How to Convert Videos for iTunes

Before you start

iTunes and the Apple TV app can import several video formats, but playback and syncing work most reliably when the file is encoded for Apple devices. A video that plays in a media player may still fail to appear in your library if the encoding, bitrate, or container is unsupported. Check the source file first: note its recording format, resolution, frame rate, and whether it includes audio. You will need a Mac or Windows version of iTunes or the Apple TV app, enough free storage for at least one extra copy of the file, and the original video file saved locally. The conversion described here runs on your computer and does not require an online service.

Step-by-step instructions

Take a copy of the source file before changing it. Put the copy in a separate folder so the original recording remains available if the imported version does not meet your needs.

Open the file in a video converter that supports Apple-compatible output. Select H.264 or MPEG-4 video with AAC audio in an MP4 or M4V container. This combination gives the most consistent result when adding the file to an iTunes library.

If the converter shows advanced settings, keep the picture size close to the original dimensions and avoid upscaling. A higher bitrate can preserve quality but also makes the file larger and slower to sync. For clips that will only be watched on a phone, a lower bitrate may be enough; for footage shown on a television, use a higher setting within the encoder's limits.

Match the output frame rate to a rate supported by the target device. Common safe choices are 30 frames per second and 25 frames per second, unless the capture source used a different rate that you specifically want to preserve. The encoder should report the selected value before export.

Choose where the converted file will be saved and start the export. Avoid overwriting the original with the new file until you have confirmed that the conversion opened correctly.

Open iTunes or the Apple TV app. Use the import or add-file action, select the converted MP4 or M4V, and wait for the library to finish processing it. Processing may take longer for high-resolution files.

Check the output

Play the imported video from the beginning and listen for audio through the entire clip. Confirm that the picture is not stretched, letterboxed unexpectedly, or out of sync with sound. If you converted a long recording, test positions near the start, middle, and end rather than checking only the first seconds.

Check the file properties in your operating system or converter after export. The container should be MP4 or M4V, with H.264 or MPEG-4 video and AAC audio. Compare the displayed duration with the source recording and make sure the pixel dimensions are the size you selected.

If the video will be synced to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod, perform a test sync with one short clip. It is not necessary to transfer the whole library to verify compatibility.

Common problems and next steps

If iTunes will not add the file, the container may be unsupported even when the video looks fine in another player. Convert it again with the MP4 or M4V container selected explicitly and keep H.264 video with AAC audio.

A video that appears in the library but will not sync may be using an unsupported frame rate, resolution, or bitrate setting. Re-encode a short test segment at standard settings, such as 30 frames per second and a moderate bitrate, then try syncing that segment before treating the full file as the final version.

Audio missing after import usually points to an unsupported audio encoding or no audio track in the export. Return to the converter and make sure AAC is selected for the sound track, then open the new file in the Apple app to confirm that both picture and sound are present.

If the source is already an MP4 that plays on the device, conversion may not be necessary. Check the current file properties before re-encoding, because converting an already compatible file can reduce quality without improving playback.

When the result seems lower in quality than expected, start the conversion again from the original recording instead of converting the converted file. Keep the output dimensions close to the source and increase the bitrate only if the file size stays acceptable for your storage and syncing needs.