How to Convert iTunes M4V to MP4: The 2026 Essential Guide

Can You Still Watch Movies with iTunes Today?

Apple has officially retired the last remnants of the iTunes video experience, including the long-standing iTunes Wish List. For both Mac and Windows users, the Apple TV app is now the sole hub for movies and TV shows. While this offers a sleeker interface, the core problem remains: videos purchased from Apple are saved in the DRM-protected M4V format.

Whether you are trying to play your library on a non-Apple device or simply want a future-proof backup of your purchases in a universal format, converting M4V to MP4 is a chanllenge. While both formats can carry high-definition video, their utility in today’s multi-device world differs greatly for me.

Here is a breif comparison between M4V and MP4, from the aspects of offline watching freedom and storage efficiency, converting iTunes M4V files to MP4 files is a good option based on my needs.

How to Convert iTunes Movies to MP4?

If you have a massive library of older iTunes purchases sitting on your hard drive, a dedicated desktop converter is often the fastest way to create a local backup. While Apple has fully migrated users to the Apple TV app on Windows and Mac, these tools still target the M4V files stored in your media folders. 

Note that as of 2026, Apple has increased the complexity of its file encryption. These tools are best for users who want to maintain the exact quality of their original purchases while ensuring compatibility with non-Apple hardware.

1. Tunefab M4V Converter

TuneFab remains a reliable choice for batch processing your Apple TV and iTunes libraries and. It focuses on preserving the original metadata, which is crucial if you want your local copy to show the correct movie posters and descriptions in apps like Plex or Kodi.

TuneFab can convert iTunes movies to MP4 in a short time, after DRM removal, the iTunes files will be converted as MP4, AVI and other common formats while retaining HD picture quality and sound effects. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Convert iTunes Movies to MP4 with TuneFab

The next step will be to use a Mac as an example, but those using Windows need not worry, as the procedure is similar.

 

Step 1

Search the official website of TuneFab M4V Converter, download and install it and launch it, you will see its main page.

Step 2

Click “Add Files” on the upper left corner of TuneFab M4V Converter program, then you can see all the M4V files in iTunes, select the movie you want to convert and click “Add” button.

Step 3

Click the gear-shaped Settings button in the upper left corner to set which location you want to store the converted video to.

Step 4

After selecting the folder, there is a gear-shaped button on the right side of each video, click on it to set the audio track and subtitle you want, and finally click “Covert” on the upper toolbar to convert iTunes movies to MP4.

2. NoteBurner

NoteBurner Video Converter for Windows is a powerful video conversion software that can easily remove DRM encryption of iTunes M4V files and convert them to MP4 and other popular formats, keeping the original picture quality and sound effects. It supports batch conversion, preservation of multi-tracks and subtitles, allowing you to play video content smoothly on any device.

Recently, NoteBurner has been optimized for Windows users who have migrated to the standalone Apple TV app. It excels at keeping 5.1 surround sound intact during the conversion process, making it a solid pick for home theater enthusiasts.

Step-by-Step Guide to Convert iTunes Movies to MP4 with NoteBurner

Step 1

Download and install NoteBurner Video Converter from the official website, double-click the desktop icon to start the software after the installation is completed.

Step 2

To add the M4V videos you want to convert, you can either click the "Add Files" button (it's in the upper left) or just drag them right onto the software's window.

Step 3

Look at the bottom for "Output Format" and choose what you want, like MP4. There's a gear icon right next to it; click that to adjust settings like resolution or the audio track. Once everything looks good, just hit the "Convert" button in the lower right to get it started. You can use that gear icon for detailed settings.

Step 4

When you click the "Convert" button (bottom right), the software begins processing. It will save the finished file automatically to its default folder. You can also find your converted videos by using the "Open Output Folder" option.

3. ViWizard

ViWizard M4V Converter offers a straightforward interface that works consistently across both Windows 11 and the latest macOS versions. It is particularly useful if you need a quick way to move a few files to a mobile device without digging through complex settings.

Step-by-Step Guide to Convert iTunes Movies to MP4 with ViWizard

 

Step 1

Once you open up ViWizard M4V Converter, you can get your iTunes videos in there a couple of ways. Either click the “Add Files” button or just drag and drop them straight into the program.

Step 2

You'll find format setting options where you can pick your output, like MP4. You can also tweak other things like subtitles and different parameters to get the conversion just how you want it.

Step 3

Once you're sure all the settings are right, just hit the “Convert” button. The program then takes over and will automatically change those copyright-protected M4V files into a standard MP4 file, keeping the quality high.

Above are three quality converters that can convert iTunes movies to MP4. Besides these three, there are some other tools to remove iTunes DRM.

But as we said before, if you want to watch iTunes movies, you need to use Apple TV, so the demand becomes convert Apple TV movies to MP4. Actually, for those who want to save movies in MP4 format, besides using a converter, a better way is to download MP4 format directly.

A Better Choice: Download 4K Apple TV+ Content Directly to MP4

As Apple shifts its focus toward the standalone Apple TV app and high-fidelity streaming, traditional conversion from M4V isn't always the most efficient path. Converting existing files can be time-consuming and sometimes limits you to 1080p resolution. StreamFab Apple TV Plus Downloader offers a more modern solution by letting you download content directly from the platform in MP4 format.

StreamFab Apple TV Downloader

This method is ideal if you want to skip the conversion step entirely and move straight to high-quality archiving. It handles the latest 2026 platform updates and supports the high-end video standards used by Apple today.

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1. Why Direct Downloading Outperforms M4V Conversion

While converters are great for legacy libraries, direct downloaders are built for the current streaming era. Here is how StreamFab changes your workflow:

2. How to Use StreamFab Apple TV Plus Downloader: Save 4K Movies in 3 Steps

If you want the highest possible quality for your local copy, downloading is often superior to converting in output quality, workflow efficiency, and operation stability.

Step 1

Download and install StreamFab Apple TV Plus Downloader from its official website, launch it and find Apple TV+ in VIP Services on the left side.

Step 2

Search for the movie program you want to download in the built-in browser and play it, click the download button will have a pop-up window for you to set the format, if there is a need for batch download and automatic download, you need to set it in this step.

Step 3

When you click download now, you can see the movie being downloaded in “Downloading”.

Conclusion

So, to sum it up, even though iTunes movies moved over to Apple TV, lots of people still find a need to convert those movies to MP4 so they can watch them on different gadgets. You've got options, whether you pick a dedicated converter tool like TuneFab, NoteBurner, or ViWizard, or go with a downloader like StreamFab which just grabs the MP4 file directly. These methods give you a legal way to watch content you bought, compatible with DRM. Just keep in mind, these tools are really intended for your own personal use.