What's the difference between M4V and MP4?

Almost nothing, technically. Apple uses .m4v for its own exports and for DRM-protected purchases. A DRM-free M4V is effectively an MP4 and can usually be renamed to one.

Why won't my iTunes M4V play?

It's DRM-protected. That's a property of the file, not the hosting — protected content only plays in Apple's software on an authorised device.

Should I convert to MP4?

If you want it to play absolutely everywhere, yes — and for a DRM-free file it's usually just a rename rather than a re-encode.

Host an M4V file and share a video link

Upload an M4V and get an address that plays it in the browser — Apple's variant of MP4, and near-identical to it.

You can host:

Drop your M4V file here

Any other file works too — up to 25.0 MB, or 100.0 MB for a whole site

Free to use. Your M4V file is live at your-name.99helpers.site in about ten seconds.

What is a .m4v file?

M4V is Apple's variant of MP4, used by iTunes and exported by iMovie and Final Cut. Technically it's the same container with the same H.264 video — the only real difference is that Apple can apply FairPlay DRM to purchased content, and DRM-free M4V files are functionally MP4s.

What people use M4V files for

Video exported from iMovie or Final Cut
Content purchased or rented from iTunes
Video shared between Apple devices

What opens a M4V file

QuickTime, Safari and most browsers
VLC, which plays it anywhere
iMovie, Final Cut and Premiere

How to host a M4V file

1
Drop your M4V file in
Drag it onto the box at the top of this page, or click to choose it. Files up to 25 MB are supported, and nothing is uploaded until you publish.
2
Pick an address
Type a name and we'll tell you straight away whether it's free. That becomes the link: video-export.99helpers.site
3
Publish and share
Create a free account — that step exists so the file is yours to update, replace or delete — and the link is live within seconds.

The same three steps work for any file — see how file hosting works on 99helpers.com.

What happens when someone opens the link

It generally plays in the browser, since the content is standard H.264. DRM-protected files bought from iTunes won't play anywhere except Apple's own software.

Why host a M4V file instead of emailing it?

An M4V straight out of iMovie is a normal video that happens to have an Apple extension. Hosting it gives you a link that plays for most people — renaming to .mp4 makes it universal.

Worth knowing before you publish

Renaming a DRM-free .m4v to .mp4 usually works, since the container is identical.
Anything bought from iTunes carries DRM and won't play outside Apple software — that's the file, not the hosting.
25 MB is the limit, so export at 720p for anything more than a short clip.

M4V hosting questions

What's the difference between M4V and MP4?: Almost nothing, technically. Apple uses .m4v for its own exports and for DRM-protected purchases. A DRM-free M4V is effectively an MP4 and can usually be renamed to one.
Why won't my iTunes M4V play?: It's DRM-protected. That's a property of the file, not the hosting — protected content only plays in Apple's software on an authorised device.
Should I convert to MP4?: If you want it to play absolutely everywhere, yes — and for a DRM-free file it's usually just a rename rather than a re-encode.

Put your M4V file online now

It takes about ten seconds, and you only make an account once the file is ready to go live.

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Hosting guides for related formats

Host an MP4 video Host a MOV video Host a WebM video Host an MKV video

M4V is one of over 211 formats you can host — see free file hosting for any file type for the full list, or read the hosting guides for other file types.