is based on the Matroska container, which makes it a great choice for supporting high-quality video. Video compression uses VP8 or VP9 codecs, while audio is usually compressed using Vorbis or Opus. In short, WebM is designed with web technologies in mind and is one of the most well-known video standards supported in HTML5.
Of course, new formats are created with a specific purpose in mind. WebM was designed as an open and free media file format for use on the web. I must say, it is quite good at it. Google uses this format to host high-quality video and audio on YouTube, which adapts well to the different bandwidth conditions that users may encounter. The benefit for Google is that it does not have to pay license fees for MP4 and AAC.
WebM files are usually played from the Internet in a browser and are rarely stored on local drives. However, you can open the files with media players such as VLC and Media Player Classic.
2 The main differences between MP4 and WebM
MP4 was developed a lot earlier than its counterpart and is really popular. It's a pretty much universal file format that you can run on any browser, platform, or device. Plus, MP4 videos can be streamed, shared, and posted online with ease. MP4 can also store other important data, like images and subtitles, in addition to audio and video content.
One of the most significant differences between these formats is the list of supported codecs. MP4s usually contain video compressed with H.264 and H.265 codecs and use AAC for audio.
Of course, the open WebM standard also relies on the same open codecs. Otherwise, it's not really a useful format. For video, VP8 and VP9, which were also developed by Google, are used. For sound, it's Vorbis and Opus.
Because the MP4 format and all the codecs used in it are international ISO standards, they have much greater support in the software industry and among chip makers. Open standards are lagging behind here.
When it comes to file size and visual quality, it all depends on the codecs and settings you choose. I think this comparison is worth a whole article on its own. In general, MP4 tends to have the upper hand since it supports more current codecs like H.265 and VVC.
3 Is it worth converting?
You might be wondering why you'd want to convert a file from a WebM format to an MP4 format. In most cases, you'll want to convert the file to get more compatibility options. MP4s give you the most flexibility to use or view the file. If the device you're using can't read a WebM file, changing it to an MP4 should let you view the file on any device.
If you're good with WebM playback, it's probably best to avoid conversion. Here's why. The issue isn't the format, but the video codecs used. You can't just remux audio and video into a new container; you also need to transcode the video. This always leads to a decrease in quality. Without hardware support, it'll take a lot of time.
4 How to convert WebM to MP4 on PC
There are lots of ways to convert WebM files to MP4 format. You can use free or paid online converters, or you can use programs that convert files for you. One handy way to convert video files is to use Video Converter Plus. This is a great, simple program that has proven itself on the Windows platform.

Key features of Video Converter Plus
- Support for VP8 and VP9 decoders
- Support for VTT subtitles
- High quality H.264, H.265 and AV1 encoders
- Support customizing parameters like frame rate, channel, etc
- Batch convert multiple WebM files to MP4 at once
The first thing you need to do is download and install the converter on your computer. In this example we are working on Windows 11, but all other versions of the operating system will work in the same way.
Step 2: Open the WebM file you want to convertOnce Video Converter Plus is installed, open the program and you will see a window that looks similar to the image above. Open the WebM file you wish to convert. After the file is selected, converter will open the file and you'll see an image of your video as well as various pieces of information about your video.
Step 3: Set format to MP4Next, take a look at the "Output Format" drop-down menu at the bottom. On the left side of the menu you select the MP4 format and your preferred video codec. I won't be mistaken if I say that H.264 today guarantees almost 100% compatibility.

Step 4: Choose how you want to convert your WebM file
On the right are ready-made presets for the selected format. Choose what suits you best or change the preset settings to your liking.
Step 5: Convert!Once you've got your settings sorted, just click the orange "Convert" button at the top of the screen. You'll know it's working when you see the result. If it's taking too long, just click the "Stop" button and try another setting. How long it takes to convert depends on the codec you've picked and whether your video card has hardware acceleration.
Once the conversion is done, converter will show you a message saying that it was a success. Check your file and you should have a working MP4 file!
5 Convert video from WebM to MP4 online
Considering the fact that WebM is mainly used on the web, and not for storing movies, you have a great chance to do everything for free. For short video clips, you can use the online service AnyConv. You don’t need to download or install anything on your computer, just make sure that the size of your video does not exceed 100 MB. The service does not provide you with any compression settings, so the result may not quite meet your expectations.

Step 1: Add WEBM files
Apparently, the service is able to recognize the file format, so you can add videos in the WebM format directly from the main page of the site.
Step 2: Select output formatHere you can only choose between the MP4 format and the H.264 codec, which are listed in the same list. Unfortunately, the free service does not provide you with fine-tuning options.
Step 3: Convert video to MP4 formatAfter pressing the "Convert" button, the process of uploading the video to the server begins first. After that, the conversion process itself starts, after which you will receive a link to download the finished file.
6 Conclusion
If you're looking to watch videos on a wider range of devices and platforms, converting WebM files to MP4 is the way to go! While WebM is a popular online video streaming format, it may not be compatible with all browsers and devices. But don't worry, we've got you covered! Follow the steps in this article and you'll be able to easily convert WebM to MP4 in no time.
However, it's worth thinking carefully before you start. Perhaps you can solve the problem in another way - simply by installing another video player?