What happens when you convert MOV to MTS
- If the video inside the MOV is already H.264, the tool first copies the streams straight into the MTS. That takes seconds and loses nothing.
- If a copy is not possible, it re-encodes to H.264 video with Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio at 48 kHz, in a transport stream with the 192-byte packets of AVCHD and Blu-ray, which is slow in a browser: expect several times the video's length for HD footage, less at lower resolutions.
- The MTS is a single video file like the ones an AVCHD camera records; it plays in VLC, on smart TVs and in video editors, but it is not the folder structure of an AVCHD card or a Blu-ray disc.
How to convert MOV to MTS online
- Press "Choose MOV files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- Adjust the settings if you need to: resolution and quality control the size of the result. The defaults suit most people.
- Press "Convert to MTS". The first audio or video conversion downloads the converter engine, about 32 MB, which your browser then keeps for next time.
- Save each MTS with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert MOV to MTS?
MOV files usually come from iPhone recordings, Final Cut Pro and screen recordings on Mac. People convert them to MTS because MTS is the file type AVCHD camcorders record, and video editors and smart TVs that handle camcorder footage read it.
In short, MOV is good at what it was made for, and MTS is the more practical choice when the file has to play, upload or edit somewhere else. MOV plays in Safari; Chrome plays most MOV files that use H.264, while MTS does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and camera software.
How to convert MOV to MTS on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your MOV files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each MTS is saved to your Downloads folder. If you prefer a desktop program, VLC can also convert MOV to MTS: choose Media, then Convert / Save.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the MOV files from Finder onto the drop zone and the MTS files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose MOV files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted MTS appears in Files, in the Downloads folder; to put it in your photo library, open it there, tap Share and choose Save Video. To stop the iPhone creating MOV files in future, go to Settings, Camera, Formats and choose Most Compatible.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose MOV files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The MTS is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it. Keep the screen on while a long video converts, because Android may pause a tab in the background.
Best settings for MOV to MTS
Leave Resolution on Keep original and Quality on Standard if the video only needs to change container: that is what lets the tool copy the H.264 stream straight into the MTS, which is fast and loses nothing.
If the file is too big, change either setting and the video is re-encoded with H.264. Quality uses the CRF scale: High is 20, Standard 23 and Smaller file 28. As a rule of thumb each step of about 6 on that scale halves or doubles the size. Dropping from 1080p to 720p usually saves more than lowering the quality, and it also makes the conversion much faster.
MOV vs MTS: the differences
| MOV | MTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | QuickTime movie | AVCHD video |
| Type | video | video |
| Created by | Apple | Sony and Panasonic |
| First released | 1991 | 2006 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | H.264, HEVC or ProRes video with AAC audio | H.264 video with Dolby Digital or PCM audio |
| In a browser | plays in Safari; Chrome plays most MOV files that use H.264 | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and camera software |
| Common uses | iPhone recordings, Final Cut Pro and screen recordings on Mac | Sony, Panasonic and Canon HD camcorders |
| MIME type | video/quicktime | video/mp2t |
About MOV and MTS files
What is a MOV file?
MOV is the QuickTime container that MP4 was based on, so the two are close relatives. iPhones record MOV, and newer iPhones use HEVC inside it, which Windows and many websites cannot play.
What is an MTS file?
MTS is the AVCHD recording format of HD camcorders from about 2006 to 2015, often interlaced at 1080i. The video inside is H.264, so it can usually move to MP4 without re-encoding.
MOV to MTS not working? Common problems
- The conversion is slow. Audio and container changes take seconds, but re-encoding video runs on your own processor. Lower the resolution to 720p, close other tabs, and keep the device plugged in.
- The tab stops or reloads on a very large file. Browsers limit how much memory one tab can use, around 2 GB and less on phones. Split long recordings or convert them on a computer.
- The MTS will not play on an old device. Try the other formats offered for MOV, or choose 720p, which older players handle more reliably.
Convert MOV to MTS with ffmpeg
This converter runs ffmpeg inside your browser. If you would rather use the ffmpeg command line on your own computer, this command produces an equivalent MTS with the same kind of settings:
ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset veryfast -c:a ac3 -b:a 192k -ar 48000 -f mpegts -mpegts_m2ts_mode 1 output.mtsReplace input.mov with the name of your file. For a whole folder of MOV files, run the command in a loop, or drop them all on the converter above, which processes them one after another.
MOV to MTS converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting MOV to MTS?
A little. Both formats are lossy, so re-encoding compounds the loss slightly. Keep the default quality or higher and the difference is rarely noticeable.
Why is the MTS a different size from the MOV?
It depends on the settings. At the defaults, the MTS usually comes out close in size to the MOV; lower the quality for a smaller file.
Are my MOV files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several MOV files to MTS at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open an MTS file?
MTS does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and camera software. MTS is common for Sony, Panasonic and Canon HD camcorders.
Is this MOV to MTS converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert MOV to MTS on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Long HD videos convert more slowly on a phone than on a computer.